Shout encourages students to take on real-world challenges through online collaboration with their peers. (Photo courtesy of Shout web site)

A new partnership between Microsoft Corp., the Smithsonian Institution, and TakingITGlobal will encourage teachers to use educational technology to improve the way students learn. The partnership, called Shout, will help teachers integrate project-based learning to develop students’ problem-solving skills by having them team up with their peers around the globe to solve real-world challenges.

Shout was announced at the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum in Africa. Representatives from the groups involved said it will help teachers and students use educational technology to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues through online collaboration, while also teaching students social responsibility.

More than $1 million will be directed to Shout over the next three years in hopes of creating a global network that connects millions of teachers and students as they attempt to solve real-world challenges affecting land, air, and water. Online collaboration plays a key part in the project.

Anthony Salcito, vice president of Worldwide Public Sector Education at Microsoft, said the partnership is a solid step in helping students and teachers across the globe connect to solve common problems, and in helping teachers use educational technology to boost students’ problem-solving skills through a project-based learning approach that is relevant to students’ lives.

“Technology is an amazing tool to reach beyond geographic and cultural boundaries and build meaningful, collaborative partnerships,” he said.

Shout’s web site, http://www.shoutlearning.org, launched on Oct. 27. Beginning in November, teachers from around the world will find the first Shout challenge, which addresses the issue of deforestation. Each challenge will kick off with an online event for teachers and students featuring Smithsonian scientists.

Once teachers start a challenge, they’ll be able to connect with millions of other educators, access related curricula and best practices, and connect their students to others around the globe though online collaboration.

“When students and teachers are connected with one another using technology, cultural and language barriers disappear, and a space can be created for deep, meaningful [online] collaboration that helps drive positive social change,” said Claudine Brown, director of education at the Smithsonian Institution. “Shout will harness the power of [educational] technology to connect the Smithsonian’s vast research and education resources with education leaders.”

Shout grew out of a pilot program launched by Microsoft and TakingITGlobal at the Partners in Learning Regional Innovative Education Forum in Singapore earlier this year.

The pilot program, DeforestACTION, connected students across several countries, including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Participating students are raising funds, working on collaborative projects to build awareness, and developing social action campaigns to support the protection of rain forests in the Asia Pacific region.