21st Century Skills: Use Web-Based Scenarios to Teach Collaboration -Free YEAR LONG Subscription

Using collaborative technologies is a natural way to get our kids engaged and participating in their own education. The Tregoe Education Forum is offering free subscriptions to use the collaborative SCAN® tool on www.yourtake.org that will harness student’s enthusiasm for online discussions in a protected venue. SCAN® is an acronym for a framework that helps students to organize their thinking and develop their own “take” on a situation while considering relevant data, information and the perspectives of others. Much like the brainstorming process, SCAN® helps kids work through complex issues in steps. The SCAN® tool allows teachers to set up unique lessons choosing from over 100 scenarios based on current or historical issues (or write your own!). Students go the unique computer generated url and read an authentic scenario with different points of view. The SCAN® tool takes the students through 4 simple steps as they role-play and “discuss” the issues involved. After on-line discussion, students assess the issues and together they develop a plan to address them. Yourtake.org® will get kids to appreciate multiple perspectives as they develop critical and creative thinking, reading, writing, problem solving and decision making skills.

Getting Started is easy:
1. Log on to www.yourtake.org/educators and click on “watch the video” to see a short video on how it works, then register, activate a subscription –just once-using the free code “teffriend”
To set up a lesson that is ready for your class in 10 minutes:
2. Choose a scenario from over 100 available on the website on authentic current, and historical topics as varied as alcohol use, Brown vs. BOE, cell phones in school, etc.
3. Add links and assessments.
4. Print out a worksheet with the unique url for your lesson.
5. You have a lesson ready for your class in 10 minutes!
Note: for extra help click on “download a user’s guide” for a how-to with screen shots OR click on the “watch our teacher webinar video” to see a demonstration of the SCAN® process and how to set up a lesson. (or sign up for a free LIVE webinar through sanwoz@gmail.com)