Meta-judge Heather Davis commented on this video, "This video was a joy to listen to and watch. The opening sequence with the young boy was excellent and gave a wonderful punch to beginning of the video. It may have helped to include text on the video of exactly what he was saying as he was so excited his words were a bit difficult to understand. This would help if someone was not an English first language speaker.

Background Music: I did find the music a bit loud and could possibly be turned down a bit. That being said the music choices were excellent. Each piece of music definitely went with the section of the video where it was used. I really liked it when you occasional just stopped the music and you could only here the speaker. It certainly added emphasis to the message. The music set the tone as you moved from point to point.

Voice over - the speaking voice was very good and definitely implied passion for the topic. The change in volume and emphasis was excellent. The script was well written and spoke directly to the message you wanted the viewer to grasp.

I found the video to me very emotional. It grabbed my interest at the very beginning with the young boy and then I was "hooked" and emotionally bought into the topic.

I would just suggest that you slow the credits down a bit so they are easier to read though you listed them all in a clear manner on the Ning

You told an excellent story and you should definitely continue creating in this manner."

Learn about the Flat Classroom® July 24 to July 26, 2013 at the Punahou School Honolulu.  In a  Flat Classroom® project teachers from all over the world join with students to explore the essentials of global project design.  They develop collaboration and leadership skills with real and virtual team members on an action projects that have a global theme. This conference leverages technology to connect, communicate and collaborate to improve the world. Participants should come prepared to engage in exciting and meaningful work of creating global projects to "flatten classrooms!"
 
More information available at Punahou School Honolulu page

Registration is now open -> Registration


Designed and led by Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay, authors of the book “Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds”, this is a challenge-based learning conference for educators and students.

 
Julie Lindsay, co-founder and Director of Flat Classroom, award winning global collaborative projects, and Flat Classroom Conference and Live Events Inc., unique collaborative live events for teachers and students, announces the

 June 20 & 21, 2-day Flat Classroom Workshop 
 Seven Steps to Global Collaboration

Educators who want to transform their learning and embrace global collaboration in their curriculum are invited to join Julie for a unique professional development experience at International School of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas.

• Workshop 2013 Details
• What you will learn
• Application Form
• Download a brochure to share

Apply Now! Places are limited. This is a rare opportunity to work in the USA with global educator, innovator and leader and one of the co-founders of Flat Classroom, Julie Lindsay(who is based in Australia), in a carefully designed collaborative environment.

The certified teachers have been collaborating on topics found in the Horizon Report to produce video artifacts. Here is one by Maureen Tumenas and Bill Krakower.

Students participating in the  Flat Classroom® Projects do handshakes at the beginning of projects.  These are typically short introductory texts, audio segments, or video podcasts. Here is a sample of one recently posted handshake by one of Amy Jambor's students:

  Today teacher Yvonne Hicks had her students on the ning en masse, working on their profiles, their handshakes, and posting a response to her.  She asked the students what they hoped to accomplish during this project.  Here are their responses
  The two student responses pictured here discuss the excitement of global collaboration.  Over 400 high school students are introducing themselves in the project's communication spaces this week, using text, audio, and video. Learn more about Flat Classroom® Projects at http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/

We have lots of exciting news to share about Flat Classroom®. If you are still on holiday (southern hemisphere) I recommend you save this email and come back to it in a week or so. We don't want you to miss out!

Teachers, make sure you join in on our Flat Classrooms Ning for educators only, that is where the conversations are ongoing about global learning and global collaboration; that is where partners are found and global innovations in learning are shared!

1. Flat Classroom Projects - We are launching all of our projects again in February 2013. Our goal is to facilitate the best global collaborative projects in the world where students co-create. Make sure you get your applications in! Download a brochure to share.

• Flat Classroom Project - Deadline for next project is January 23, 2013 APPLY NOW!
• Digiteen and Digitween Project - Deadline for next project is February 15, 2013  APPLY NOW!
• 'A Week in the Life...'  -  Deadline for next project is February 15, 2013 APPLY NOW!
• NetGenEd  - Project based on the Horizon Report published in January each year - Deadline February 1, 2013 - APPLY NOW!
• K-2 'Building Bridges to Tomorrow' Project -   Deadline for next project is February 15, 2013 - APPLY NOW!
• Eracism - A Global Debate, A Global Community  - Deadline for next project is February 7, 2013. There will be 2 brackets - Middle School (10-13) and High School (13+). This semester a global community will be built using the OBA platform created by the University of Oregon led by Yong Zhao.  - Apply Now

2. Flat Classroom School Subscription  Co-founders of Flat Classroom, Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis, have a solution for schools who want to 'go flat' and include more classrooms and teachers in Flat Classroom Projects each year AND provide professional development opportunities for teachers. Become a Flat Classroom School!
Prices for 2012-2013

• Bronze Level - $195 for up to 100 students
• Silver Level - $495 for 1 certified teacher and up to 200 students
• Gold Level - $995 for 2 certified teachers and up to 500 students
• Platinum Level - $1795 for 3 certified teachers and up to 800 students

Each category includes access to all projects across the full year up to the number of students noted. There are three Flat Classroom Certified Teacher courses/cohorts to choose from during the year.
View our current Flat Classroom® Schools on the website!

3. Flat Classroom Certified Teacher course. The next cohort will kick off in February! Come and join us or a PD experience that will not only build your PLN but transform your teaching and learning.
ANNOUNCING! Flat Classroom Certified Teacher - Group discount for schools and organizations (2012-13)
$2000 - 5 certified teachers
$3500 - 10 certified teachers
Contact Flat Classroom now to tailor your professional development needs. fcp@flatclassroom.org

4. Flat Classroom Conference  Come and join us at the Yokohama International School, March 8-10 2013 in Yokohama, Japan for this unique, challenge-based event that brings student and teachers together from across the world. We invite you to browse our updated website and consider bringing students to this life-changing opportunity. Teachers looking for course credit for attending this conference watch this space for important updates coming very soon. Virtual participants invited to attend also - watch this space for application form coming by the end of January! REGISTRATION is OPEN!

5. Projects Databank - This is a place for Flat Classroom Certified Teachers, and others, to post their projects and attract classrooms from all over the world to participate.
We invite global project designers to join our Project Databank because:

• This wiki will be the face of each project but the real power will be in the searchable database currently being built
• Flat Classroom style projects are about community and networking - and we will provide this for our Flat Classroom community to thrive

Congratulations to Aaron Maurer, Flat Classroom Certified teacher cohort 11-1.
Aaron is running an incubator project, Bald Eagle Project you must see!

6. Future Learning Action Talks (F.L.A.T.s) - We invite you to consider presenting in Blackboard Collaborate and share your global adventures and successes. An archive of past FLATS are on the website. Upcoming F.L.A.T.s with Australian Chris Betcher, the FCP 12-2 keynoter, on January 29, 10pm AEST / 6am EST USA. Topic: The Flat Classroom Project - Taking the Long View.

7. Announcing: The World Wide Think Tank is a joint initiative by THINK Global School and Flat Classroom. It is a student initiated and student driven global student leadership forum. It was launched by students, Hannah, Yada and Paul, during a presentation at the Global Education Conference, 2012.
AIMS:
To foster leadership skills.
To encourage global conversations.
To generate change.
CONNECT WITH WWTTJoin the SPOTX online community
Like the Facebook page
Complete the online form to be sent further updates.
Browse the website to learn more and sign up: WWTT website.
Please spread the word!! #WWThinkTank is our hashtag - tweet it out!
Join in for the next online meeting (week starting January 28), volunteer to be a student leader!

8. Global Events - We invite you to use the Flat Classroom Educators network to advertise your global events. Make sure you keep an eye out for what is coming up!
What’s coming up?

• Meet the Flat Classroom - The next opportunity to meet Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis in an online information session will be Monday January 21, 8pm EST (January 22, 1am GMT). Check your location for date and time.
• Join a virtual book club -  A new virtual book club is being led by Kyle Dunbar @edtechdunny based on our book, ‘Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds’. If you want to join, there is still time! Julie and Vicki will be coming to some of the sessions. The meetings are about discussing the concepts found in the book for flattened learning, making connections and learning from one another.
• Projects, F.L.A.T.s and more!

Questions about Flat Classroom®? Please email us: fcp@flatclassroom.org

Julie Lindsay (Australia) and Vicki Davis (USA)
Directors and Co-founders, Flat Classroom®
julie@flatclassroom.org, vicki@flatclassroom.org
Lisa Durff: Flat Classroom Coordinator - lisa@flatclassroom.org
http://flatclassroomproject.net
http://twitter.com/flatclassroom
Hashtag: #flatclass