21st Century Learning: New Zealand Connection Elluminated

I had the best time in Elluminate on Tuesday and Wednesday listening to the Advanced Teams (ABPC 21st Century teaching and learning project) tell about their Learning 2.0 projects. The highlight of both evenings was the guest visit with Chris Craft, a Spanish teacher in South Carolina and Allanah King, a teacher from New Zealand.

Learning 2.0
As part of the 21st Century teaching and learning project I helped to design and implement in Alabama, year 2 schools (Advanced Teams) were required to design a Learning 2.0 project.

The projects were created by the school teams around ideas to meet each school's academic goals using the power of networks and Web 2.0 tools. The team designed a learning contract, created a blog to brainstorm with their team and the world about their project, and then implemented their projects in a way that would impact the entire faculty and beyond. This self-directed learning was uncomfortable for some, as teachers are often use to being told what to do- when. However, some of the project reports revealed amazing work unfolding.

Ah-Ha Moment-Teacher Style

One of the most exciting moments for me was during one of the team's Learning 2.0 presentations, when another school (who was listening to the presentation) offered to have their students contribute to the wiki the presenter's students were developing on how to prepare for and pass an Alabama assessment.

A light went on for everyone in the room. They finally got it. Web 2.0 tools not only allow their students to create and engage with each other- but that other connections and collaborations would make a good project - stellar. They are beginning to realize that they are only held back with this style of learning by their own self-limiting resistance to innovation.

George Hall Elementary

One of the Learning 2.0 projects that has truly been able to utilize the power of networking has been George Hall .George Hall is an elementary high-needs school in Mobile Alabama. George Hall's teachers and students are dedicated to building student experiences and vocabulary through field trips. They are exploring the wonders of the Mobile and lower Alabama areas to share with the world.
The most powerful aspect to their work has been the comments they are receiving from other bloggers from around the world. It has motivated the students to write and reflect in ways that are impacting their traditional learning experiences.

Here is a student podcast about working on the wetpaint site:
student podcast

Collaboration in Action
When Allanah showed up from New Zealand, George Hall teachers, (and others) immediately started making suggestions for how the two geographically diverse schools could collaborate. I was dancing in my chair with excitement.

Amazement- Organic Connectivism

I am traveling to New Zealand in March as a keynote speaker for the Tuanz Educational Conferences. My daughter Amber is going with me to New Zealand. We have been sharing with each other- from the various social networking sites we are networked with (which are very different) the various contacts, offers, suggestions, and connections we are making with Kiwis (New Zealanders). It occured to me how powerful it might be to diagram these organic occurrences, as a practical way to show how networks form and inform when "just in time" knowledge is needed. I will share it here when I get it done.
Photo Credits:
http://www.immediart.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_62&products_id=239
http://debtorby.typepad.com/connections/images/img_0436.jpg

2 Comments

Sheryl,
How cool! I got chills when I read your post - this is engaged learning and our students are the ones who benefit!!!
Thanks, as always, for sharing.
Your fan,
Karen

Posted by: Karen Janowski | February 16, 2007 at 02:56 PM