Working in the Global Classroom: A Guide to Connecting & Collaborating Globally

We’re exploring ways to enable teachers and students to connect, share, learn, and collaborate globally at #ACEC2012. A key aim of this presentation is to involve our international teachers and global educators in the development of these presentation notes, creating a small showcase of international collaboration in action. We hope you will take a few moments to respond to our questions, sharing your knowledge and expertise with the world! Please leave your name / twitter handle & location so we can acknowledge your contributions! Thank you! Michael Graffin (@mgraffin) & Nigel Mitchell (@1nbm)

WHY should teachers and students explore ways to share, connect, and collaborate globally?What are some of the challenges and obstacles faced by teachers interested in flattening their classroom walls? HOW can we help them overcome these obstacles?Where can teachers find global collaboration partners?Where can teachers access professional development / learning about integrating global perspectives & collaborating globally?What does global collaboration / interaction look like? Please share links to resources and projects you have been involved in.

WHY should teachers and students explore ways to share, connect, and collaborate globally? The Global Classroom Manifesto - Goals for Teachers & Students

Working in the Global Classroom: A Guide to Connecting & Collaborating Globally

What are some of the challenges and obstacles faced by teachers interested in flattening their classroom walls? HOW can we help them overcome these obstacles? What can we do if Skype is blocked in our school? - share class / student introduction videos ? / handshakesExplore other Distance Learning OptionsTeamViewer is another program you could use for free video collaboration.http://vyew.com/s/-Google Hangout is a great feature event with low bandwidth (@tdallen5)-A friend in Nepal uses DiscoverE (@tdallen5) Teachers that feel overwhelmed by curriculum obligations- help teachers see the opportunity to do global projects in alignment with curriculum not in addition to,- advocate with curriculum leaders to incorporate global projects more directly-Model all content during Professional Development -Strong Leadership must include a focus on modeling 21st century skills to staff-Learning technologists and instructional integration support is needed to help teachers build connections to curriculum and to find collaborative partners.-Librarians and Technology Integration specialists must become advocates of instructional technology and vise versa. Strong partnerships needed. Even with demands of meeting the daunting needs of the curriculum, teachers need to give themselves a moment to connect with other teachers and students. Not only does it offer a “break” but eventually it can be a part of the curriculum. They need to take the time to discover it. (tdallen5) Different countries (and even schools within those countries) have different priorities for curriculum and purpose of education. This can make it difficult to plan, prepare, organise and carry out collaborative projects. Language and technology competencies vary widely and need to be taken into account during the planning phase. (@smurfatik)

Where can teachers find global collaboration partners? Can you share your experiences with these global collaboration organisations? Please add links to organisations you have found helpful in the past. ePals : Great for writing projects and locating Skype partners. by @jennifermiller9

Working in the Global Classroom: A Guide to Connecting & Collaborating Globally

Skype in the Classroom: Wonderful site with professional collaboration partners and learning resources by @jennifermiller9Kc3 Kids: Student led collaboration video conferencing competition. by @jennifermiller9 #Kinderchat Two weekly chats for Early Childhood Educators (Mondays 8:30 PM London time, 9PM New York time) #ce12: Connected Educators Twitter Feed, http://connectededucators.org/#edchat, (general education topics) #ntchat (new teachers), #edtech (educational technology), #cpchat (administration chat) Kidlink - a global project resource center and a place where students can chat and share projects.iCollaboratory - a project resource center with themes using Moodle and Google Sites. (@tdallen5) The Global Classroom Project (2012-13)An online community which provides the online spaces, network, and resources to assist teachers and students to connect, share, learn, and collaborate globally. Blog: http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.comCurrent Wiki: http://globalclassroom2012-13.wikispaces.com The Global Classroom Project 2011-12 - Classroom 2.0 Book SubmissionGlobal Classroom 2011-12 ArchiveGlobal Classroom 2011 Archive International Education and Resource NetworkThe World’s largest global collaboration community, connecting 100 000+ classrooms globally. Offers formal professional development training, online collaboration centre, and a wide range of K-12 projects. LinksStarting out with IEARN Global Projectsiearn.orgiearn.org.au - Australian branch - tweet @iEARNAustralia Flat Classroom Projects - http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/ A Week in the LifeEracism (Secondary)DigiteenK-2 Project

Working in the Global Classroom: A Guide to Connecting & Collaborating Globally

Flat Classroom Project Hello Little World Skypershttp://hlwskypers.pbworks.com/w/page/36437388/HLWSkypers%20wikiBlog Post by @murcha Other PPTI - People to People International http://www.ptpi.org/Global Virtual Classroom (@jbarnstable) - http://www.virtualclassroom.org/Global Nomads Group (@global_nomads) - http://gng.org/Kinderchat: Global Teacher Collaboration and Early Childhood Projects

Where can teachers access professional development / learning about integrating global perspectives & collaborating globally? Global Education (Australia) - http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/ One World Centre (Perth, WA) - http://www.oneworldcentre.org.au/ Flat Classroom Book - http://www.flatclassroombook.com/index.html (Available on Amazon.com) → highly recommended iEARN Learning Circles - Recommended Twitter contacts - @julielindsay @coolcatteacher @murcha @globaledning @elemenous @mgraffin @iEARNUSA @gcporganisers @markjotter @tdallen5 @shareski @rushtonh

What does global collaboration / interaction look like? Please share links to resources and projects you have been involved in. We’d appreciate it if you’d organise these by subject area, and indicate associated year/grade levels. Early Childhood (K-2) Kinderchat Home Base: Maps, Early Childhood Blog Directory, Wiki Resources Library, Facebook Family Forum and Newsletter, Projects Directory

● KinderPals - Kindergarten around the World

Working in the Global Classroom: A Guide to Connecting & Collaborating Globally

● Global Learning with 5 and 6 year olds (via @tashacowdy, Japan)● SkypePlay - connecting K (and gr 1,2 classes) face to face, playful connections, a

#Kinderchat Play Project http://room5superstars.edublogs.org/ - (via @miss_doig) Connecting a Western Australian class with the world through quad blogging and the 100 Word Challenge.Tech for a Global Early Childhood Education - resource site to create global learning experienceScaffolding a global learning communityK-2 Building Bridges - Flat Classroom Project (@tdallen5) English

● http://www.globalwords.edu.au/professional-learning/ (primary/secondary)● The Writer’s Club http://thenorthschool.com/writersclub/ (Primary/Secondary)● Connecting with Global Classes via Blogging● Global Read Aloud● 100 Word Challenge http://100wc.net● Quadblogging - all ages (@tdallen5)

Science

● http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/Global_Classroom.htm● http://luna-tothcollaboration.wikispaces.com/Global+Collaboration (a project between our

school in Sweden and a school in NC, USA - @smurfatik)● www.microglobalscope.org

Social Studies / HistorySocial and Cultural Values Twitter is a great way to connect students with other students, classrooms, and professionals. There is a monthly twitter chat between high school student and scientists. Checkout www.sg.sg/scistuchat1 Elementary Global Monster Project (@tdallen5)Mystery Skype (@tdallen5)