21st Cent. Literacy classroom-4-Global Collaboration

K12 Online Conference 2007 final project part 4

In this post, I will describe the final cornerstone I see for my 21st Century Literacy Classroom: Global Collaboration.

The world is flat, again.  The first time it was a misconception, but this time it’s reality.  The internet has connected people all over the world so well, that distance has become irrelevant.  Any job that can be automated has or will be in the near future.  However, creativity cannot be automated.  Humans must do it.   The jobs of the 21 century will be jobs of innovation and collaboration, and people in the 21st century workforce from all over the world will collaborate in teams to create projects.

Are our school preparing our students for a 19th century industrial society or a 21st century connected one?  If we are to prepare them for an innovative and collaborative world, then our classrooms need to reflect it.  Our students need experiences that take them outside the box of the classroom and onto the world stage of the internet, or at least display them our global frig doors.

First, students need to connect with other students around the world.  Did you know they already are outside the classroom?  We are doing them no favors by leaving connectedness outside the classroom.  (Cellphones anyone?)  By connecting them to a global community they learn to share.  They learn to negotiate.  They learn to cooperate.  They learn to synergize.  Social networks like Think.com are great places to find projects that do just that.  I haven’t yet figured out how to find a project to do with someone on there, but I may try again.

Then, by collaborating online, students develop an appreciation for those who are not like us.  They experience different cultures, different languages, different perspectives, and different ways for approaching problems.  Diversity makes us stronger, expands our minds, and builds our spirits.  The one way to break down the walls of prejudice is by meeting those who are different than us and discovering that in many ways we are alike.  You don’t get that from a textbook.

Finally, students create together.   Ideas spark new ideas which are built on by still more ideas.  I know I always work better when I can talk through an idea with someone.  Creating something brings pride in our accomplishments, but creating together additionally brings in a special camaraderie brought only by a mutual pride in their creation.  Did you know they already are?  They are creating their own text messages, Facebook pages, Youtube videos, blogs, and wikis.  Shouldn’t we teach them how to learn with them?

In my class, I have done a couple collaboration projects before.  The M&M Data Survey was a very quick and easy data-collection collaboration project.  I did the Egg Roll project with Projects By Jen, and I’ll probably do more projects with them this year.  I have done Flat Stanleys a couple times, and they were a lot of fun.    I have heard many good things about the ePals Global Community, and may give them a try.  I have always wanted to try finding a Global Schoolhouse project, but never had time.  Finally, I had always thought the JASON Project the looked really cool for science, but the projects were always for students older than mine.

Projects are a lot of work and require a lot of planning.  However, the payoffs are powerful.  Excitement, engagement and learning are huge with these projects.  It could be easy to get carried away with collaboration projects, and I’ll have to be sure I don’t get in over my head and run out of time before I run out of curriculum.  One problem with having so many projects available is you have to sort through so many to find ones that do will fit well into your curriculum.  They are there.  You just have to find them.

Let me wrap up this sketch of a 21st century classroom.  You can teach the four principles of a 21st century classroom (Digital Citizenship, Critical Reading, Authentic Writing, and Global Collaboration) without technology, but reading, writing, citizenship, and group work are not the same.  Good teaching is good teaching.  It uses effective teaching methods centered the students.  School 2.0 is about effective teaching, but the technology adds rocket fuel to the learning.  Not only is the technology motivating, but it allows students to connect in ways never before possible.  A 21st century classroom helps prepare students for the flat world of the future.

NETS for Students Standards by ISTE

Correlation with the NETS

Communication and Collaboration

a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.

Research and Information Fluency

a. plan strategies to guide inquiry.
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
d. process data and report results.

Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
a. Students identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
d. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

21st Century Skills Framework

Correlation with the 21st Century Skills

Creativity and Innovation

• Demonstrating originality and inventiveness in work
• Developing, implementing and communicating new ideas to others
• Being open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Exercising sound reasoning in understanding
• Making complex choices and decisions
• Understanding the interconnections among systems
• Identifying and asking significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions
• Framing, analyzing and synthesizing information in order to solve problems and answer questions

Communication and Collaboration

• Demonstrating ability to work effectively with diverse teams
• Exercising flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal
• Assuming shared responsibility for collaborative work

Life and Career Skills

• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Initiative & Self-Direction
• Social & Cross-Cultural Skills
• Productivity & Accountability
• Leadership & Responsibility

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1 comment.

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