“I honestly find it hard to express the absolute joy working with the JDO foundation has brought to my teaching over the last four years. I have gained such expertise and widened my teacher network and understanding.”
“Can I take this opportunity to express the immense impact the technology has had in my classroom and throughout the school over the last three years. I’ve watched children’s self-esteem boosted as all pupils no matter what their academic ability have been able to create work that they can be proud of. Pupils who wouldn’t have the confidence to stand in front of others and speak out suddenly leading discussions in small groups with partners across the world. Maths skills have been enhanced as I’ve been able to have quick ten minute blasts on the iPad to reinforce facts on a daily basis. Pupils have been excited to take part in Accelerated Reader tests and over all their confidence and competence in using technology has excelled. These daily benefits are often never shared as we often talk only about the wonderful experiences pupils gain from their partners but do understand that you have made a difference to every single day in the classrooms.”
I have gained so much professionally and
really appreciate how the project has supported and guided me in
bringing the digital world into my classroom. I have been challenged to
change how I teach and I think that the skills I have developed will
help me navigate how I do my job in the coming months particularly. I am
very grateful for the opportunity to have connected with (my partner).
Of course, the very best thing has been to see my pupils forge
friendships with their partners and in the many different ways they have
been challenged to communicate with each other.
I will never forget the experiences that the JDO Foundation has brought
and will be forever being indebted to Judy and the extended JDO ‘family’
for many ways in which my life, teaching and pupils have been impacted
during our partnership.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for letting us be a part of the program. It has made such a huge difference to the lives and learning of our children, especially supporting their online learning during this pandemic.”
“We never would have been able to serve the needs of our students during shutdown without the leadership and guidance that JDO provided as we adopted G-Suite for Education just 1 year prior. Your guidance allowed us to continue to serve the needs of 500+ students without skipping a single day of instruction. That is powerful goodness that was brought to this underserved area by you and yours. WE ARE GRATEFUL!”
“I have no problem in admitting that the participation in this programme has changed our life in many senses. The possibility of collaborating with Hawaii, Belfast, Dublin, Texas and Poland has broaden our perspective of the world. We have learned a lot from our colleagues and, of course, we have met wonderful people, both teachers and students.”
“JDO has been an incredible experience for me personally and professionally. Professionally, JDO has provided excellent technology training that was so beneficial to me, and my students, last spring when we suddenly went to online learning. My students have learned about the world by collaborating monthly with partners in Croatia and Sweden and having Meets with teachers and students in England, Uganda and India. Personally, my world view has expanded exponentially through conversations with my colleagues, and now friends, around the world. I am a better teacher, and a better person, as a result of my JDO Foundation experience.”
“Our 'JDO pupils' have been very lucky. They brought their devices home on March 12th and it has been business as usual for them. Although there is no replacing the teacher in the classroom, they have the next best thing. They have access to a device and have the skills necessary to access and complete the work at home. We are very grateful to the JDO foundation for making this possible.”
“We see our participation in the JDO programme as being an exciting way to extend learning beyond classroom walls…….”
“Without our JDO technology we could never have managed to provide distance learning for our children to the standard we have. Google Classroom has been amazing for all our Year 6 and Year 7 children.”
“The support that we received from the JDO Foundation allowed St. Joseph's School to continue operating at a time that our future seemed unstable. Your generosity is overwhelming. The students have enjoyed the opportunities to connect with other young people like themselves. This gives them a sense of belonging to a global community and that is a priority in these times on pandemic and racial unrest.”
“I thank you all for the continued high quality JDO provision. The collaboration has completely brought technology in our school to another level. The increased professionalism and staff development opportunities afforded to the JDO teachers has in turn impacted greatly on quality of the ICT interaction in the classroom. Seeing our children collaborate with children in other parts of the world and working on joint projects has given ICT in St Ita’s real purpose and drive. The skills that our JDO teachers have learned have been disseminated throughout the school and enriched the quality of all our learning and teaching……………The quantity of technology provided alongside the professional development and technological support has been truly amazing. And of uppermost importance, the global links and true friendship we have encountered over the last three years has been so special.”
“Thank you so much for everything that JDO has done and will continue to do in this amazing collaboration across the globe for The Winchcombe. I am confident that our Yr 6 teachers will continue to embrace the opportunities that arise with their partnership schools to ensure that the children develop an understanding of different cultures and beliefs and technology.”
“Due to the JDO collaboration work ……..and how this had been cascaded across the school, it really put us in a great position to offer effective online learning when our school closed in March. So a huge Thank You to you all for enabling that to happen. It's had such a positive impact on our pupils and will change how we work in the future.”
“I want to thank you for all the support you have provided us over the last three years and we look forward to continuing to be a part of the amazing work you do. Thank you for confirming this wonderful gift of technology to our school. It has made a huge difference to our children over the last three years and will continue to do so.”
“Thank you so much! We have greatly appreciated the opportunity to be a part of your amazing program.”
“With deepest appreciation, we send our gratitude to all of you for your three years of technology support, teacher training, and this donation of Chromebooks. Edgewood Campus School is both a better organization and better equipped having had the JDO Foundation in our lives. I sincerely hope our paths cross again in the future.”
“We have been in partnership with JDO for a few years and this year, more than ever, the benefits were clear as the students who participated had a clear advantage over those that did not. Our JDO students were able to transition smoothly to remote learning and actually continue to learn at optimal levels. Additionally, JDO supports our goal of educating the whole child. By exposing our students to other students in different countries and continents, they are learning invaluable lessons about the differences that exist in our world and how to be respectful global citizens.”
“The partnership between Pelican Island Elementary and JDO Foundation has given our students the opportunity to take their learning beyond the walls of their classroom, beyond our school, beyond even our country to connect and learn with students from across the world. The experiences given to students through this partnership will have an impact on them not only as students, but throughout their entire lives. We are so thankful for this connection that has truly transformed the educational experiences of our students at PIE.”
The Digital Ducks is a JDO club which started just over a year ago. Within a very short time, the club was oversubscribed and so Digital Ducklings was launched to allow more children access. These JDO clubs meet in a local cafe and the children get food for the mind, soul and body. Through our collaborative relationship with other international clubs, the Digital Ducks and Ducklings have friendships with children from around the world. It is a wonderful privilege to engage with students and educators from such diverse cultural backgrounds. I love the way my students are enriched by their international friendships. Working with global partners has fostered open mindsets and a deepened level of mutual respect and empathy - even in my youngest club members.
Reaching out to the JDO Foundation in 2017 and receiving a warm welcome was a game changer for me. I have over the years been able to introduce Africa into a unique e-learning and collaborations experience which is far reaching to the children 8 to 14 years. For Uganda the 2 schools receiving a donation of technology equipment and the birth of Gorilla tech Pearls Club has created mileage in e-learning during these tough times of covid 19 that have greatly affected the education sector. My takeaway is the transformation of my learners into full global digital citizens.
JDO Global collaboration in an after school club is like the best thing that can happen for a teacher. As a club teacher you have flexibility to explore as much as you can.
The program helps the club with technical training and Global connections that develops interest and curiosity in club students. In two year my club students have become truly Global citizens and also could participate in different competitions that helped them realise their potential.
