Holy Collaborations Batman!

I'm very excited to see that something may be happening with getting classes together via CR 2.0. I've heard from several people who would like to collaborate and others who are trying to help out. What a wonderful opportunity! Now, of course, comes the hard part as far as I am concerned. The logistics of having 4-6 year olds work on a project. Right now I'm thinking about the sharing of pictures, having some older kids be the scribes to share written work, or (is it possible?) sharing audio files where the kids can talk about their ideas. I realize the limitations of audio (file size, etc.) but I'd still like to pursue this angle.

Love to hear from some of you on the tech. side of things - the nuts and bolts of making this work.

Again, thanks for the support from all who are interested. Wowsers!!!

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Comment by Ginger Lewman on July 14, 2007 at 1:53pm: I don't know about working with little kids, so you'll have to pardon my ignorance there. However, if kids can take pictures, and if they can describe the pictures, I'm thinking you can put together a wiki with them about a day in the park and the types of trees that are there.

Maybe they could share actual leaves they've collected through a skype exchange with another teacher. This could be COOL especially if classes are on opposite hemispheres or in different biomes.

I think even Skype would be good about how to build a wiki page about classroom pets: names, types, food, care, favorite memories. Podcast/audio file exchanges of the same could be really cool too!

I'd think it could certainly be done, with teacher help and with good kids...? Can't remember--did I tell you about the Distance Collaborations group here?

Comment by Peter Dawson on July 15, 2007 at 7:06am: Hi Ginger,
Thanks for the great suggestions.

I'm not sure how to go about starting a wiki although I know what one is. I like that idea.

I tried skype with a friend's class last year and for whatever technical reason, wasn't too successful with it. Maybe because we also tried to use a webcam and our Board's system wasn't cooperating?? Anyway - that would certainly be the easiest and most immediately successful way for my kids to collaborate.

I have 2 VERY old digital cameras (back when they use to save to floppy!!) that I let my kids use as a centre. Some of the pictures were quite good. So that's not a problem - but a better camera would be much better.

Yes, you did tell me about the Distance Collaborations group that you started on CR2.0, and I've made one or two connections through it, so thank you for that.

Thanks again for those suggestions Ginger. This network is already paying dividends!!!!

Pete

Comment by SusanTsairi on July 15, 2007 at 9:26pm: I'm pretty sure that voicethread.com would be an excellent tool for the age group you're speaking of. It is such a versatile application and yet mangaes to stay simple to use, definitely recommend you check it out.

Comment by SusanTsairi on July 15, 2007 at 9:50pm: Your idea of having older students scribe your students work, got me thinking immediately. How about using voicethread.com, you place your student's drawings in a voicethread, they can also record themselves telling the story etc. Other students from around the world can visit their pages and leave voice messages. This doesn't even have to be with one school in particular. I'm also thinking that visitors could for instance save your students drawings and create digital stories based on them, when finished send to you for your students and maybe place on the internet for others to enjoy.

Comment by Peter Dawson on July 16, 2007 at 6:35am: You are a wealth of information Susan! Thank you. I love all these suggestions. Have you been doing this for a while?

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