“Beyond the Teachers’ Room” – A Social Network for Jewish Educators in Training

“Beyond the Teachers’ Room” is a trusted and trusting on-line cohort group of educators facilitated by Dr. Keren Goldfrad of the English department at Orot Israel College, and Dr. Karen Shawn of Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. This social network is designed for educators in training or pursuing advanced degrees to discuss ideas, thoughts, and feelings about specific aspects of daily school life; to explore the connections between Jewish texts and our teaching; and to share the challenges and rewards that Jewish educators experience as we take on the task of speaking to the hearts and minds of the 21st century student.

This social network, which was a required on-line component in two independent blended academic courses, provided a unique opportunity that extended far beyond the conventional learning experience. This international collaboration offered global perspectives on education in cross-cultural environments. Technology facilitated this process by offering a comfortable platform for a fruitful exchange of ideas. Students created a caring and trusted on-line community of practice with multiple colleagues in different educational settings whose task was to listen, support, and respond by offering validation, different and diverse points of view and ways of thinking, and help in brainstorming solutions to another’s questions or dilemmas. Our hope is that students' learning experience and practice will be improved, enhanced, and/or enriched by their active involvement in this community.