Here is an example from the last project showing the kind of work that students are completing now.  This video is  Google "The Story". Jae L. 7.A.3
 
 
[ Recently, students in the current projects were asked to view the keynote by Alan Levine and react to it. The keynote is available for viewing at  http://fcp12-1.flatclassroomproject.org/Keynote  This is written by a young man in Korea. ]
I believe that biggest change that has been brought to me as a human being through this digital revolution, was introduction of ambiguity of my space. Before I began to carry my own personal computer, or any communicative gadgets (cellphones regardless of its being smart), everything was manual and analog. Handiworks were valued the most, personally and by the society. Soon, it really lost its shine as people began to realize, "hey, we can actually use gadgets than papers!"

The whole spark of using devices did not change our social life. However, it broadened our social life range, as our range has just become global. With one bar of wireless internet, we can talk with someone else around the globe. We truly became un-alone. At anytime, unless one is in a cave without connection, s/he can connect to any other person around the world.

This, however, had negative impacts on our social lives as well. As the social interaction broadened, people began to lose grip on intensity of our relations. The more friends we have, less emotions involved. We chat, but we never say a word. Physical efforts of moving mouths has deteriorated.

Talk with the hand literally became talking with hands. Hence, we never get to meet each other in online space though we have video, audio chat.

It really is a big problem as we began to not realize and appreciate physical discussions. Though I like all of these technological leaps and breakthroughs, it is important to appreciate our old, traditional way of interacting.

 
 
Remember the Flat Classroom Project our high school gifted students participated in in the fall? Now our elementary students are experiencing global collaboration!

A few months ago I received notice that the founders of  the Flat Classroom Project were looking for volunteers to pilot an early elementary version of the project, so I signed us up and we were accepted! The project we are participating in is called Building Bridges. Here’s a description: 

“Can very young students effectively connect, communicate, and collaborate in a global project? What does this look like? What products can students in mixed classroom teams co-create? What activities and structure can we design and implement to scaffold this collaboration? There are many wonderful opportunities out there already for students to connect using technology tools. However the aim in this project is also to encourage students in different places to collaborate, not just communicate, and to enhance understanding of cultures and life styles beyond the immediate environment.” 

Within the project, classrooms are placed together in groups of four. We have been grouped with schools in Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, Canada, and China! Our group has been assigned to focus on the topic of “Celebrating Together”—how celebrations are similar and different across our cultures. So far we've been sending messages and videos to get to know each other, and now we're working on a collaborative eBook to tell each other about our celebrations.

You can see our “handshake” (introduction) below. Also, learn a bit about our new friends here.
 
 
The Flat Classroom® Projects are global, collaborative projects which focus on the use of Web 2.0 tools to foster connections, communications, collaborations and creations. These award winning, international, wiki-centric projects include the Flat Classroom® Project, the NetGenEd™ Project, the Eracism Project™, Digiteen™ Project, A Week in the Life Elementary Flat Classroom® Project, and a  K-2 'Building Bridges to Tomorrow' Pilot Project.   Currently running are these international projects which need judgesHow do I sign up to judge?
  1. Complete the Online Sign Up Form. Also at http://tinyurl.com/flatclassjudges.
  2. If you are not a member of this wiki already:
    • Join www.flatclassroomproject.org
    • Then click "Join this Space" in the top left corner of this page.
    • Wait for approval - you will receive an e-mail noting your approval.
  3. If you are already a member of this wiki, continue with the following points.
    • Join the Ning Group to get announcements and updates. Add your information to the topic of your choice below (first to wiki it gets it!) and include a hyperlink to your bio and/or Flat Classroom Project Ningprofile).
  4. Be available to review/judge videos according to the timeline.