Flat Classroom ™
Projects - Blog

What do students say about the student summit experience?

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:39:02 -0500

Recently a student reflected, "Talking to another school about the project was really cool. I am glad I got to hear what some members of my group thought about the work, and how we all collaborated with eachother. I think that this was also a great opportunity to let the teachers know what worked for us, and what can be improved for people working on it next year. I was surprised by what people had to say about everything and I am glad I got a chance to express how I felt too, and talk about the use of technology to improve our education."

Student Reflection

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:14:01 -0500

My topic for the net gen ed online project was about integrity and digital citizenship with tablets. This is a hard topic, as it has many issues that cannot be easily regulated. For example, when a student is misbehaving in class, you cannot simply take away the students tablet, because he then wouldn’t be able to participate in the class activity. Also, if a student is messaging another student in class, you can confiscate the tablet, as he was unjustly using the device. There are many different situations in which you can only do certain things, and this is the topic of digital citizenship. This is that a student should choose to do the right thing on a tablet and not have to worry about having the tablet taken away. And with having the student do the right thing, it won’t matter how you would resolve the situation, as it would never exist.

When it came to editing my wiki, I had a bit of a problem. First, my team was never online when I was, which is not any of our faults, but only bad timing. Secondly, I never got a chance to talk to my team, though I did leave a few messages asking what our plan of action was and what I had to do. This was obviously not achieved, as some of our topics ion the wiki are not even addressed, and still have the question in its place. I feel we adequately cited our sources for the places that we did have factual information.

When it came time to swap videos and such, I was a bit behind. I had not known about this or had known and forgotten, but either way I had a late start on making the video. I made one as soon as I could, but when I went to post this video, it was already taken by another person in between the time when I was making it and finished it. I also did not receive a video from anyone, but I guess that was just karma. Since I did not receive a video, I was forced to make one of my own, which had to be done at my house because I needed a tablet.

The original intention of my video was to show how using a tablet in the wrong way was bad, and how to correct that with many useful tips and evidence from factual sources. This was changed however, when I was making the video, and I decided that I was going to have a second clip to show how the correct way of using a tablet was done. The quality of my video started out very simple and boring, because I had never used windows live movie maker and so I was unfamiliar with the formatting. I accidentally hit a button which made the slides look fancy, and so I then got a handle on the software and was able to make it look a lot better, well in my opinion anyway. A thing that I could have done better was take the time to make my slides look more in uniform, yet I did not because I was not sure how. Some videos that I think deserve recognition are the following: Haleigh H, because I like the use of xtranormal, and Ben H, as he used many game techniques to show that using games can really be educational. I likeMatt G’s from our class especially, as he has music in the background to help the video flow.

Sounding Board Peer Review

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:01:43 -0500

The Flat Classroom Project includes peer reviews by younger students called Sounding Boards. The Sounding Board students post a review to the wiki discussion board for those high school students in the project. Feedback is given in a 3-2-1 format, first put into use by Kim Cofino on the projects.

List 3 things that are very good about this wiki project.

List 2 suggestions for improving the wiki page.

List 1 piece of new knowledge our group has obtained thanks to this wiki page.

Recently, a peer reviewer wrote:Three things that I really thought was good about this wiki:

1.) There's a lot of good information on the wiki and it's well organized

2.) I like how there are pictures and visuals that just make it look nicer and help to catch attention

3.) I like the collaboration I see on the discussion threads, you guys are communicating a lot and talking about your information

Two things I think you guys can work on:

1.) I see some sources cited but not enough, you need to cite every source you get information and visuals from

2.) I think maybe some information is irrelevant and isn't needed and that you could take it out and just get rid of some.

One new piece of knowledge I was able to take away from this wiki:

The world wide web is one of the most important things in our day and age in the 21st centruy

Flat Classroom Participants are producing their videos

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:08:06 -0500

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

Reaction to "We, Our Digital Selves, and Us" by Alan Levine.

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:19:15 -0500

[ 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.

Elementary Gifted Students are "Building Bridges" to Other Cultures

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:38:52 -0500

This post is from Elizabeth Guerrero at http://brsdgifted.blogspot.com/2012/04/elementary-gifted-students-are-building.html

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.

Judges for the Flat Classroom® Project 12-1 Sought!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:18:59 -0500

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 judges

How do I sign up to judge?

Complete the Online Sign Up Form. Also at http://tinyurl.com/flatclassjudges.
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.
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).
Be available to review/judge videos according to the timeline.

What's going on around the Flat Classroom®?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:53:37 -0500

The Eracism Project™ is beginnnig this week. The virtual world coordinator, David Deeds, had both a very successful poster area and a presentation documented on Treet.tv during VWBPE 2012 Conference in Second Life. He plugged the Flat Classroom® Projects.The K-2 Pilot continues to share some great handshakes, the Flat Classroom® Project is moving onto the wiki and starting research on their topics. The Flat Classroom® Bookclub meet early Monday morning (in my time zone) to share ideas related to connections in chapter 3. Graduates of the Certified Teacher program will be presenting their Global Action Projects, created during the course, in a F.L.A.T.s (Flat Action Talk) Tuesday March 20, 2012

Flat Classroom® K-2 Bridges project ‘Building Bridges to Tomorrow’

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:05:24 -0500

Co-founders of Flat Classroom®, Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis, are excited to be able to offer this global collaborative project to classrooms around the world. This project will run as a pilot for the coming semester, February-April 2012 and be open to Prep/Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 classrooms (4-7 year old students).

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.

We invite teachers who believe global collaboration has a place in their classroom. We invite
those who want to improve digital citizenship and cultural understanding, leading to global
competency amongst students and teachers. We invite teachers who have some digital fluency
and access to digital tools who want to use them in meaningful ways to connect with others and
learn together.

The ‘Building Bridges to Tomorrow’ call for applications is open now! Classrooms will be
selected for the pilot and announced before the end of February. Following a teacher kick-off
meeting, classrooms will work collaboratively through March and April with final products and
celebrations taking place late April and into May.
We are looking for teachers who are creative and able to work collaboratively to help us build a
meaningful experience for the classrooms and the wider school communities. Apply now!

‘Building Bridges to Tomorrow’ is part of the series of Flat Classroom® Projects created by
Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis. Find out more from the Flat Classroom® website, and from our
recently released book, “Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration
One Step at a Time”.

Application Form for Building Bridges to Tomorrow: http://tinyurl.com/flatclassK-2

Flat Classroom® Projects: http://flatclassroomproject.net

Flat Classrooms® Teacher Network: http://flatclassrooms.ning.com

Contact us: fcp@flatclassroom.org
Directors, Vick Davis and Julie Lindsay

For more about the pedagogy and benefits of adding global collaboration to your curriculum,
buy Julie and Vicki's book Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds from Pearson Publishing.
www.flatclassroombook.com

Eracism Project 2012 - Applications Now Open!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:13:05 -0500

Eracism Project 2012 Forming NowPress Release February 1, 2012.

Announcing, the Eracism Project 2012 - a global student debate that joins diverse cultures and includes authentic debate for global competence and international mindedness. Fact based debate is a very essential skill with students who often equate the term "debate" with argument. The Eracism project: A Flat Classroom ProjectTM was envisioned by the winning student team from the 2009 Flat Classroom Conference held in Doha, Qatar and their concept was to hold debates using Web 2.0 tools to improve cultural understanding.

Schools selected for the Eracism Project 2012 will be asked to enter a 4 person debate team, with the remaining students in the class being researchers around the topic,

"Government regulation requiring immigrants to adopt the beliefs, habits, and language of the dominant culture does more harm than good."

The initial debates will be held asynchronously but in what organizers are calling a "simulated synchronous" environment with the final winning teams debating live in a virtual world. This project was carried out in 2009 and is being run again starting in March 2012. A limited number of applications will be taken.

We welcome applications NOW from teachers and their classrooms around the world. We also need judges and volunteers to help with debate coaching.
To apply for this project as a class or judge or volunteer or request to be involved in the teacher information meeting, please complete this form - (http://tinyurl.com/eracism2012)

Classrooms in Upper Primary, Middle and High School are encouraged to apply (students of age 11 and above). Organisers will create two strands in this project based on demand.

Application deadline is February 29, with announcement of project classrooms by Friday March 2, 2012.

The first teacher online meeting will take place near March 5, 2012. Actual date and time to be advised.

Tentative TimelineThis project has a planned start date of March 5, 2012 with debates beginning March 25 and concluding with the final debate held in a virtual world (and to be streamed live) in May 2012. Schools applying must specify their school holiday dates so that they can be best placed in the project on the debate grid.

Phase 1 - Research & Coaching - This will happen at the school level as classrooms research the topic and practice debate at their local level.
Phase 2 - Asynchronous Debate Round - Students will use VoiceThread to debate with each round taking approximately one week.
Phase 3 - Synchronous Debate - The top two teams will debate live in a virtual world with the debate streamed live on the web for students and educators around the world to watch.
Phase 4 - Reflection - Students and teachers will reflect on ways to improve the methods for global debates.
Process
Due to the asynchronous components used, Eracism will use a hybrid debating style that is based on Conflict or Initiative Debating.
The teams prepare their cases; they present their arguments and evidence; and, they rebut the other team's arguments and evidence. The debate cycle will generally align with the Middle School Public Debate Program found at http://www.middleschooldebate.com

Each debate will be adjudicated by 3 judges and the winning team advances to the next round.

Most of the debates will be carried out on VoiceThread with the final debate being streamed live in a virtual world.

Thank you to the sponsors of this project: Voicethread, Wikispaces, Blackboard Collaborate. (Virtual world platform to be announced soon.)

Co-founders of Flat Classroom (TM) Projects, Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis, have been planning for two years to once again run this ground breaking and inspirational global collaborative project. The project opens eyes and hearts as students debate on an issue that will bring together diverse ideas, develop transferable skills and create lasting friendships.

More information about Eracism: http://www.eracismproject.org
Application Form for Eracism 2012: http://tinyurl.com/eracism2012
Flat Classroom Projects: http://flatclassroomprojec.net
Contact us: fcp@flatclassroom.org
Directors, Vick Davis and Julie Lindsay
For more about the pedagogy and benefits of adding global collaboration to your curriculum, buy Julie and Vicki's book Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds from Pearson Publishing. www.flatclassroombook.com

Flat Classroom ™ Projects - Blog