Let’s start with the assumption that everybody has been doing interesting work using a variety of Web 2 things on their own and/or with their students. Part of what makes this workshop so valuable is getting all you interesting, skilled and experienced teachers together in one room! Let’s use this rare opportunity to get creative about collaborating!
Try this!
Let’s have every person or school team make a post that:
- describes what you’ve been doing with Web 2 applications
- shares what you’d like to do with Web 2 and students during Term 3
- brainstorms ways in which students from other schools could participate, collaborate or co-create.
We’ll take time to read, comment and network person-2-person and see what we can come up with.
In terms of developing online curriculum projects, I’ve found this list from Web-and-Flow useful for considering how to make the most of the opportunities:
The “What-if Inventory”
Technology Resources
What do you have available in terms of hardware, software, peripherals? For example: Do all students have laptops? Can you use Skype from your schools? Are students skilled at audio / video editing? Can students use software like Photoshop or Flash? Maybe it’s using students’ iPhones or Touches in interesting ways?
Internet Potential
This is where you think about what’s online that seems like a terrific opportunity. For example: Having students use a shared account for something like Del.icio.us, Clipmarks, Diigo or Dipity. Creating Google Earth files, developing a shared Wiki, creating an ongoing podcast program, etc. I have a feeling Google’s “Street View” might be a cool playground (video, wikipedia, top-sightings).
Possible Collaborations
How could people from outside your classes/schools work with you? For example: Schools co-create a blog with student-created movies on shared themes. Partnered classes act as a real world audience and provide comments and feedback on posts. Some groups could serve as contractors to complete “out-sourced tasks” like editing videos, collecting survey data, running experiments, creating posters or logos, etc.
Special Events
What’s happening in the world that already captures student and media attention that we could leverage to educational advantage? Things like the Olympics, (jnter)national elections, global conferences, world conflicts / disasters, long-awaited movie debuts, etc.
General Resources
What do you have available outside technology that could create excitement and learning? Some examples might be: overseas excursions, local experts, school culture, sister schools, etc.
Standards / Learning Outcomes
What is something that would really benefit students’ learning? Often this is a focus on building a skill whether it is cognitive like “persuasion” or technological such as “creating podcasts”. Having a tight focus maximises the likelihood of achieving the goal.
August 13, 2008 at 11:11 am |
We are constantly workshopping the ideas presrented by Tom to see how they can enhance our students’ learning. We are using the Web 2.0 as a tool to communicate our curriculum and students’ understandings. Each student is expected to become an expert in their chosen field and create a digital portfolio to support and promote their learning.