Creating Online Connections Jennifer Carrier Dorman http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/PETEC2008

Agenda Why adopt a “flat classrooms” initiative? Genesis of the collaboration Professional brainstorming and planning Collaboration tools Collaborative simulation Scenario, task, student roles, tools Challenges and successes The future

Why adopt a “flat classrooms” initiative?

Genesis of the collaboration

Professional brainstorming and planning

Collaboration tools

Collaborative simulation

Scenario, task, student roles, tools

Challenges and successes

The future

Why?

Were really good at preparing students for . . .

A change – a systemic shift – is needed

Realizations Society is changing The skills and knowledge required for work and civic life in the 21 st century are shifting Educational systems need to adapt to meet the needs of the digital natives in the 21 st century

Society is changing

The skills and knowledge required for work and civic life in the 21 st century are shifting

Educational systems need to adapt to meet the needs of the digital natives in the 21 st century

Societal Changes Globalization Transformative technologies Shifting demographics Changing values and attitudes

Globalization

Transformative technologies

Shifting demographics

Changing values and attitudes

Work and Civic Skills Released October 2, 2006, by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management groups.

Released October 2, 2006, by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management groups.

21 st Century Skills What skills are most important for job success when hiring a High School graduate? 58% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 63% Social Responsibility 70% Good Communication 75% Collaboration 80% Work Ethic

21 st Century Skills Of the High School Students that you recently hired, what were their deficiencies? 58% Self-Direction 70% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 70% Work Ethic 73% Leadership 81% Written Communication

21 st Century Skills What applied skills and basic knowledge are most important for those you will hire with a four-year college diploma? 93.8% Professional/Work Ethic 93.1% Critical Thinking/Problem Solving 93.1% Written Communication 94.4% Collaboration 95.4% Oral Communication

21 st Century Skills What skills and content areas will be growing in importance in the next five years? 76% Health & Wellness 72% Personal Financial Responsibility 74% Innovation 74% Collaboration 77% I.T. 78% Critical Thinking

Implications for Public Education Around what enduring understandings, essential questions, standards should our programs be built to better prepare our students for their future?

Around what enduring understandings, essential questions, standards should our programs be built to better prepare our students for their future?

Implications for Public Education “ This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education… whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can’t think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish good information from bad, or speak a language other than English.” “ How to Build a Student for the 21st Century”, TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006

“ This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education… whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can’t think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish good information from bad, or speak a language other than English.”

“ How to Build a Student for the 21st Century”, TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006

Essential Questions How has the evolution of Web 2.0 technologies impacted the reality of communication, collaboration, and the creation of content of value?

How has the evolution of Web 2.0 technologies impacted the reality of communication, collaboration, and the creation of content of value?

Essential Questions How can technology be used to network professionally and connect users to learning resources?

How can technology be used to network professionally and connect users to learning resources?

Essential Questions How has the nature of work and learning changed with the evolution of technology, globalization, and shifting demographics?

How has the nature of work and learning changed with the evolution of technology, globalization, and shifting demographics?

Technology Standards

21 st Century Skills Play Performance Simulation Appropriation Multitasking Distributed Cognition Collective Intelligence Judgment Transmedia Navigation Networking Negotiation http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/courseinfo

Play

Performance

Simulation

Appropriation

Multitasking

Distributed Cognition

Collective Intelligence

Judgment

Transmedia Navigation

Networking

Negotiation

Making the Connections

A Partnership is Born Anthony Armstrong - Korea International School, South Korea Jennifer Dorman - Holicong Middle School, PA

Anthony Armstrong - Korea International School, South Korea

Jennifer Dorman - Holicong Middle School, PA

Partnering Schools

Planning Challenges Obvious challenge – Anthony lives and works in South Korea and I live and work in the USA (13 hour time difference) We needed the time and applications to facilitate our collaborative planning

Obvious challenge – Anthony lives and works in South Korea and I live and work in the USA (13 hour time difference)

We needed the time and applications to facilitate our collaborative planning

Communication Tools Skype calls and chat

Skype calls and chat

Communication Tools Ning Network http://teachercollaborative.ning.com/

Ning Network

http://teachercollaborative.ning.com/

Collaborative Tools Google Docs Documents, Spreadsheets http://docs.google.com

Google Docs

Documents,

Spreadsheets

http://docs.google.com

Connecting Students We used both a Wikispaces wiki and a Ning network to connect our students http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/ http://onlineconnections.ning.com/

We used both a Wikispaces wiki and a Ning network to connect our students

http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/

http://onlineconnections.ning.com/

Collaborative Simulation Scenario, tasks, student roles, tools

NETS-S Standards Addressed Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

Creativity and Innovation

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

NETS-S Standards Addressed Communication and Collaboration Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Communication and Collaboration

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

NETS-S Standards Addressed Research and Information Fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

Research and Information Fluency

Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

NETS-S Standards Addressed Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

NETS-S Standards Addressed Digital Citizenship Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

Digital Citizenship

Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

NETS-S Standards Addressed Technology Operations and Concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.

Technology Operations and Concepts

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations.

Scenario Students are employees of the fictional Central Bucks Technology Corporation CBTC is relocating its Research and Development Division to South Korea http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Students are employees of the fictional Central Bucks Technology Corporation

CBTC is relocating its Research and Development Division to South Korea

Task Overview Students are assigned to CBTC transition teams to support those American workers who will be relocated Teams will be competing to develop the most effective and complete products http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Students are assigned to CBTC transition teams to support those American workers who will be relocated

Teams will be competing to develop the most effective and complete products

Team Products Orientation video Wiki Ning network http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Orientation video

Wiki

Ning network

Topics Researched Business and economy in South Korea Housing and real estate in South Korea Health care in South Korea Education in South Korea News and other current event resources for South Korea Embassy resources for American citizens in South Korea Resources for language learning Resources for moving people and property to South Korea Voting in U.S.political elections while overseas U.S. State Department resources for international visas, passports, and other required documentation for the relocating employees Cultural resources (including religious and state holidays, societal customs, etc.) http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Business and economy in South Korea

Housing and real estate in South Korea

Health care in South Korea

Education in South Korea

News and other current event resources for South Korea

Embassy resources for American citizens in South Korea

Resources for language learning Resources for moving people and property to South Korea

Voting in U.S.political elections while overseas

U.S. State Department resources for international visas, passports, and other required documentation for the relocating employees

Cultural resources (including religious and state holidays, societal customs, etc.)

Operating Budget Each team starts with an operating budget of $100,000. Bonuses are awarded when project goals are completed early Dollars are deducted when tasks are completed late or are below standard. http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Each team starts with an operating budget of $100,000.

Bonuses are awarded when project goals are completed early

Dollars are deducted when tasks are completed late or are below standard.

Outsourcing Project Tasks Each team has the support of South Korean CBTC employees to whom they can outsource project tasks - at a cost to your operating budget. Teams are required to track their operating budget on a Google Spreadsheet. Each team is able to outsource up to five project tasks by submitting Requests for Proposals (RFPs). All outsourced projects are recorded on the Bid List to be reviewed. http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Each team has the support of South Korean CBTC employees to whom they can outsource project tasks - at a cost to your operating budget.

Teams are required to track their operating budget on a Google Spreadsheet.

Each team is able to outsource up to five project tasks by submitting Requests for Proposals (RFPs). All outsourced projects are recorded on the Bid List to be reviewed.

Request for Proposals

Bid List

Student Leadership Roles Team Leader this is the group's "captain," the team leader meets with Mrs. Dorman on a regular basis to report group progress and sets due dates, updates the group task graphic organizer and calendar on a daily basis, and records group progress on the task log the team leader may delegate specific organizational tasks, but is ultimately accountable for the functioning of the group and the quality of the final products http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Team Leader

this is the group's "captain," the team leader meets with Mrs. Dorman on a regular basis to report group progress and sets due dates, updates the group task graphic organizer and calendar on a daily basis, and records group progress on the task log

the team leader may delegate specific organizational tasks, but is ultimately accountable for the functioning of the group and the quality of the final products

Student Leadership Roles Project Managers each group has three project managers (one for the video, one for the wiki, and one for the Ning) http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Project Managers

each group has three project managers (one for the video, one for the wiki, and one for the Ning)

Student Leadership Roles Financial Officer this person is responsible for maintaining the group's budget spreadsheet (adding awarded bonuses and deducting expenditures or penalties) http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Financial Officer

this person is responsible for maintaining the group's budget spreadsheet (adding awarded bonuses and deducting expenditures or penalties)

Student Leadership Roles Quality Assurance Engineer this person is responsible for overseeing the aesthetics (attractiveness and ease-of-use) and the of the group's products this person assures that all three team products integrate common themes, color schemes, and visuals and that all hyperlinks and other embedded media function properly http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Quality Assurance Engineer

this person is responsible for overseeing the aesthetics (attractiveness and ease-of-use) and the of the group's products

this person assures that all three team products integrate common themes, color schemes, and visuals and that all hyperlinks and other embedded media function properly

Student Leadership Roles Quality Control Director this person meets regularly with the project managers and creative directors to assure the visual quality and organizational quality of the team products http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Quality Control Director

this person meets regularly with the project managers and creative directors to assure the visual quality and organizational quality of the team products

Student Leadership Roles Operations Manager this person is responsible for submitting RFPs, working with the team leader to adjust the calendar, and maintaining contact with South Korean team members http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/CBTC

Operations Manager

this person is responsible for submitting RFPs, working with the team leader to adjust the calendar, and maintaining contact with South Korean team members

Student Tools Google Docs Google Calendar Google Reader Flickr Bubblr Bookr Diigo Bubbl.us Wikispaces Ning Online video editors Online image editors Online citation resources

Google Docs

Google Calendar

Google Reader

Flickr

Bubblr

Bookr

Diigo

Bubbl.us

Wikispaces

Ning

Online video editors

Online image editors

Online citation resources

Google Docs Google Docs and Spreadsheets are used by students to create and collaborate Financial accounts spreadsheet Video script and storyboard Sharing resources between KIS and HMS http://docs.google.com/

Google Docs and Spreadsheets are used by students to create and collaborate

Financial accounts spreadsheet

Video script and storyboard

Sharing resources between KIS and HMS

Google Calendar Students use Google Calendar to broadcast their project task checkpoint due dates All group members subscribe to their team calendar Calendars are embedded on the team’s planning wiki page http://www.google.com/calendar

Students use Google Calendar to broadcast their project task checkpoint due dates

All group members subscribe to their team calendar

Calendars are embedded on the team’s planning wiki page

Google Reader Students use Google Reader to subscribe to relevant RSS feeds share items with each other embed data as clips or blogrolls on their team products (wiki and Ning network) http://www.google.com/reader/

Students use Google Reader to

subscribe to relevant RSS feeds

share items with each other

embed data as clips or blogrolls on their team products (wiki and Ning network)

Flickr Students use Flickr to post photos and comments for the rest of their team to access Students post their photos to an Online Connections Flickr Group Students use their team number as a tag for each photo http://flickr.com

Students use Flickr to post photos and comments for the rest of their team to access

Students post their photos to an Online Connections Flickr Group

Students use their team number as a tag for each photo

Bubblr & Bookr Students use Bubblr and Bookr to create engaging mashups with their Flickr photos to embed on their wiki and Ning network http://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/ http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/

Students use Bubblr and Bookr to create engaging mashups with their Flickr photos to embed on their wiki and Ning network

Diigo Students registered for Diigo and joined our Online Connections Diigo Group They installed the Diigolet in their IE Favorites They use Diigo for social bookmarking and annotation – post bookmarks to our Diigo group or they created their own Diigo group They tag all their bookmarks with their team number for easy organization http://www.diigo.com/ http://www.diigo.com/tools/diigolet

Students registered for Diigo and joined our Online Connections Diigo Group

They installed the Diigolet in their IE Favorites

They use Diigo for social bookmarking and annotation – post bookmarks to our Diigo group or they created their own Diigo group

They tag all their bookmarks with their team number for easy organization

Bubbl.us Students used Bubbl.us to create flow charts to assign and track individual student responsibilities and task completion http://bubbl.us/

Students used Bubbl.us to create flow charts to assign and track individual student responsibilities and task completion

Wikispaces Students used a page on our class Wikispaces wiki as a home base in planning and monitoring their work Embedded Google calendars and Bubbl.us graphics Work log created on the discuss tab Students created their own wiki as one of their team products http://www.wikispaces.com/

Students used a page on our class Wikispaces wiki as a home base in planning and monitoring their work

Embedded Google calendars and Bubbl.us graphics

Work log created on the discuss tab

Students created their own wiki as one of their team products

Ning Students used our class Ning network to post blog entries and to forge a relationship with the team members at HMS and KIS Students created their own Ning network with blog posts, forums, groups, and embedded media http://www.ning.com/

Students used our class Ning network to post blog entries and to forge a relationship with the team members at HMS and KIS

Students created their own Ning network with blog posts, forums, groups, and embedded media

Online Video Editors Eyespot http://www.eyespot.com/ Jumpcut http://www.jumpcut.com/ Cuts http://www.cuts.com/ JayCut http://jaycut.com/

Eyespot

http://www.eyespot.com/

Jumpcut

http://www.jumpcut.com/

Cuts

http://www.cuts.com/

JayCut

http://jaycut.com/

Online Image Editors Phixr http://www.phixr.com Picnik http://www.picnik.com SlashUp http://www.splashup.com FotoFlexer http://fotoflexer.com

Phixr

http://www.phixr.com

Picnik

http://www.picnik.com

SlashUp

http://www.splashup.com

FotoFlexer

http://fotoflexer.com

Citation Resources Noodle Tools http://www.noodletools.com/ KnightCite http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/ Zotero http://www.zotero.org/

Noodle Tools

http://www.noodletools.com/

KnightCite

http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/

Zotero

http://www.zotero.org/

Reference Resources & Models Students were provided with examples of online resources for expatriate Americans http://snipurl.com/1za8e http://snipurl.com/1za8g http://snipurl.com/1za8h

Students were provided with examples of online resources for expatriate Americans

http://snipurl.com/1za8e

http://snipurl.com/1za8g

http://snipurl.com/1za8h

Outcomes and Experiences

Challenges Time zone and school calendar Late-arrival equipment Changing district-level online security that periodically blocked collaborative applications Crystallization of task Assessment and monitoring Defining the teacher’s role in the process

Time zone and school calendar

Late-arrival equipment

Changing district-level online security that periodically blocked collaborative applications

Crystallization of task

Assessment and monitoring

Defining the teacher’s role in the process

Value-Added Benefits Students were thoroughly engaged by the scenario and took on their leadership roles with more responsibility and creativity than anticipated Students learned how to employ many species of Web 2.0 applications in a rigorous and relevant manner Students began using the technology tools for other classes and for outside-of-school applications Students developed a more global worldview and became intrinsically interested in the learning and economic applications of online technologies

Students were thoroughly engaged by the scenario and took on their leadership roles with more responsibility and creativity than anticipated

Students learned how to employ many species of Web 2.0 applications in a rigorous and relevant manner

Students began using the technology tools for other classes and for outside-of-school applications

Students developed a more global worldview and became intrinsically interested in the learning and economic applications of online technologies

The Future

Learning From Each Other Two outstanding blog posts with teachers reflecting on what they considered to be a “failure” of an online connection initiative: Susan Sedro, Adventures in Educational Blogging http://snipurl.com/1za98 Graham Wegner, Teaching Generation Z http://snipurl.com/1za9d

Two outstanding blog posts with teachers reflecting on what they considered to be a “failure” of an online connection initiative:

Susan Sedro, Adventures in Educational Blogging

http://snipurl.com/1za98

Graham Wegner, Teaching Generation Z

http://snipurl.com/1za9d

Learning From Each Other Here are some resources if you are considering a collaborative / global initiative: Kim Cofino, Always Learning http://snipurl.com/1zaa9 Flat Classrooms Project http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/ http://flatclassroomproject.ning.com/ Horizon Project http://horizonproject2008.ning.com/ http://horizonproject.wikispaces.com/

Here are some resources if you are considering a collaborative / global initiative:

Kim Cofino, Always Learning

http://snipurl.com/1zaa9

Flat Classrooms Project

http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/

http://flatclassroomproject.ning.com/

Horizon Project

http://horizonproject2008.ning.com/

http://horizonproject.wikispaces.com/

Connect With Others Teacher Collaborative Ning Network http://teachercollaborative.ning.com/ Tap into my learning network Blogroll - http://snipurl.com/1wnu9 My shared items - http://snipurl.com/1wxt1 Twitter - http://twitter.com/cliotech My Blog – http://cliotech.blogspot.com

Teacher Collaborative Ning Network

http://teachercollaborative.ning.com/

Tap into my learning network

Blogroll - http://snipurl.com/1wnu9

My shared items - http://snipurl.com/1wxt1

Twitter - http://twitter.com/cliotech

My Blog – http://cliotech.blogspot.com