Small World

Jennifer Saccoccio Pam Cranford
saccoccioj@woisd. cranfordp@woisd.
net net

It’s a Small World
After All

Creating a Glob al Learning Community
within the Classroom

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

http://todaysmeet.com/
smallworld

lease join us in our backchannel room
P
where you m ay comment or ask
questions during th is presentation.


What is a global learning
community?
It is a setting that
promotes learning
through communicating
with people from
differing towns, time
zones, or even
continents.


The ABC’s of Creating a
Global Learning Community
A - Affable
B - Bravery
C - Commitment


A - Affable

Others should view your classroom
as one that is easy to talk to and
friendly.

Otherwise, if others view your
classroom in a negative light, it will
hinder your ability to grow your
global learning community.


B - Bravery
This is going to be
uncomfortable! Trying new
things ALWAYS is!

Bravery comes from taking risks.
It comes from stepping out of our
comfort zones and, for some,
incorporating technology into
their classrooms is WAY out of
their comfort zone!

Remember...it will be worth it!


C - Commitment

STICK WITH IT!! Problems
will arise, but the more you are
committed to incorporating
these technologies into your
classroom you will realize that
the kinks will work themselves
out!


So ... where do I start?

3 programs that can immediately be used to
create a global learning community:

Twitter

Skype

Classroom Blogs


Protect Your Tweets!
Click on Settings

Then click on account


PROTECT YOUR TWEETS!
Scroll down until you find the box that says
Protect my tweets and put a check in that box.

What will this do?

Why should I use t witter?

Imagine the
possibilities!


Gathering Data
How can I gather data? You can propose a
question on Twitter and ask people to respond.

Ideas of How to Use The
Data You Collect
Graphing
Science Experiments
Writing - Topics or Better
Words
Ideas about Books to Read
Reports
Compare and Contrasting
Mapping Skills
What language do you speak?


Communicate with Experts
There are a number of experts on Twitter that
are willing to talk to kids. You can find many
authors, scientists, and historians.


Short and Tweet Stories
First...Set your guidelines.

How many words do they have to stay below?

Do you want to assign a prompt or give them
the freedom of choosing?
Short
Have them first write it in a writing journal and
and edit for correctness. Tweet

Then...ready, set, TWEET!


Examples

Our guidelines:
Their stories had to
have LESS than 100
words and contain
all the story
elements.


Tweet Story
This type of story differs from the Short and
Tweet version because it is a collaboration of
tweets from various sources.

Your classroom first decides on a genre (fairy
tale, mystery, realistic fiction) and then starts the
story. Your class should only start the first few
sentences and then invite your followers to keep
it going. Extension Activity:
Work on editing skills by
combining the tweets into a
coherent story and edit for
grammatical errors.


Word Morphs
Send out a word to your Twitter followers and
ask them to give you synonyms or other
meanings of the word. From there, students can
create Wordle clouds of the original word. These
Wordle clouds can be displayed in the classroom
to be used during writer’s workshop to help
students find ‘better’ words.
Other Ideas
Antonyms
Homophones
Traits of a Good Friend
Character Traits


Book Responses
After reading a book, ask students to respond
with a personal connection that they were able to
make to the book.

This could also be an option during Read-to-Self
time. After a student finishes a self-selected
book, they can tweet their response to the story.

Alternate Activity
Instead of writing reflections, you
could ask students to write a summary
of the story.


Twitter Pals
Encourage students to find a twitter pal and
regularly converse with them via Twitter.

They should tell their Twitter Pal about their
culture, hobbies, friends, etc.

This will enable students to see how they may
differ from students in other parts of the country
or world.
Looking for
Twitter Pals


How Do I Work Twitter Into
Our Schedule?
Just send
me a Tweet.

MrsS2grade COConnections

saccoccioj pcranford


SKYPE
Skype is an application that allows users to make
“phone calls” over the internet.

When calling other Skype users, it is FREE!

So what do you need? You need internet connection,
a microphone, and a camera. (Many newer
computers come with cameras and microphones built
in.)


Privacy Tips for Using
Skype
Only answer calls from your
contact list.
Set up Skype calls in advance so
that you know when to have your
Skype account logged in.


Why should I use Skype?

Imagine the
Possibilities!


Chat With An Author
Many authors are willing to Skype into a
classroom if you contact them.

I would recommend that you come up with
questions in advance so that the interview goes
smoothly.


Guest Speakers

When you are learning about different concepts,
you can Skype-in an expert on the topic.

For example, during Fire Safety month, Skype-in
a fireman.

During Dental Awareness month, Skype-in a
dentist to demonstrate the proper way to brush
your teeth.


Global Awareness
Skype enables us to visit classrooms all over the
world and learn about the ways they differ from us.

Raise global awareness of:
different cultures
traditions
holidays
time zones
seasons
languages


Global Awareness
Skype enables us to collaborate with classrooms
ANYWHERE!

SKYPING with Third Graders in Massachusetts


Global Awareness
Skype enables us to connect when it is most
important to us.


Virtual Field Trips
Due to budget restraints and gas prices,
classrooms are having more trouble going on
field trips. However, by using Skype, students
can go on a field trip right from their classrooms.
Nasa
Buffalo Zoo
San Diego Zoo
National Constitution Center
Carnegie Museum of National
History
Amon Carter Center
Children’s Health Education Center
Coca-Cola Space Science Center


More Virtual Field Trips!
Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Elephant Sanctuary
Georgia Music Hall of Fame
Great Barrier Reef Australia HQ
Holocaust Memorial and Education Center
Independence National Historical Park
Institute of Texan Culture
Marine Education Center and Aquarium
Melbourne Zoo
Museum of Television and Radio
National Aviary
National Baseball Hall of Fame
National D-Day Museum
Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum
Ocean Institute
President Benjamin Harrison Home
Queens Botanical Garden
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum
Wetlands Institute


How do I find other classrooms
that Skype or Tweet?
There are sites that help connect teachers with other
classrooms around the world.
http://theedublogger.com/want-to-connect-with-other-classrooms/

http://www.epals.com


Or Just SKYPE with Us!

COConnections

MrsS2grade

Why should my class Blog?

Imagine the
Possibilities!


Classroom Blogs
www.coconnections.wonecks.net


Getting Started
www.wordpress.com
Add widgets to track the number people visiting your
site. This will help you gauge whether your efforts to
reach a global audience are being effective.

How can you use this
information?


Participate in Online Projects...
Pumpkin Seed Project
St.Patrick’s Graphing Project
Holiday Card Exchange


...and Blog Challenges.
These opportunities allow you to
connect and collaborate with
classrooms around the world.


Suggested places to START
online collaboration
www.outbox.wonecks.net

Online Project Hosts
Projects by Jen - Online Creative Projects for PreK-6th grade
Think Quest - The Power of Project Learning
Monster Exchange - Reading and Writing Projects for PreK-8th grade
Teacher Tap - Online Collaborative Projects
Challenge Yourself to Blog - International Student Blogging Challenge

Add others to your Blogroll
and request they add YOU.
A blogroll is a compiled listing of links (descriptions)
to recommended or favorite blogs.

Increase your blogroll by visiting other classroom
blogs. When you find one that your class enjoys, link
that blog to your blog under your blogroll.

When visiting other sites encourage communication
by commenting on their posts.

Invite other blogs to add your blog link to their
blogroll.

Register your blog with educational directories.


This was SO over whelming!
Should I tackle it ALL at the beginning of
the year? NO! Start with something that
you feel comfortable about.
Use some time this summer to
become familiar with Twitter and
Skype. Create accounts and play
around with it. Encourage your
coworkers to Skype with you.
Commit yourself to participate
in one online project next year.


Thoughts to Leave With
A man is but the product of his thoughts. What
he thinks, he becomes.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Just like laughter,
technology is contagious!


Small World

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