I’ve been doing reading on flatclassroom projects and reading through Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat. I’ve been intrigued by the ideas presented by Friedman and the whole idea that the world is indeed becoming flatter as we have access to many new and different technologies. My conversations with Missprofe and mscofino are examples of how we can communicate and find new people who are willing to engage with us in a discussion of what is happening around the world. I’m watching the flatclassroom project that Snow Lake, M.B., Canada (Clarence Fisher) is doing withVirginia, U.S.A (Lee Barber), miscofino and Cartagena, Columbia (Jamie Hide) with great interest as I debate how to get my own students involved in such a project.
Today, while meeting to organize a transitional meeting for our grade 12’s, I threw out the idea that the world is flattening and we are no longer limited to a physical place for pursuing ideas or education or dreams. Well, I’m now doing the opening keynote at the beginning of the day for the students focusing on the idea of the Flat World. Anyone have 45 minutes worth of things to offer?
I’m always looking for an opportunity to talk with students about the need them to be aware how the world is changing and how the society we live in is no longer just our Canadian one but a global society that will reflect the learning taking place in a number of places and will need a whole set of skills that are just beginning to emerge. We are no longer limited to just our immediate social environment but we have the ability to reach different places, some which are real and some which are virtual, all while still being in touch with the one that surrounds us. We are beginning to realize we are connected in many different ways and as those connections are redefined and strengthened, we will see new ways of interaction, discussing and problem-solving.
Seems funny that it has taken me so long to actually give a presentation to anyone about online learning environments and the options that are available yet I finished my MEd. degree in 2001 online, have been working on getting my coaching certificate for Harvard Graduate School of Education in order to facilitate online work and I’ve been working very hard to increase my use and student use of web2.0 techologies this past year.
So, I have 45 minutes, what are some of the key ideas that I should cover? Because the knowledge that surrounds me in the blogosphere is filled with great and key ideas, I figure I’ll throw this out and see if anyone responds (or will it end up like my other book club idea?) Hope not:)
7 responses so far ↓
My suggestion is to do a brief history of the world– I read a brilliant article that talked about (among other things) the way we acquire knowledge has changed– for example how a few people who could read and write controlled knowledge, and therefore “power” and how the printing press changed all of that. And from there we had books, and schools, and now the Internet. I can’t remember who wrote the article, but I’m guessing it may have been Alan November or David Thornburg. In other words, put this flattening world into context of other changes that have taken place throughout history. Here’s a link to some of Thornburgs articles, but the titles aren’t ringing any bells: http://www.tcpd.org/Thornburg/Handouts.html
It was Ian Jukes! Here’s the article:
http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/MAY01_Issue/article01.html
I’m sorry I can’t help you with ideas for your key note address. I’m just a newbie at all this.- learning quickly. But, I want to thank you for giving me an idea for a unit for my grade 12 Learning Strategies Class. When you wrote “I’m always looking for an opportunity to talk with students about the need them to be aware how the world is changing and how the society we live in is no longer just our Canadian one but a global society that will reflect the learning taking place in a number of places and will need a whole set of skills that are just beginning to emerge ” , I thought yes – that’s a topic my grade twelve class needs to explore.
Book Club idea. Don’t give up on it. I though I was too busy but you know what, I’m not. ( I wish I could find a way to teach, read, sew, knit, blog, and surf the web all at the same time) So, it you are still going to go with it, I would be delighted to take part. Keep mentioning it and maybe others will see that they can make the time. I once heard a highly successful sales person claim that it takes eleven “pitches” to sell something.
Woohoo, Kelly! Congratulations!
Here are some thoughts off the top of the noggin.:)
I would remind the students that while the Flat World concept allows them to connect globally, there’s still a lot of “flattening” that needs to happen in their own communities, including the school community. For me, the Flat World concept not onlt refers to edtech, but to interpersonal connections and communication: what we can give to each other, and what we can learn from each other.
Wow! Your blog has been such a great find for this global Canadian teacher! I loved, loved, loved, Friedman’s book (although quite American in focus) and wrote a very mediocre article for the upcoming Coming of Age 2nd edition about it (who can do the book justice?). I just wanted to offer a couple of ideas about creating flat classroom projects of your own.
1) Don’t underestimate the power of skype in the classroom! My students are begging to have a real audio/video conversation with our partners in other places in the world. My IT director has very kindly enabled skype in both of my classrooms just recently and I can’t wait for my students to have that access. Think of the possibilities – interview skills, cross-cultural communication, “getting real” with someone your own age in different geographical location, just to name a few. I am certain that almost every one of my students has a cell phone, but something about talking to someone in a different culture has truly excited them! We have had a few conversations already with some students in Virginia and Illinois and it was a very positive experience.
2) Wikis rock for collaborative projects. Easy to use, discussion-enabled, some of my students’ best work are on wikis this year!
3) Make sure the content is tied in closely to standards and existing curriculum – it can be done! However, that being said, make it as rich an authentic learning experience as possible. For example, I have a collaborative literature exchange ongoing with a class in Israel. It is a tandem learning project – the students in Israel are presenting literature based on/about the city of Jerusalem, we are presenting lit. based on/about Montréal/Québec culture and history. We are using a moodle and a wiki to facilitate the exchange.
4) Check out the portals that exist to provide matches for classes and schools looking for an exchange project. Global SchoolNet provides one such portal. For the project with the Israeli students, I am working with the Israeli Pedagogical Network for Collaborative Learning. Of course, your own social network may provide the riches opportunities and should not be overlooked as a source!
Once again, so exciting for me to make this find! My father was born in Saskatchewan – a little place called Rockhaven that may no longer even exist (near North Battleford) and I still have many relatives in the Lloydminster area.
And seven children!! I admire anyone who had more than three (that was my limit!).
Blessings, Sharon
‘Flat’ falls Flat! …
http://www.mkpress.com/flat
Best wishes,
–scottie
Harvard Graduate School Of Education…
I don’t agree with you in 100%, but you covered some good points regarding this topic…
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