Edublogs webinar overview – the Global Classroom project

Introduction

In this session, recorded as always, we heard from Michael Graffin about the variety of projects that have formed part of the “Global Classroom Project” (#GlobalClassroom) this year.

The Session

Michael took us on an incredible journey. He started with some background, firstly explaining how the Global Classroom came about and its reach both geographically and in numbers. Then moving on to the aims and ethos of the community.

For me the most exciting part was the project stories – Michael shared the project stories and some of the highlights of the year. We were lucky in that Lin-Lin Tan from Taiwan, one of the teachers involved in several projects was able to join the session. She told us a little about how the Global Classroom projects have affected her and her students.

Michael moved on to consider some of the impacts of Global Classroom on teachers and some lessons learnt. Finally he turned to the future with thoughts for next year’s #GlobalClassroom.

Conclusion

This was a fantastic session! Michael gave us a brilliant overview of Global Classroom and the projects. Chat was very lively throughout with many ideas shared and also links to many of the projects (thanks to Anne Mirtschin for her help in dropping links into chat). If you are looking to be both inspired and awe inspired then this is a MUST catch recording!

Next Webinar

Our next session will be an Edublogs “Serendipity” session on Thursday July 19th at 23:00 GMT/UTC (Afternoon/Evening USA) or Friday July 21st at 7am West Aus, mid morning Eastern States Aus depending on your timezone (check yours here) – in the usual BlackboardCollaborate room. This is one of our fortnightly unconference sessions where we invite you to bring along your “hot topics” and “burning issues” for our poll on the topic

Edublogs Serendipity webinar – projects for classes & global sharing

Introduction

The chosen topic for this session was a bit of a blend because we had a larger than usual selection of topics we combined two similar ones “Class based projects” and “Sharing projects with other classes around the world”.  This was a terrific session recorded as usual, and with many ideas shared on the whiteboard, in text and through audio.

The Session

We did a double poll as we had more than five possible topics and then were able to combine  the most popular as they were about projects. This was a very lively session with lots of discussion through the whiteboard, in the text and via audio.

There were also a number of references to and links for projects just starting or already in progress and also for some former ones. Some (hopefully most) of those mentioned in the session are given here!

Student Global Blogging Challenge

GlobalClassroom2011

Travelling With Mr Devil

Kindergarten Postcard Exchange!

The LunchBox Project

Flat Stanley Project

TravelBuddies

Conclusion

This session has made me think again about some of the activities I have done with my regional students in the past (for example a publicity or tourist leaflet for their own community) and how we might take this global. I was also interested in how many of the ideas were based around non-tech ways of sharing but further enhanced by the inclusion of an “e”-facet.

Our Next Session

Our next Webinar is an Edublogs “Fine Focus” session this week something very different. “Try a new small e-toy!” in which we will take a look at some small and useful “e-toys” we might use with students and share our thoughts about them. Join us on Thursday August 25th at 23:00 GMT/UTC the time for you will vary depending on your timezone (check yours here) Thursday afternoon/evening in the USA, late night Thursday in Europe, and Friday morning August 26th in Australia – in the usual Elluminate room