Collaborations Around the PlanetJanine Lim

Berrien RESAjanine.lim@berrienresa.org

www.twice.ccBlog: bcisdvcs.wordpress.com

DefinitionsStudent 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

Glaser, R. (February 1, 2008). Videoconference Glossary. http://www.edlink12.net/vcrox/2008/02/01/videoconference-glossary/

Why Projects and Collaborations?

Who’s Asking?

Tech Coordinator

“We bought VC. How do we get teachers to use it?”

• FREE• Most closely

matches curriculum• Can be most

powerful VCs

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

Curriculum Director

“How does VC meet state curriculum standards?”

• tailored to curriculum goals

• adapted to curriculum goals

• created from/within curriculum goals

Professor“Did anyone think about the

learning theory?”

• social constructivism - we learn by talking to others Vygotsky

• constructivism - use of VC has a positive relationship with teachers’ preference for constructivism Sweeney 2007

• authentic audience Warschauer

1997

Why do you do collaborative projects?

Give some examples...

Exchange Format

• Project: Read Around the Planet• Project: Michigan Exchange• Collaborations

– Pakistan– Earthworms– ESL– Robots

Multipoint Formats

• MysteryQuest World Geography• International MysteryQuest• MysteryQuest USA• Texas History Mystery• Invasive Species• Poetry Cafe

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

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

Read Around the Planet

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2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

• 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

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?

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.

Collaborative VCs Wiki• collaborativevcs.pbwiki.c

om• Hosted by Berrien RESA• Available for anyone to

add to it• Growing collection of

written ideas for collaborative VC projects

Other Collaboration Tools• CILC Collaboration Center

www.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

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."

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

Questions?Janine Lim, janine.lim@berrienresa.orgTWICE: www.twice.ccCAPspace: projects.twice.ccBCISD DL: www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dlBlog: bcisdvcs.wordpress.comWiki: 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

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.