Around The World with 80 Schools
I am really thrilled about the use of Skype in the classroom. You can tell by reading the last posts about Skype:
I would like to connect my students (PreK- through 6th grade) in the next 6 months to at least 80 different schools in order to circle the globe once.
Here is the idea:
- Keep it short. Skype calls can be from one minute to no longer than 5 minutes.
- The goal is to connect with at least 80 schools in different parts of the world. Some of the schools will be in the same country or even city.
- Don’t stop until you have circled the globe with at least 80 different schools?
- Let’s connect via Skype, just to say Hello , Hola, Ni Hao, Hallo, Shalom, etc.
- Prepare with your students ahead of time, what you would share with the other school about your own and what questions would you ask? Remember you will only have up to 5 minutes for Q &A
Examples:- What languages do you speak in the country you live in?
- What continent are you on?
- How do you say “?” ?
- What is the nearest big city?
- What is the name of your president?
- What did you always wanted to know about our country?
- We will keep track of the schools we connected with on Google Maps.
- The goal is to do this in the next 6 months (January- June of 2009)
- Will you help us out? Please fill out the following Google form, so I can contact you for
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January 3rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
LOVE this idea! I can’t wait to see the results. Keep up the great work! You are truly an inspiration!
Danita
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I wish we could skype at our school! Your kids are so lucky!
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
You are always thinking Silvia! You are such an inspiration - what a great idea! Looking forward to making more connections for our students.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Great idea Sylvia. I hope you contact us. If my year level is too old for your students I could arrange for a skype call with teachers in our junior school for you.
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
What a fabulous idea, Sylvia, hope we can join in.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Hi, my class will be most willing to be involved. we love this sort of thing, being stuck on the edge of the known world, in sunny New Zealand.
Check out “Room5ians Rule!”
[a new blog will be evolving soon as i have changed schools and classes]
January 4th, 2009 at 12:37 am
A fabulous idea. Hoping we can juggle times to connect with you.
January 4th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Form all filled out - ready and raring to go! Fantastic idea Silvia!
January 4th, 2009 at 9:23 am
This is a fantastic idea! Immediately signed up my gifted 3rd through 5th graders from Southern Arizona. They have been on a few Skype conference calls and LOVED it! Just an idea - have you thought of making screencsts of the calls and including those in the Google Maps? Thanks for putting this out!
January 4th, 2009 at 10:38 am
[...] the only one thinking along these lines, already this morning I see that Langwitches is trying to arrange 80 skype calls around the [...]
January 4th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Brilliant idea, hope we make the list!
Funnily enough I’m in the process of trying to find 11 classes from around the world to be involved in a similar project later this month. If anyone here would be interested in that one as well I’ve set up a wiki at globalsmart.wikispaces.com
January 4th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Great activity Silvia. Was wondering if you could make the spreadsheet public so that schools can contact each other if they would like to do so. In a sense you are making a nice database of schools interested in connecting in this manner. I like the adhoc nature of what you are doing. Looking forward to having some of my classrooms take part.
Thanks…
January 4th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Sounds exciting and I certainly want to be part of this if we can work out the time zones.
Skyping is not a problem with out school or within China so that is helpful.
Thanks for setting everything up.
Heather
January 4th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Thank you to all that have added their contact information to the google document. We have a little less than 40 schools so far and in desperate need of schools in Europe and Africa! Please tweet and blog to your network!
Once I have 80 schools together, we will chart our journey around the world and I will start contacting you to set up a time for the skype in.
January 4th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Hi, Sylvia. Brilliant!
I’m sure you’ll only know what the kids will learn once this is over. Meanwhile, do you have some formal expectations for learning objectives before the fact?
And do you expect all 80 schools to talk with all 80? Or are you just planning your school’s trip around the world?
January 4th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
@Phil
Yes, there are learning objectives. I am in the process of putting them together and publishing on a “Around the World with 80 Schools” wiki. I will also publish the schools, that we are getting in touch with, so anybody who wants to chart their own journey around the world, can do this.
January 4th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Hello Sylvia
I would very much like to involve my class with this project. I can see so many learning opportunities for everyone involved. It is amazing to me that I already recognize so many names in the comment list. It would be an honor to be a part of this wonderful project. My class loved video chats and would jump for joy to know of another opportunity. Thanks for organizing this creative project.
January 4th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
@Maria
Looking forward to connecting with you and your Kindergarteners too.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Great idea! With Skype being from Estonia we have to be a part don’t we!!! By the way hubby works for Skype so I’ve passed this on to him too.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I am really excited to chat with another class. As teachers we have used skype among ourselves but have not used it discussion or project purposes.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
My students are in high school, but I would very much like them to meet (even briefly) kids from around the world, especially Spanish speaking countries… Thanks for starting the project!
January 5th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Looking forward to saying hello.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Hi Sylvia,
Published your call for schools at our Israel teachers Ning - http://edureshet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1119406%3ABlogPost%3A26211
Hope someone will be interested.
BTW would you be interested in Skyping with Israeli High School students?
We are a High School - http://www.nevechana.org.il/
Reuven
January 6th, 2009 at 4:27 am
[...] и за регистрация за участие може да намерите на сайта: Langwitches: The Magic of Learning through Technology. Posted: Януари 06 2009, 11:19 от maliv | с no comments Категоризирано [...]
January 6th, 2009 at 7:36 am
@Reuven
Yes we are also interested with High School students. Although we are an elementary school, I believe that a connection across age levels is equally beneficial. Please add your contact information to our Google Form.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:37 am
@Claire
Looking forward to talking to you and your students too. Will be in contact as soon as we chart our route.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:58 am
@Melanie,
Would you be able to get it unblocked for a brief skyping session?
January 6th, 2009 at 7:59 am
@Danita
Looking forward to skyping into your classroom
January 6th, 2009 at 8:00 am
@Kim
Thinking of organizing dinner party in computer lab to be able to talk to your students! Can’t wait to finally make the connection with ISB students.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:01 am
@Jenny
I think it will be beneficial to all, if we connect different age groups.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:04 am
@mrw00dy @Amanda It will be fabulous to connect with Australia and New Zealand. We are talking sleepover party/lock in in our computer lab. Will be in contact when it is worked out. When are you back in school after your summer break?
January 6th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Sounds great - i think we start back in early Feb. No doubt i twill take a wee while to get ourselves sorted. It is a new school for me.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Great idea! I have been trying to come up with a way to skype with other schools. We are just starting to learn about weather (science) and different states (social studies) and would love to get together with other schools to compare.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
[...] Comments Lisa Lucas on Around The World with 80 Schools100 Things to Do List | katie christo on 100 Things to Do Listmrw00dy on Around The World with 80 [...]
January 8th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
[...] project is called “Around the World with 80 Schools”. Silvia explains it this way in her blog post: I am really thrilled about the use of Skype in the classroom. You can tell by reading the last [...]
January 11th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I love using Skype in my classroom. I use it with a 2nd grade class in the same district. Our classes read books to each other on Fridays. I would love to particpate in this project!
January 12th, 2009 at 8:56 am
This is a GREAT idea! We don’t have any webcams at the current time, so would it be possible to participate voice only?
January 12th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Greetings,
This is a great idea! Are you still looking for classrooms/schools?
Thanks
January 15th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I would love to have our 3rd graders connect with students in other countries as part of their “country” unit they do every year. I hope you can broaden the international range of this project.
January 16th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
@Cathy
Thank you for signing up for the project. The connections we are making are incredible. Students are engaged and are learning so much from this quick in and quick out. Looking forward to talking to your 3rd graders soon.
January 19th, 2009 at 6:39 am
It is a great idea to connect students and countries via Skype!Thank you!
January 25th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Hello Silvia,
I love your project idea! I’ve used it as an example to share with my district as an argument for unblocking Skype. Your project plus Carl Fisch’s Skypecast with Daniel Pink proved to be the winning argument.
I’ll head back to school tomorrow with the possbility of introducing Skype and its possibilities for blasting beyond the walls of the classroom.
Thank you ago for your creative efforts and your generous sharing of your powerful integration of technology into the elementary classroom.
Gail
January 25th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I think this is an awesome idea and I would love to have my class be a part of it. I have been looking for a way to make geography interactive and think this is it!
January 29th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I think Skype is a great learning tool for the kids to be involved with. I have been looking for other schools to communicate with using Skype. I am excited to do something like this with my second grade students.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:34 am
[...] regular classes. Last week I was able to watch Chrissy’s class participate in Silvia’s Around the World With 80 Schools project as they Skyped with a very small school in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Our students came [...]
February 9th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Love this project! We are trying to coordinate World Time zones right now for some Skype calls with grade nine but I am promoting your project to the primary teachers - I know some will bite. Great Idea! Jill
February 9th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I hope to connect! My class would be tickled.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I am so excited about this project. We are always seeking ways to involve our students in more global projects!
February 10th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
[...] regular classes. Last week I was able to watch Chrissy’s class participate in Silvia’s Around the World With 80 Schools project as they Skyped with a very small school in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Our students came [...]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
[...] http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/01/03/around-the-world-with-80-schools/ [...]
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
[...] was scanning several tech savy educators’ blogs, when I came across Silvia Tolisano’s, Around the World in 80 Schools, project. In 2008, Silvia Tolisano, also known as Langwitches, became enraptured with using Skype [...]
February 25th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Looking forward to trying to make this work for my wee guys. Our bear is keen to see where other bear come from.
March 4th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I teach 4th grade in Owasso, OK. If anyone would like to have our classes do a joint project via skype PLEASE let me know.
March 12th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
[...] about some of the global collaboration initiatives Silvia has fostered, in particular, her current Around the World with 80 Schools project that uses Skype to connect students at her school with students in schools all over the [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 12:49 am
[...] had our latest experience with the “Around the World with 80 Schools” project today, and it was a great “messy” experience. Well it wasn’t all [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 4:46 am
We are having fun with your project. Thanks for starting us off.
March 18th, 2009 at 5:06 am
[...] in Spark, Nevada, USA. These learning experiences have come to us through Sylvia Tolisano’s Around the World with 80 Schools Project. The idea is that participants enter their class details on a wiki and then link up whenever they [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 9:05 am
[...] Acá el link al proyecto: http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/01/03/around-the-world-with-80-schools/ [...]
March 20th, 2009 at 5:58 am
This is a fantastic idea! What a great way to get kids to see the big picture of a world of learners. We are just starting and look forward to meeting with you and other students around the world. Thanks, Sylvia!
March 21st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
[...] meeting other classes across the globe, face to face, becomes a possibility. Sylvia Tolisano’s Around the World with 80 Schools Project is an amazing example of the ability to reach out and connect with all corners of the [...]
March 28th, 2009 at 6:07 am
[...] are enjoying the conversations through Sylvia Tolisano’s Around the World with 80 Schools Project and enjoyed talking to children in Chrissy Hellyer’s class at ISB, [...]
March 29th, 2009 at 5:29 am
[...] Around the World With 80 Schools: For this I plan to introduce the collaboration at a staff meeting and outline what is involved in participating in each video-conference “school visit.” I will seek out teachers each week by visiting personally and posting in the Monday staff newsletter. With the focus on the collaboration as a Lower School project planned and implemented by me, I hope to get more teachers on board to try out the waters. These visits will be celebrated through posting on a bulletin board display with a world map and shown on a slideshow containing audio and video of visits via the LCD monitor in the LS foyer. [...]
April 15th, 2009 at 5:38 am
[...] had our latest experience with the “Around the World with 80 Schools” project today, and it was a great “messy” experience. Well it wasn’t all [...]
April 16th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I teach Kindergarten in Hailey, ID and would love to Skype another classroom. Please email if you are interested. We love to Skype!
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:01 am
[...] wanted to refer to conversations and research so I started with Silvia’s post where she shares the project and links to other related posts she’s [...]
May 19th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
[...] up ideas that I will definitely be using. I’ve also signed up a couple of our learners for Around the World in 80 Schools project. We’re really looking forward to [...]
May 21st, 2009 at 10:30 am
Hello!
Have you already talked to 80 schools? I’m a brazilian journalist for Educar para Crescer website (www.educarparacrescer.com.br) and I’d like to write about your idea. Maybe some brazilian teacher get interested!
What do you tihink about that?
Many thanks,
June 5th, 2009 at 6:20 am
[...] joined me at 4:00pm to Skype a class in Jacksonville USA. The Jacksonville kids are doing a tour Around the World with 80 Schools. It was a real WOW experience for the boys as they saw and spoke to children so far away in real [...]
June 14th, 2009 at 12:47 am
[...] With Mr B link Langwitches link Jane’s E-Learning Pick of the Day link Hey Jude link Teacher Lab (Science) link Alison [...]
June 30th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
[...] Around the World with 80 Schools. This teacher is hoping to connect schools around the world through short Skype sessions. [...]
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 am
[...] Around the World with 80 Schools. This teacher is hoping to connect schools around the world through short Skype sessions. [...]