Social Action & Communication Skills

Ironically some of these sites I found overlap between social action and communication skills, well, maybe not ironically because communicating effectively and social action go hand in hand! I also tried not to be political in anyway. As a parent myself, I want my children to hear our perspectives at home and find their own answers on political issues by using their developing values and their own critical thinking skills to find their own conclusions, even if they differ from my wife or I. Not to be indoctrinated from either side in school, i find it repulsive from the left and the right to such a think. Maybe an independent would be OK, joking, that would be ideal but wrong too.

Social Action:
http://www.letterstosoldiers.org/letteroffers.html
This website could be used to practice writing skills and communication skills. It has a social action component by letting students show soldiers and their families we appreciate the sacrifice they endure mentally and physically; sometimes the ultimate of sacrifices. The basis for all of our freedom in this country which is indisputable regardless of whether you are a hawk or a dove. It could be used at any grade level and gives students an appreciation for the freedoms we have and provides a sense of community and connectedness in a country where we sometimes feel so separated from one another.

http://www.technologyandsocialaction.org/node/591
This website could be used by teachers and students alike. Primarily for middle and high school students who wish to, as a class, create and implement a local community outreach, social action or to be heard on an issue concerning them. It has loads of information on how to effectively integrate technology and social action. This article, if you click the "here" show some points and things to think about ( how to communicate, organize and get your information out in a coherent and up to date manner) if your create your own social action network via the web. Again, communication skills, this one is not just writing, it is a way for students to learn how to create something, communicate and socially organize using technology.

http://www.kidsagainsthunger.org/index.shtml
I thought this would be great for children of all ages. This site not only focuses on hunger among children worldwide but in the United States. I feel this could be a great social action that could involve parents, teachers, students, schools or the community at large on an issue everyone can come together on, hunger in our own backyard. Under the navigation, of "How you can help" it gives ways to either setup a satellite organization, donate supplies or volunteer time. Great chance to set up a class or extended school project which will really give children a great appreciate and sense of pride and joy for helping those children in their own community struggling with hunger. (check out the kids photo's on the Location Link a the top)

All of these are social action sites but also practice and teach one or more of the following: communication skills, organizational skills, creative skills, writing skills, technology skills and develop a sense of involvement in community, country as well as foster compassion towards fellow human beings!

Communication Skills:
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/
The main thrust of this site is to engage teachers and K-12 students in meaningful project learning exchanges worldwide to develop science, math, literacy and communication skills, foster teamwork, civic responsibility and collaboration. Again, this site foster social action, but is intended to help with learning communication skills to advance and engage a community of learners in math, science and encourages the development of literacy. This could be a great tool to help learners in our schools develop their knowledge and share that knowledge with others all over the globe. Seeing how advanced or behind they are and collaborating to help or receive knew perspectives on their own learning development, I think could be great.

http://whitepapers.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=1388791
I discovered a site where Marion county schools teamed with a Microsoft product to give greater access to students who are unable to fully take advantage of technology and communication; I found this great! One small solution to help our schools extend technology to everybody! Here is the main objective and i will copy and attach a URL of the whole information because you would have to sign up to see it.
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000006346
"Marion County Public Schools in Florida wanted a collaborative solution to support innovative teaching methods and offer twenty-first century communication skills to students. It chose Microsoft Live@edu for a managed, safer e-mail service and other collaboration tools such as online storage. Teachers and students are using the services to drive excitement in the classroom, inspire better study habits, and improve student performance."

Last but definitely not least:
http://momentusinternational.org/about/
This site could be K-12 and used for advancing communication skills across continents using conventional art styles, photography, paintings, music, dance, multimedia, etc. I'm not sure if this site is dead in the water or just new but it is a great idea! Communication is not only writing, which could be used here, or not just auditory. But communication through paintings, web connection, music, dance, photography, video and so forth and so on incorporates skills from every student and touches on all sensory ways of communication skills that I think kids would love to create and relate to on so many levels I can't express them all. The idea or format of this site has great potential, including social action, but expanding the entire idea of learning outside just math, science and writing! Check out the video on "Why do white people have black spots" Go to the Galleries and Films link at the top and scroll to the video at the bottom. I was misty eyed... but you can also see art, conversations and projects from the US and Netherlands. Every once in a while Google posts a quarantine message but it nothing happened tooling around this site.