Global Collaboration between Students

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)  is a great site for students from all over the world to work on collaborative Math and Science projects.  "Down the Drain" is an example of a world wide project in which students from all over the world observe then record data on how much water they each use everyday.   Another example of collaborating data is for the students to record and analyze the collected data on their dominant traits.  

In my first grade class, I think it would be educationally beneficial for my students to set up and participate in a project with others in which they would record data based on the kind of rocks found on their school property.  It would be interesting to see the similarities and differences in the "rocks" depending on what part of the world the students lived.  

Blue Poison Dart Frog

Blue Poison Dart Frog
Originally uploaded by ucumari

This frog is cute too!

orange eyed green tree frog

orange eyed green tree frog
Originally uploaded by rainforest_harley

Isn't this the cutest frog you ever did see?

Always learning

For those who are interested in teaching at international schools in other countries, Kim Kofina has created a blog titled Always Learning which allows her and other international teachers to blog about their experiences.  Reading the blogs will help you make a decision as to IF and WHERE you might want to teach.  Also, those who are already teaching in international schools around the world now have a forum in which to give and receive support.   

                                                                         

Useful Sites and Blogs

For Social Studies teachers, there is a video website appropriate for school age children to teach the different aspects of Geography. Geography at the Movies has a wide range of geographical topics such as agriculture, tectonics, weather, rivers, rocks, and places that present using a video/audio format. One particular video uses TPR (dance movements) to assimulate the different geological phenomenon’s. Each video is enticing, fun and attention getting. Students will learn quickly and retain the information presented. They won’t even realize they are learning!

                                                                

Nik Peachy's Blog

By navigating through Nik Peacy's Posts, I have learned that I still have a lot to learn.  The possibilities for using the internet and other technology are endless, such as using animation to create an xxtranormal tutorial within animated movies, sending a postcard with 3d images, and mobile learning through google and cell phones.  As Nik said, "I love the power of images and their adaptability for teaching" on his Technology Blog (Nick's Learning Technology Blog), the internet and other forms of technology are providing attractive tools for teaching virtually any subject to ALL students.  The challenge is not necessarily how to use the technology, but maybe looking through all the sites available and choosing the correct website appropriate for you students/lesson.  This would be very time consuming.

For young students learning to read an awesome website is Leading to Reading.  The students can choose a book they want to experience such as "Brown Bear, Brown Bear".  This particular book is read by the illustrator Eric Carle!  A great website to use for an author's study.  The website also allows the student to choose books that sing the story.  The student can view the video, listen to the song while following the text.  Students can even choose games and doodle pages to create pictures.  There is even a level for adults!  I had a hard time breaking away from this website!  I didn't want to stop playing/learning!