Flat Classroom Project

The Flat Classroom Project is a project to unite multiple classrooms in a a level playingfield from teacher to student and student to teacher.

Elements of the project for students include:

A deeper understanding of the effects of technology on our world that leads students to not only study but actually experience the ‘flattener

An opportunity to be grouped with global partners to explain trends, give personal viewpoints and create a video containing an outsourced video segment from their global partners.

Access to an educational network, blogging, posting photos, videos etc and a wiki, to plan their topic and build a web page on the topic.

Being assessed on a common criterion based rubric

Real-life flavours of deadlines, accountability and interdependence

Having completed videos reviewed by global judges

Participating in a virtual student summit, using Elluminate, to complete the project and showcase their learning.

The Timeline from January to April...
FCP-01: January-April
Application Deadline: December 1 (previous calendar year)
Online Teacher Information meeting before January 15
Classroom and student handshake January 15-31
Wiki editing and collaboration: February
Non-participating classrooms removed from participating: February 15
Video pitches and creation: March
Student Summits and video judging: April 1-15
Awards ceremony: After April 15 as determined by the project organiser

I liked the FCP(tm) 10-2 First Place Winner. This project talked about having all this information and power at our fingertips. It also talked about elliminating language barriers, which really caught my attention. The point of this project is that people can colaborate world wide and that is both very interesting and powerful. Internet is so powerful in everything we do. I could be in springfield using an internet connection and collaborate and work on something with someone on the other side of the world, and that is exactly what the Flat Classsroom Project is about.

I also liked the FCP(tm) 10-3 First Place Winner. It talks about how people use socialnetworking sites to stay in touch with family and friends worldwide. It used to be just a dream and now it is reality. I can not even imagine life without internet and a social networking site. I use all of those on a daily basis and that is why it interested me. Classrooms around the world can use a social networking site inorder to chat, email, see pictures, and other things together.

The last one i liked was FCP 2008 First Place Winner. It talked all about how we can download music and do all these things on our phone, and about wireless connections. Both of these things aid me in homework, entertainment, and knowledge. I use both on a daily basis. It shows what our technology can do, and it had upbeat music which made it enjoyable. Classrooms accross the globe can use these wireless connectivities to function together.