There are many tools available to today’s classrooms that allow students to communicate across the globe.
One of the best hardware tools that should be in every classroom is a computer or other internet ready device (tablets, etc.) as well as an active internet connection. These are the basic tools of global communication. Although it would be ideal to have a device for every student, it is not imperative.
The most basic tool that can be used in classrooms to communicate with others globally is e-mail. E-mail can be sent as a whole class or created by individuals. Sites such as ePals can facilitate the connections between classrooms around the world as well as provide a safe, monitored, email environment.
A step above e-mail would be for students or classrooms to use Skype and webcams to actually talk to other students. This would be a great tool that students can use if they speak the same language or if a group of students learning a language were able to converse with native speakers.
If two groups of students do not speak the same language, it does not mean that they cannot collaborate or communicate. They simply need to use a tool such as Google Translate. Text can be entered in one language and translated into another allowing for truly global communication (see the gadget in the footer to translate this page).
Students can also use tools to communicate on a global platform even if they do not have a specific audience. Students can create wikis or blog (or Kidblog) to present information that is then available to people all over the world.
It is not necessary to have or use all of these tools in the 21st century global classroom. However actively using what is available can help introduce students to avenues of communication as well as diversity around the world. 
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