February+18th+Collaborative+Plan

The purpose of our February 18th Collaborative Plan is to look at some tools that we can partner with the video conferencing technology we examined on February 10th. I hope that people leave with at least one 'Web 2.0' tool they can utilize in their classroom and can see how that tool can strrengthen a video conference event because I believe the children are our future.

Wikis
 * //__What__//**: A 'wiki' is a website that allows online collaboration among people anywhere in the world. The theory behind a wiki is that 2 (or 20) heads are better than one.

//**__Where__**//: We are using www.wikispaces.com Wikispaces is a free wiki designed for use in schools. However, there are many wiki websites available.

//__**Who**__//: A wiki, such as this one, can be created by a teacher and then students (or anyone) can manipulate the content of the page.

__//**How**//__: Students (or others) join the 'wiki'. Hopefully since you are reading this, I have successfully helped you join this wiki. They then click the edit button in the upper right hand corner, edit/manipulate/add/correct/change/etc. the content, click save, and the world is a better place.

__//**How can I use this in my classroom:**//__ 50 ways to use a wiki in your classroom will hopefully get your creative juices flowing. In addition, I think that a powerful way to use this tool could be across the curriculum and across grade levels. For example, a student in my 1st block World History class can collaborate with a student in my 3rd block World History class. A great biology student not enrolled in the AP biology could collaborate with the AP students at times. An AP government student analyzing the social contract could collaborate with a 9th grade student who is beginning to understand the social contract. A sophomore/junior (??) student reading //Farenheit 451// could collaborate on themes with a freshman student reading //Night.// The possibilites are endless!!

__//**How can I use this with video conferencing:**//__ If the above website did not get you going, check out The Flat Classroom Project. (Tip- watch the documentary outside the portal sometime) This type of collaboration is what has me excited about the future of education and I firmly believe this is the direction we can and should head. This type of collaboration, through video conferencing and wikis, can create real world and relevant learning opportunities for kids. The possibilities are endless and gives kids access to data, ideas, perspectives, cultures, environments, etc. that have not been accessible and usable before. For example, a student in Kansas Natural History could complie and analyze their data through a wiki and then collaborate/compare/analyze with students in Maine Natural History.

In addition, I think a wiki can be used after a video conference event to review, compile information, analyze, etc. as a wrap up or further development of ideas/themes/content.

ePals __//**What**//__: ePals is a collaboration tool that gives students email addresses and opportunities to email with students all over the world.

__//**Where**//__: Literally anywhere in the world. Your only limit is the people who are looking for an 'epal' for their classroom.

__//**Who**//__: In our building, Adrianne Lehrman's class is currently talking with students in Turkey (I think I have that right!).

__//**How**//__: The teacher signs up, looks for classrooms around the world looking to collaborate, and then the magic happens

__//**How can I use this in my classroom**//__: This is an easier method of collaboration than the video conferencing. It may also be more personal than the video conferencing. Students can personalize their collaboration and then use this in conjunction with a wiki to collaborate. Again, I think the possibilities are endless for what you can do with a collaboration tool.

__//**How can I use this with video conferencing**//__: ePals might be a great way to follow up after a video collaboration, to dialogue about a wiki collaboration, to talk before a collaboration, etc.

**Movie Maker**

__//**What**//__: Movie Maker is a Windows program that allows students to...... wait for it....... make videos.

__//**Where**//__: Movie Maker is loaded on all the student and teacher laptops. It can be found by going to the start menu and then 'all programs'.

__//**Who**//__: This is a great tool for students and for teachers.

__//**How**//__: It looks intimidating at first, but is really pretty easy to use. You will spend more time choosing the content of the video than making the actual movie itself.

__//**How can I use this in my classroom**//__: There are a lot of applications for this in the classroom. Examples and websites for it's use can be found here. I think the exciting part for students and teachers is that they can bring in their own videos, etc. to create meaningful content. Below is my attempt at a movie maker project- the students were to create a documentary about The Great Depression. They were to explore a theme through pictures, charts/graphs, short quotes, and long quotes. After one time through, there are things I will fix for the next time out. But, here is an example of what was created:

media type="file" key="Derrick Mathern Dust Bowl Documentary.wmv" align="center" width="300" height="300"

__//**How can I use this with video conferencing**//__: Movie Maker has very practical uses when collaborating with other classrooms around the world. If you couple Movie Maker with a wiki, the collaboration can become more meaningful. For example, a collaboration with a group of students in Jordan about the impact of religion in our lives will be more powerful if students bring in pictures and videos, compose a 'Day in our Life' documentary- complete with interviews, video footage, etc. to share with each other. This type of sharing will allow for a deeper understanding of the topic and will lead to a deeper discussion through additional questions. Another great use would be video footage of a science experiment that shows students in our environment gathering specimens for the experiment.

There are also video creation websites available where students could collaborate in creating one video that includes information from all parties.  **Google Docs**
 * A couple of ideas that I can discuss with you/develop at a later date. Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have questions about these:**

A quick summary- google docs has the same features as a wiki webpage, but students are manipulating documents instead. I can post a document and students can go in and add/edit/delete/etc. from the document. A classroom application may be a study guide where groups are responsible for different parts of the study guide. A video conference use may be an excel spreadsheet where data can be entered and stored. You will need a google login and password to use this. ​** Discussion boards ** A quick summary- we have access to discussion boards through our School Center websites. I use these often for students to discuss topics from class. This same format could be used to hold class discussions with students anywhere in the world. The discussions can last several days with students posting when they have a chance to get online and post. ** Podcasts ** I have just heard about this use in our district. Basically, students and/or teachers can create audio files and publish those on the web. For example, a math teacher could podcast the basic instructions for an assignment and post that online for students to listen to later if they were lost/confused. I have some examples from a teacher in our district and can easily find other examples of how this is used in classrooms if you are interested.  I think everyone is pretty familiar with blogs. There are many education websites that provide blogging space for free. Again, I can provide you examples from a teacher in our district and examples from across the United States about how blogs are being used in the classroom.
 * Blogs**

In addition, there are many education blogs that talk about current trends, research, etc. A list of education blogs can be found here And here. And here.