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What is a Flat Classroom™?
"The concept of a Flat Classroom™ is based on the constructivist principle of a multi-modal learning environment that is student-centered and a level playing field for teacher to student and student to teacher interaction.
The first project was founded in 2006 by two classroom teachers, Julie Lindsay (Dhaka, Bangladesh) and Vicki Davis (Camilla, Georgia) and quickly received recognition for the innovative approach of knitting two classrooms together for common authentic research and production of meaningful, unique multimedia. Since the original founding a grassroots movement of teachers has joined with the original pioneers to continue the original Flat Classroom™ project but has added Digiteen™ (Digital Citizenship), Eracism™ (Middle School Debate), the NetGenEd™ Project (originally the Horizon Project), and other projects in progress. The principles are always the same although the content is varied:
"Through project-based learning opportunities like the Flat Classroom Project and the Flat Classroom Conference, we will raise generations of leaders who understand and embrace diversity…seeing that diversity as a strength that when utilized properly can move mountains and make our world a better place." Estie Cuellar, Teacher, Spring Woods High School, Houston Texas |
Flat Classroom™ Project Links
Flat Classroom ™ Project*
http://www.flatclassroomproject.net Digiteen™ Project* http://www.digiteen.org Eracism™ Project* http://www.eracismproject.org The Flat Classroom™ Conference+* http://www.flatclassroomconference.com NetGenEd™ Project* http://netgened2010.flatclassroomproject.org (with Don Tapscott) Flat Classrooms™ Learning Network for Teachers* http://flatclassrooms.ning.com Flat Classrooms ™ Workshop+* (held every other year in the USA) http://flatclassroomworkshop2010.flatclassroomproject.org/ *Free Project or virtual activities available +In person activities are typically associated with a cost. |
Vicki's blog is the place to stay up with the news of what is happening with these projects! Go to http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com to subscribe.
Project Overviews
Flat Classroom™ Project
The Flat Classroom™ Project is a global collaborative project that joins together middle and senior high school students. This project is part of the emerging tend in internationally-aware schools to embrace a holistic and constructivist educational approach to work collaboratively with others around the world in order to create students who are competitive and globally-minded. The project was co-founded by Vicki Davis (Westwood Schools, USA) and Julie Lindsay(Beijing (BISS) International School, China) in 2006. The Flat Classroom Project 2006 is was featured in Chapter 13, 'If it's not happening it's because you're not doing it', of the latest edition of Thomas Friedman's book, The World is Flat' upon which it was based. (pages 501-503)
One of the main goals of the project is to 'flatten' or lower the classroom walls so that instead of each class working isolated and alone, 2 or more classes are joined virtually to become one large classroom. This is done through the Internet using Web 2.0 tools such as Wikispaces and Ning.
The Project uses Web 2.0 tools to make communication and interaction between students and teachers from all participating classrooms easier. The topics studied and discussed are real-world scenarios based on 'The World is Flat' by Thomas Friedman.
One of the main goals of the project is to 'flatten' or lower the classroom walls so that instead of each class working isolated and alone, 2 or more classes are joined virtually to become one large classroom. This is done through the Internet using Web 2.0 tools such as Wikispaces and Ning.
The Project uses Web 2.0 tools to make communication and interaction between students and teachers from all participating classrooms easier. The topics studied and discussed are real-world scenarios based on 'The World is Flat' by Thomas Friedman.
Digiteen™ Project: Digital Citizenship with Worldwide Collaboration and Local Action
Digiteen™ Logo
In some ways, Digiteen™ is 21st Century Character Education! Students are introduced to information through a series of videos selected by their school (there are several free options), research current digital citizenship trends and news and compile a collaborative report with other students around the world, and make fact based recommendations in their offline action project at their local school to promote safe, appropriate online behaviors.
This powerful method of teaching encompasses twenty first century skills, character education, global awareness, writing, and multimedia and is customizable to the individual school.
Applications are taken year round for the three projects run each year (Jan-Mar) (Mar-May) and (Sept-Nov.) Join us!
More Information: Go to the Digiteen™ Website for Full Information, Videos, Samples and Information to Share with Your School.
Twitter: @digiteen
This powerful method of teaching encompasses twenty first century skills, character education, global awareness, writing, and multimedia and is customizable to the individual school.
Applications are taken year round for the three projects run each year (Jan-Mar) (Mar-May) and (Sept-Nov.) Join us!
More Information: Go to the Digiteen™ Website for Full Information, Videos, Samples and Information to Share with Your School.
Twitter: @digiteen
The Eracism™ Project: A Global Collaborative Debate Promoting Cultural Understanding
This project truly bridges the divide in many ways, from the creation of the project (See the original student video) - the global voting of this project as the "winner" and student planning of the presentation topic (occurring August 2009) - students from around the world have been involved in this project from the moment it was conceived in a human brain. This presentation bridges the divide between culture, schools, countries, and even bandwidth by providing low-bandwidth methods for participants.
This is a middle school debate project promoting cultural understanding which was first piloted in September-December 2009 and will again be run in September - December 2010.
You may apply for this project.
More Information: Go to the Eracism Website for more information.
Twitter: @eracismproject
This is a middle school debate project promoting cultural understanding which was first piloted in September-December 2009 and will again be run in September - December 2010.
You may apply for this project.
More Information: Go to the Eracism Website for more information.
Twitter: @eracismproject
Flat Classroom™ Conference: DO, ACT, BECOME
The aim of the Flat Classroom Conference is to bring together geographically dispersed participants with a view to sharing ideas, using mobile computing, learning about Web 2.0 communication and collaboration tools in a flattened world, and, in the case of the workshop, working on a project theme that can be transplanted back into their home school. The selected theme will inspire unity and action as well as fostering continued connections after the actual event. It is envisaged this will improve global understanding and cement friendships for ongoing collaborations. It is also envisaged that this will provide an opportunity for students and teachers together to 'create the future' through exploration of a global or social issue and developing an 'action' plan to work globally to overcome this.
This unique conference uses a project-based learning format mixing educators and students to understand and use leading technology tools and collaborative methods to envision and create the future of education. Participants emerge having planned and understanding the project-based collaborative nature of truly flattening the classroom as well as having many contacts and friends. This is a conference where you DO, ACT, and BECOME.
Past Conference Locations include Doha, Qatar and Mumbai, India with a student/teacher workshop held in Hong Kong. Flat Classroom ™ 2011 will be held in Beijing China.
Applications for host cities are taking on a year round basis by contacting organizers.
For more information: http://www.flatclassroomconference.com
Twitter announcements are made through the @flatclassroom project account
This unique conference uses a project-based learning format mixing educators and students to understand and use leading technology tools and collaborative methods to envision and create the future of education. Participants emerge having planned and understanding the project-based collaborative nature of truly flattening the classroom as well as having many contacts and friends. This is a conference where you DO, ACT, and BECOME.
Past Conference Locations include Doha, Qatar and Mumbai, India with a student/teacher workshop held in Hong Kong. Flat Classroom ™ 2011 will be held in Beijing China.
Applications for host cities are taking on a year round basis by contacting organizers.
For more information: http://www.flatclassroomconference.com
Twitter announcements are made through the @flatclassroom project account
The NetGenEd™ Project
http://netgened2010.flatclassroomproject.org/
Award winning author, Don Tapscott, and award winning global collaborators Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis (co founders of the Flat ClassroomTM Project) are excited to announce the 2010 NetGenEd Project, another global collaboration to envision the future of education and social action by inspiring today's students to study leading technology trends and create their vision for the future.
This is the second NetGenEd Project collaboration between the two organizations with the 2009 project announced at the Flat Classroom conference in Doha Qatar 2009. The 2009 Net Generation Education Project was the replacement for the Horizon Project and included 10 schools with more than 300 students. The application process is now open for schools who wish to participate in the project in March - May of 2010.
In this project, students will study and "mash up" the results of the 2010 Horizon Report from the New Media Consortium and Educause and Tapscott's book Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. Students will study the current research and create wiki-reports with their student partners around the world analyzing current trends and projecting future happenings based upon this collaborative analysis. This project is managed by the students who assume roles such as project manager, assistant project manager, and editors of the various wikis.
After compiling their wiki reports based upon current research, and encouraged by "expert advisors" (subject matter experts in the industry), students will then create a video in one of two strands. Video strand I competition will be the NetGenEd Challenge where students are asked to envision the future of education based upon current global technological trends. Video Strand II Competition is the Macrowikinomics Challenge where students envision the future of global social action based upon their research in current global technological trends. The video challenge will also be open to the public for submissions beginning March 1st. Applications are opened each January and February.
For More Information: NetGenEd Wiki and Ning
Twitter: @netgened
Award winning author, Don Tapscott, and award winning global collaborators Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis (co founders of the Flat ClassroomTM Project) are excited to announce the 2010 NetGenEd Project, another global collaboration to envision the future of education and social action by inspiring today's students to study leading technology trends and create their vision for the future.
This is the second NetGenEd Project collaboration between the two organizations with the 2009 project announced at the Flat Classroom conference in Doha Qatar 2009. The 2009 Net Generation Education Project was the replacement for the Horizon Project and included 10 schools with more than 300 students. The application process is now open for schools who wish to participate in the project in March - May of 2010.
In this project, students will study and "mash up" the results of the 2010 Horizon Report from the New Media Consortium and Educause and Tapscott's book Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. Students will study the current research and create wiki-reports with their student partners around the world analyzing current trends and projecting future happenings based upon this collaborative analysis. This project is managed by the students who assume roles such as project manager, assistant project manager, and editors of the various wikis.
After compiling their wiki reports based upon current research, and encouraged by "expert advisors" (subject matter experts in the industry), students will then create a video in one of two strands. Video strand I competition will be the NetGenEd Challenge where students are asked to envision the future of education based upon current global technological trends. Video Strand II Competition is the Macrowikinomics Challenge where students envision the future of global social action based upon their research in current global technological trends. The video challenge will also be open to the public for submissions beginning March 1st. Applications are opened each January and February.
For More Information: NetGenEd Wiki and Ning
Twitter: @netgened
