Tell us about an issue that matters to you and how you became involved.

Over the last several years I have been committed to several social justice projects that I have integrated into my classroom. Working with resources and ideas from Save The Children, my students branch off on their own to plan fundraisers that split proceeds between the global issue of building a school in a developing nation and a local project within their own community. I became involved with this type of classroom project after listening to Craig Kielburger address our teachers at a conference a number of years ago. I thought to myself, "I have finally found a vehicle to drive my own personal desire to effect change both at home and abroad."

What kind of a future do you hope to create through education?

I hope that by exposing my students to authentic opportunities to make a difference in the world, and by teaching them about the resources necessary to accomplish these goals that I will "set the wheels in motion" and that these students will continue to impact their world at the local, regional, national and international levels.

class="question"How are you taking your classroom global, and what role is technology playing in the process?

Technology is playing a significant role in my classroom both by facilitating collaboration on large class projects to providing opportunities for students to express themselves personally on a variety of issues. We live in a small, rural, isolated area in Northern Canada. The resources that technology makes available to us has allowed my students to explore and interact with the outside world more than ever before.

Do you think TIG can help you achieve some of your goals? Have we already? Please tell us how.

TIGed has been instrumental in providing a platform that allows my students and I to interact on an ongoing basis. Our virtual classroom is at the heart of most of what we do. Students log in to submit assignments, participate in discussions and collaborate on ongoing projects. TIGed has served as a source of inspiration for both the students and myself - allowing us to interact with many individuals outside of our own four walls.