Collaborations Around the Planet

1. Collaborations Around the Planet Janine Lim Berrien RESA janine.lim@berrienresa.org www.twice.cc Blog: bcisdvcs.wordpress.com

2. Student Project Centrally managed & coordinated Information about how to participate is provided, dates and times are set Monster Match Read Around the Planet Texas History Mystery Collaboration Kid2Kid Begins with an idea from a teacher Requires finding your own partner Most classroom collaborations are point-to-point The teacher describes what they want their partner class to do Definitions • Glaser, R. (February 1, 2008). Videoconference Glossary. http://www.edlink12.net/vcrox/2008/02/01/videoconference-glossary/

3. Why Projects and Collaborations?

4. Who’s Asking?

5. Tech Coordinator “We bought VC. How do we get teachers to use it?” • FREE • Most closely matches curriculum • Can be most powerful VCs

6. Teacher “What’s the value to my students?” Owston 2007 • multicultural understanding and greater positive self-concept Cifuentes & Murphy 2000 • greater understanding of time, distance, and understanding other children Yost 2001 • learn from other viewpoints Martinez & MacMillan, 1998

7. Curriculum Director “How does VC meet state curriculum standards?” • tailored to curriculum goals • adapted to curriculum goals • created from/within curriculum goals

8. Professor “Did anyone think about the learning theory?” • social constructivism - we learn by talking to othersVygotsky • constructivism - use of VC has a positive relationship with teachers’ preference for constructivismSweeney 2007 • authentic audience Warschauer 1997

9. Why do you do collaborative projects? Give some examples...

10. Exchange Format • Project: Read Around the Planet • Project: Michigan Exchange • Collaborations • Pakistan • Earthworms • ESL • Robots

11. Multipoint Formats • MysteryQuest World Geography • International MysteryQuest • MysteryQuest USA • Texas History Mystery • Invasive Species • Poetry Cafe

12. What is TWICE? • www.twice.cc • K12 videoconferencing organization • Volunteer board members, mostly from educational service agencies • Read Around the Planet • ASK Programs and Michigan Week • Discounts with providers

14. Read Around the Planet • Verification Registration Opens Nov. 1 • Teacher Registration Opens Dec. 1 • Teacher Registration Closes (mid Jan) • Matches Announced (end of Jan) • English & World Languages February 23 - March 6, 2009

15. Read Around the Planet

16. A directory based on Read Around the Planet • A way to add VC friends & find new VC friends • A way to create collaborations • More tools to come… • projects.twice.cc or polycom.com/education/PCATP

17. Designing Projects • What is my required curriculum? • What can my students learn from connecting to another class? • How does it add value to the lesson? • What benefit is gained in greater curriculum understanding because the students collaborated with another class?

18. Designing Projects • ISTE NETS Standards • Technology communications tools • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. • Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

19. Collaborative VCs Wiki • collaborativevcs.pbwiki.com • Hosted by Berrien RESA • Available for anyone to add to it • Growing collection of written ideas for collaborative VC projects

20. Other Collaboration Tools • CILC Collaboration Centerwww.cilc.org/c/community/collaboration_center.aspx • Global Leap, UKwww.global-leap.com • Internet2 K20 Musek20.internet2.edu • Janet Collaborate, UKwww.global-leap.com • K12 Videoconferencing in Ontariovideoconference.commun-it.org • VC Albertavcalberta.ca/socialnetwork

21. Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections • www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/picc/ • Cost: $150 (bulk discounts available) • 1 graduate semester credit • 1 week intro to VC; 1 week on content providers; 1 week on preparation; 1 week on projects • "As a media specialist, I think this course would be extremely useful for my teachers and staff."

22. Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections • www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/k2k/ • Cost: $200 (bulk discounts available) • 2 graduate semester credits • Collaborative community online • Week 1: Developing a project idea • Week 2: Planning and advertising • Week 3&4: Preparing for a project • Week 5: Participating in a project • Week 6: Evaluating projects

23. Questions? Janine Lim, janine.lim@berrienresa.org TWICE: www.twice.cc CAPspace: projects.twice.cc BCISD DL: www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl Blog: bcisdvcs.wordpress.com Wiki: collaborativeVCs.pbwiki.com Online Classes: Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/picc Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/k2k

24. Bibliography • Cifuentes, L., & Murphy, K. L. (2000). Promoting multicultural understanding and positive self-concept through a distance learning community: cultural connections. Educational Technology Research and Development, 48(1), 69-83. • Martinez, M. D., & MacMillan, G. (1998). A Joint Distance Learning Course in American Government (No. ED428005). • Owston, R. (2007). Contextual factors that sustain innovative pedagogical practice using technology: an international study. Journal of Educational Change, 8(1), 61-77. • Sweeney, M. A. (2007). The use of videoconferencing techniques which support constructivism in K-12 education. Dissertation Abstracts International. • Warschauer, M. (1997).Computer-mediated collaborative learning: Theory and practice. Modern Language Journal, 81(3), p. 470-481. Also at http://www.gse.uci.edu/person/markw/cmcl.html • Yost, N. (2001). Lights, Camera, Action: Videoconferencing in Kindergarten. Paper presented at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference.