Global Projects Fly High
Flat Connections
Press Release November 2014 - All Global Projects
Teachers and schools are invited NOW to consider joining a Flat Connections Global Project starting in February 2015. There are projects for Kindergarten level up to senior High School. Comprehensive teacher guides for each project share the aims and objectives and expected workflow and outcomes. What is really special about a Flat Connections project is the teacher community that comes together to build global learning experiences for the students - teachers tell us it is often the best professional development they have had for a long time!
A Week in the Life 14-2
‘A Week in the Life...’ led by Toni Olivieri-Barton, provides upper elementary age children the opportunity to share cultural experiences with other children around the globe. This year the theme is “Environmental Issues”. Students in mixed classroom teams share digital artifacts about their culture on Edmodo and discuss environmental issues. Currently the students are discussing the topics and reviewing survey questions that were answered by international schools. You can hear from the AWL project students themselves in November as they will be presenting their learning at the “Global Education Conference Student Summit” in November 2014!
Flat Connections Global Project
The Flat Connections Global Project led by Amy Jambor and Sheri Williams, engages high school age students in global collaboration. The students work on teams to explore the emerging technologies found in the 2014 K-12 Horizon Report. Over ten to twelve weeks, students consistently communicate, collaborate, and create in a global community.
Over 180 students across 6 schools and three countries are collaboratively sharing ideas and resources and authoring using a wiki and Google docs to co-develop the creation of an Ebook. Additionally, students will create personal multimedia responses about the specific topic they researched that will include outsourced video clips from their global team members.
Students have a unique opportunity to grow as leaders as several participants take on the role of Student Leader. Such responsibilities include conducting online student leader meetings, encouraging and supporting peers, and overseeing team research and development. Student feedback consistently references flat learning as the ultimate connected experience in education.
You can hear from the FCGP project students themselves in November as they will be presenting their learning at the “Global Education Conference Student Summit” this year!
Global Youth Debates
Global Youth Debates, led by Holly Fairbrother, is a project that provides a unique global collaborative experience in the form of a debate forum for learners aged 10-18. Bringing together schools, teachers and learners from diverse cultures across the globe, Global Youth Debates opens eyes and hearts through global competence and international mindedness whilst learners research and debate issues that bring together diverse ideas and create lasting friendships. Using a variety of web 2.0 tools, synchronous and asynchronous debating on this year’s theme of “Global Peace and Security”, allows for an authentic experience as well as develops essential transferable 21st century skills. Judges in various locations will listen to recorded debates to decide on a winning team from each round as this semester teams debate whether “Revolution is a justifiable means to global peace and security”. Teams are currently in Round 1 after completing an initial practice round. We invite additional debate teams from anywhere in the world to sign up for Round 2 beginning February 2015.
Digiteen and Digitween
Led by Theresa Allen and Helen McConaghy, the Digiteen and Digitween projects continue to give teens and tweens an important place to explore issues of digital citizenship. In this project students work in global teams to develop a researched-based topic via a Google Doc and then action projects around important digital citizenship issues based on community needs are designed and implemented by classrooms. The students build a learning community by connecting via Edmodo and use Skype or other video conferencing to further their communication throughout the project.
The students are currently working on researching one of the five areas of awareness: global, cultural, social, technical and individual as they relate to one of six competency areas. These digital competency areas are: safety & privacy; copyright, fair use & legal compliance; etiquette & respect; habits of learning & managing health and academic online activity; habits of learning & managing social media and virtual worlds online activity; literacy & fluency. The students will present their work to their school and community in December and January after their project is complete.
You can hear from the Digiteen/tween project students themselves in November as they will be presenting their learning at the “Global Education Conference Student Summit” this year!
From Connections to Community
Take this opportunity to learn more about connected and collaborative learning through this webinar recording, ‘From Connections to Community, Learn How!’, presented by Theresa Allen, and focusing on building global collaboration using Edmodo.
Join a global project starting February 2015!
Teachers and schools are invited NOW to consider joining a Flat Connections Global Project starting in February 2014. There are projects for Kindergarten level up to senior High School. Comprehensive teacher guides for each project share the aims and objectives and expected workflow and outcomes. What is really special about a Flat Connections project is the teacher community that comes together to build global learning experiences for the students - teachers tell us it is often the best professional development they have had for a long time!
Schools, educators and leaders who want to know more about Flat Connections Projects are welcome to teacher information and browse current wiki collaborations. The next set of projects will start in February 2015. Updated information, including application form, is available from the Flat Connections website NOW..
Don’t forget to explore professional development opportunities, including the online Flat Connections Global Educator certificate.
We look forward to sharing, connecting and working with you!
Julie Lindsay
Director, Learning Confluence Pty Ltd
Founder, Flat Connections
Flat Connections
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Email: admin@flatconnections.com
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