We speak with Kirsten Durward, the founder of the 125,000 member Global Educator Collective group on Facebook (formerly known as the Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning). Kirsten talks about how to build a positive online community, what collaboration looks like across countries and schools systems, and the lessons and inspirations that have come out of this growing community. 

Kirsten participated in the ISS Educator to Educator Assessment Webinar on Wednesday 15th April - to view the recording check the ISS site. She is hosting a webinar on addressing Primary Transdisciplinary units through the lens of Current Affairs on Saturday 25 April at 3 pm GMT via Toddle Talks, with a recording available on Toddle Learning Library.  She is working with the team at Toddleapp.org to create The Inquiry Educator Summit (virtual) in May. To be added to a mailing list for this free event or future webinars and events via the Global Educator Collective please fill in the short form

For resources and support, please visit our website at www.seachangementoring.com/covid19

Kirsten Durward's Bio

Kirsten is the busy admin of the Global Educator Collective, a group set up to support the transition to online learning, which has become the place to be for international collaboration on learning strategies.  The group has now been offered a strategic partnership by Facebook as a constructive sustainable community and was recommended by International Education in a special report to UNESCO as a core resource in supporting the transition to emergency remote learning. Kirsten considers herself a global citizen, having lived in 17 countries from her childhood in Kenya, the Middle East and Europe through her extensive career as an international educator and volunteer, she has been privileged to learn from many cultures, situations and perspectives. Mostly her learning has encouraged her to be compassionate, grateful and open minded to ideas! Currently the PYP Coordinator at KIS International School in Bangkok, Kirsten is in the process of forming a Learning Focused Education Consultancy and a Global Educator Development platform in partnership with many leading international educators.  With leadership experience in 5 schools, her focus is working with educators to improve learning. An IB workshop leader, Concept based Curriculum Trainer and Cognitive Coach she offers years of expertise in Positive Pedagogy, Constructive Inquiry, Assessment Driven Learning, Transdisciplinary Learning and Curriculum Design. You can find her through her Facebook group, on Linked In or via Twitter @learnerfocused