Hangouts are an excellent way for School Counsellors and educators to connect from across the world. You can pick a time to connect to share resources, ideas or just to get to know each other.
One of the best features of hangouts is that ten people can collaborate to make a difference in the lives of students.
If you have never used hangouts before below is a great explanation by Martin Shervington:
Below is a hangout that Erin Mason facilitated last year on The Future of School Counseling.
Here is a great example of how to use google hangouts for webinars:
Benefits of google hangouts:
All you need is a google plus account to start a hangout
It’s ok to make mistakes (other educators especially other school counsellors will assist you)
You can connect with educators from all over the world
There are many creative ways to use google hangouts, you can come up with a few of your own and when you do please share
They are fun and easy to do once you catch on
Connecting with school counsellors in a hangout is a great new way to grow professionally . It is an amazing way to work on a google doc or watch a video together that you have made on school counselling. I look forward to you sharing the many ways you have found to use google hangouts.
If you’d like to see how other educators are using google hangouts you can check out these Edcamphome google hangout videos . I participated in my first edcampHOME last year and it was a fun, interesting educational experience. The best part watching the organizers do such an amazing job of coordinating.
The students in my school have inspired me and I truly mean it. I am in awe of them. I know I did not have the creativity, determination, passion, compassion and self -direction that they have to make a difference at such a young age.
I have been working alongside these students since September on an initiative called #whosfrankyyc and what transpired yesterday was absolutely amazing. Last week students brought me their outline and a full detailed moment-by-moment plan of what our day would look like. I added or deleted nothing to the plan. I knew it would be great, but I really had no idea just how it would move others and me. It was one of those experiences that you had to be there. The media coverage just does not tell you how much thought, effort and caring went into what these students are trying to do. I received several notes and calls to let me know just how fabulous the day was and how fabulous our students were. There were several reporters there to interview Barbara Coloroso and students .
One reporter noted that he “could honestly say that in more than 25 years of reporting , and having sat through many student presentations, I’ve never witnessed one that was as inspiring as the one created by your students. It was simply amazing.” Yes, indeed it was and we shared this note with them.
#WHOSFRANKYYC is more than a day … it is a way. Bishop Carroll and Mount Royal University students and staff are working together to raise awareness and empower students to stand up and be brave. They want to make a difference when it comes to people not hurting other people. Hurt people hurt people, but students can make a difference by having the courage to speak up and act to end the cycle of violence.
Our students have begun to do just that and we hope you join us in the movement. We want all people to post positively to #whosfrankyyc. Thinking about your digital tattoo is one way to make a difference and let others know that bullying is never ok.
Yes, students can make a difference. I see it in my school everyday.
students who raise money all the time for those less fortunate and don’t get any recognition
students working together to make the world a better place through water initiatives
students showing random acts of kindness like posting positive messages handwritten on stickies on every locker which happened a couple of weeks ago
holding faire trade fairs
volunteering with students with special needs in their school and community
volunteering with elderly in their communities
volunteering at feed the hungry
students raising 10,ooo to build a home in another country
No this is not a comprehensive list, but I do see acts of kindness almost daily in my school. Too often students do not get recognized for all the good they do. It does not make the news, but they do it anyway.
A gigantic thank you to Barbara Coloroso who was extremely compassionate and engaging with our students. She took the time to converse with them in a meaningful helpful way , letting them know that what they are doing can have an impact in their school communities and the world. Also a big thanks to Julie @dinnerwithjulie a Bishop Carroll alumna who prepared a beautiful lunch for our guests.
Look out for more to come on students making a difference at Bishop Carroll High School with our Mental Health Symposium and more…
To find out more about #whosfrankyyc click here . Elephants (WHO”S FRANK?) are intelligent, compassionate beings and #WHOSFRANK is is only the beginning of the process these students want to continue in assisting their fellow human beings to being the kind, caring, compassionate humans they are capable of being.
We are very grateful to our partner Mount Royal University. Working together on this initiative has been an absolute pleasure and together we are able to invite others to come along on this journey to make #whosfrankyyc make a difference in the world. Eighteen other schools have gathered up their frank banks to join us.
Here is another example of the great work our students do. This was a project for Religion:
There is so much to celebrate at Bishop Carroll High School. Too often we notice the things that others do wrong instead of all the great things they do . Let’s continue to celebrate all the great things others do especially our students.
Yes, students can and do make a difference and you can too. Join us #whosfrankyyc.
Many people think that education is all about preparing students for the world of work. While I believe we must provide them with the tools to be successful adults, education must include human values.
Schools provide a means to connect students with others so that they develop into caring adults. It is a place for students to be inspired in a culture of caring to think for themselves. A place where their curiousity is developed. A place where they can develop into confident, competent, creative, compassionate citizens, online and off who care about themselves and the world around them.
I love what the Dalai Lama had to say about Education,
”Education must go together with basic human values and teachers must set an example for their students through action and deeds, not merely by words. He further elaborated on this point by saying there is too much stress on developing the mind and too little on developing a ‘warm heart’.”
I want to develop that warm heart in every student who I encounter. I want to be an educator who helps students feel that they belong in a community where we respect them and they respect each other. I want students who bring skills into the world, to make a living and make a difference. My hope is that we inspire our youth to love learning throughout their lives. What is the purpose of education? I believe it is to assist students on a journey that will help them become better people, giving them the tools they will need to contribute to society and help our world become a better place for all.
Educating the mind, heart and soul.
“ To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.”
Thanks Katie for this view of the day. It epitomizes how I felt. SLAM.. I was scared ,but I felt the fear and did it anyway and I am so grateful I did .
A year filled with gratitude . That is what I want my year to look like and I am so grateful to these organizers. Watching what they did was AMAZING … INSPIRING … and so HELPFUL .
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 