Creating Global Learners! Projects and ResourcesThat Knock Down Classroom Walls!
With the technology we have today, a one-room classroom should no longer exist! All of our students are capable of being or becoming global learners. We have the ability, using any, or all, of the Web 2.0 tools available, to knock down our classroom walls, and allow our students the chance to collaborate with students in their state, or the world. During the 2010 school year, I took advantage of many resources, SKYPE, Epals, Kidblog, (in conjunction with comments4kids), and the various Edmodo communities. All of these resources allowed me the chance to reach out to teachers all over the world, and have their students interact with my students. This year I am going to add Collaborize Classroom as another tool to extend my classroom.
Here are two projects that I have already joined, and one I have created. I’m excited! Please feel free to add your class to any of these projects!
1. Mystery State Skype project – This project is run by a teacher I met on Edmodo. Our classes were pen pals, and she and I had a chance to meet F2F at the ISTE convention in Philly. Teachers set up a Skype conference and use information they have researched, to guess what state the other class is from. This can be done with all the teachers who have signed up. When your call is done, you can continue your collaboration with any of the teachers throughout the school year!
2. Global Read Aloud project 2011 – This is my first time being involved with this project, although it is not the first time it has been done. The Global Read Aloud project is exactly what it says. A book is chosen, and students from all over the world interact to discuss this book. The project is divided into a K-3 book, and 4th and up(“Tuck, Everlasting”)The teachers choose the media they wish to guide discussions, Skype, online learning platforms, email, glogs, the sky is the limit! I believe this will be a wonderful learning experience for my class!
3. ” Penpals Who Write” project – Teachers who are interested in having their class WRITE another class, please sign up and connect! Web 2.0 is acceptable, but you must write letters, that’s part of the experience. I had two pen pal classes last year and it was a wonderful experience. Not only did we interact using Web 2.0 tools, but we actually wrote letters and mailed them to each other. Have you ever witnessed the excitement of a student when they receive their letter? How about the anticipation of waiting for the next one? Priceless! This was definitely a project that opened their world and helped improve their writing skills. You can also join the group I have created on EduPLN.
If you know of a project for the upcoming school year, please add it! Let’s move those walls!
“Share Global Classroom Projects” on Lino
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER 