Good idea?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by kherron on June 5, 2007 at 10:06pm

Wikis, Real Life/Second Life Dances, Online video/wiki/... where students create it and public reviews to share content learned - students teaching students and teachers, ok my mind is spinning - have more but would take a while. Click on about anyone on classroom 2.0 and there is an idea out there! Now can I find the time to make them real! Yes, just be patient! Like the idea of this forum so we can write them down and keep sharing!

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on June 5, 2007 at 10:12pm

Thanks for putting something out there. I agree that this is THE hotspot to go for great ideas! There is one more place...the week of July 9 in Hutch...this is time for like-minds and change-agents to really make the world work. You are SO invited to come--and I'm not extending this invite lightly.

But again, you have a family who needs you too! Perhaps you could come in virtually?

Permalink Reply by Paul Bogush on June 8, 2007 at 8:33pm

It is an Ah-ha moment that I have about this time every year. I have a group of kids who come back for a reunion the first week of June each year(June 4 this year). As we sit together and just talk I always go Ah-ha and remember that these are real deep kids...not just the ones that come back, but all of our students. We just have to stop and take the time to get to know them. I go ah-ha and am reminded to stop, especially at this time of the year, and remember to talk to them face-to-face, spirit to spirit. It is the most important thing in the world to do as a teacher if you truly want to make a difference. As I add more technology to my class it seems as though I am also removing some of that spirit to spirit time. But what I have found is that I have connected with kids through wiki based discussions that I never would have otherwise and that connection carried over to class. With all the talk about classroom 2.0 tools being useful for connecting kids to the world, we can't forget we have to first connect the kids in our class with one another and with ourselves.
Peace,
Paul

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on June 9, 2007 at 6:40am

Paul,
What a terrific story and a true lesson! We hear so much about how technology separates us from one another, but in my experience, it's been a conversation starter, and also something else to connect on for some of my kids and me. We do need to be sure we're using the tools to build relationships too! Thank you for sharing!

Permalink Reply by Christine Southard on June 24, 2007 at 3:59am

Hi Ginger,

Ever since we skyped last week, I've felt an "Ah-Ha" every time I've heard anyone discuss "collaboration." Blogs are wonderful, wikis are too, but skyping from classroom to classroom just seemed to have so much more of an "Ah-Ha" associated with it.

The world is changing, quicker than we can keep up with it. There are many issues that are occurring real-time throughout our world that young people are passionate about.

Safely connecting from class to class, teacher to teacher, we have an opportunity to connect globally to discuss what is happening around the world and we are no longer confined to the four walls of our classroom. It's like taking a ride on the Magic School Bus, without even leaving our room.

Connecting with you, no matter how brief, was a real awakening for me. It was exciting because this tool has the potential to be a great change in education, even in elementary school.

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on June 25, 2007 at 6:07pm

Well, as a solidly developed Secondary teacher, I would LOVE to see high schools and middle schools take the lead in educational reform. However, as a realist, I know my colleagues at this level and know that it will likely be the LAST to change! As a middle school teacher, I've been able to begin services for students in 7th/8th grades and kind of "force the issue" to be addressed at the high school level.

So now that I'm teaching grades 5-8, I can show that educational reform can happen at these levels and also am causing the students who leave my school to go back to a traditional high school to have the tools to ask, nay, demand a better education at the high school. It's a tough going, but students' tools of communication are so very important with this fight!

Permalink Reply by JoNelle on July 24, 2007 at 3:36pm

I plan to partner with our high schol this year. I will teach 2-5 technology classes and a computer club in the mornings before school. My initial plan for partnering was focused around podcasting -new learning for all concerned.
Know of any established partnerships that I could contact?
Hmmm- it just hit me- if they cannot physically come to our school - we can set up a wiki or blog for this partnership.

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on July 24, 2007 at 3:42pm

And initially, to be sure that your collaboration is set up as you like it, you can also meet via Skype! ;-)

Permalink Reply by Craig Scribner on October 7, 2007 at 8:23pm

Christine,
My name is Craig Scribner and I am the Technology Integration and Curriculum Specialist for a K-5 building in Maize, Kansas. I have been following your blogs and your wiki and would love the opportunity for some of my students to collaborate with your students. If at all possible, let me know what types of collaboration you can fit in this year. I have posted a Voicethread and Wiki about Christmas/Holidays Around the World that I would love for you to comment on and share. Thank you for all of your ideas. Let me know if you have some free collaboration time.

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on December 20, 2007 at 5:02am

Hi Craig! I just saw this and remembered that my good friend, Kristin Kuhlmann, now works as an administrator at Maize Middle School! Tell her hello for me (if you see her) and be sure to mention that you met me here--she's one who'd really support true learning in the 2.0 sense of this network!

btw--Christine is GREAT to collaborate with, so keep with her if she's not responded. She and her partner-teacher Lisa Parisi are doing some amazing connecting on behalf of their kids!

Permalink Reply by JoNelle on July 24, 2007 at 3:27pm

I just recently joined this network and have had so many "ah-ha" moments I had to run to school and tell the secretary at school about all of the new tools out there waiting for us.
Although familiar with some of these tools- the value in meaningful learning for elementary level students was not clear to me until recently.
Using wikis - what a great way to add new dimensions to projects.
Blogging - the uses for teacher collaboration will be a great help for me this year. I will be working with students and teachers during the school day this year. Plans and ideas for integrating technology will be so easily shared this way.
Voicethreads (that was shared by Susan in this network) will get a great work out this year -what a great concept.
One of my next goals will be to use my webcam with skype - I have put it off because I am not comfortable with it yet. I will read what folks in here do with it to see about it - not quite sold yet.

I need to experiment with wikis and blogging with a group. Today's aha was that what I envision may not be how each of these tools actually works in a computer lab setting.
Last year we made many videos on many different topics. We used Digital Blue Movie Creator, Movie Maker, and Photstory3.After seeing dotsub.com, I see that my students can edit each others videos and include translations.

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on July 24, 2007 at 3:37pm

So glad to see you're finding value in our conversations here--me too! Everytime I log on, I have an ah-ha too! :)

Skype--I think the best way for my school to use Skype is as a collaboration outlet with other classes. Not every student needs to be able to log on. Several kids can crowd around one computer and talk to another class. I'm excited about using Skype to collaborate with other teachers! You get to know a little more about a person than simply through network, email, or IM interactions. (or at least I do!)

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