Connecting Classrooms- Collaboration Projects
So, while I was listening/watching Kim and Jen’ presentation Connecting Classrooms Across Continents: Planning and Implementing Globally Collaborative Projects and taking notes, my thoughts were with our current collaboration project with Argentina.
We started out with a shared Google Document (screenshot below) to create a time line of shared activities as well school specific tasks each of the school was working on a weekly basis.
Each school adds color coded comments, time zone converted hours and dates. The Google Document is the collaborative workspace for the teachers involved.
To upload and share images, text and other media that will be created for and by the students we are using a Wiki.
So far we have left the wiki a private space, since students are creating a video with pictures and personal information.
The more I listened to Kim explain
- the importance of preparing the project
- defining clear expectations from BOTH sides to avoid disappointments
- communication, communication, communication
- authentic assessment, reflection, follow up
the more it becomes evident that I need to get more organized to make each collaboration project the best it can be.
The following are visuals created with MS PowerPoint 20007′s Smart Art ( I love that feature 
) based on Kim and Jen’s K12 presentation. This is how the information and wealth of tips they shared made sense to me.
The Process of a Connecting Classrooms for Collaboration Projects
The Process in the Implementation Stage
Here is a template that I worked on with my colleague’s Paige McGee and Katie Bennett. You can view the template on Google Docs. Please let me know any suggestions you might have, that has helped you when planning and communicating on a collaboration project with other educators.
Silvia, totalmente de acuerdo en que el éxito de un proyecto colaborativo, depende casi exclusivamente en la planificación, en la “Vorarbeit” y en este en particular que tuvimos 2 meses para trabajar en conjunto y que se pudo integrar en la currÃcula (se adaptaron los contenidos planificados anteriormente al proyecto) Hubo muchos actores involucrados en el caso de la escuela nuestra. Inglés, Lengua, Matemática y Alemán y que estuviera claro qué tema en qué momento es lo que posibilitó que para docentes y alumnos no surgieran problemas. Hay que organizarse, planificar muy bien, pero estar abierto también a los imprevistos, los que siempre aparecen y es lo que le da vida al proyecto colaborativo. Espero poder compartir otros proyectos colaborativos contigo… aprendà muchÃsimo!!! Gracias!!!
These are amazing! Thank you so much for taking the time to develop these resources – I can hardly believe that they were inspired by our presentation (you’re definitely making us look very good!).
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about making simple visuals like this – I need to start doing it more often. They are so powerful and easy to understand.