Flat+Classrom+Projects

Flat Classroom Projects

About Flat Classroom Projects: @http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/about.html Article about Flat Classroom Projects: @http://123elearning.blogspot.com/2010/05/flat-classroom-mobile-and-ubiquitous.html Presentation: 7 Steps to Flatten your Classroom: @http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/presentations.html
 * Resources, links and/or class examples **


 * Strengths **
 * Project selection process follows a structured approach
 * Projects are open to students from all over the world
 * Student collaboration happens online via wikis and a social network (e.g., Ning)
 * The students’ teachers participate as facilitators and are given guidance for their role
 * Non-participating students can be invited to observe the collaboration phase of the project
 * Awards are given to best submissions, which could motivate students to participate
 * Controlled environment discourages access by unauthorized individuals


 * Weaknesses **
 * The structured process may not attract students who are accustomed to a fairly unstructured opportunities offered by the World Wide Web
 * Application process can be time-consuming, which could discourage students to participate
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Submissions require video/multimedia presentations, which may exclude students who do not have access too the software and hardware needed to produce them
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Awards are given to individuals, not teams, perhaps negating some of the collaboration this organization is trying to stimulate


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Opportunities **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Connecting teachers and students to others from around the world
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Provides the ability to see different approaches and perspectives to the same problem
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Approaching problems as a project encourages project-based learning


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Threats **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">No major threats identified. The site is designed to protect students’ privacy as best as possible. Student names are sometimes given, but only first name is used. When pictures of students are shown, they appear in groups and not individually.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ideas for the classroom **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have the students in the class apply to a project. If class is selected, facilitate and encourage the students to do the best work
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have students visit the site to see example of how learning can happen across borders.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have students view the wikis to see examples of their use in global student collaboration
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have students view the winning submissions for good examples of multimedia presentations created by other students