The 850 Mile Social Media Group Project

This past Friday we finally completed our skype debate with the high school from Edina, MN.  In retrospect everything seemed to go very well.  The students were well prepared for the most part, hardly any camera shyness, and very well researched and thought out arguments.

Connectivity was no issue at all.  I was able to Skype with our collaborating class withing five minutes of beginning each class period.  Also, some of the students had some skype experience so they were a bit more comfortable appearing on camera.  However, even those that weren't seemed at ease because they were prepared, and their partners were in the same situation as they were (misery loves company I suppose)

The most interesting thing to me was how much they completed outside of class.  Numerous students told me about tweeting, texting, and googling outside of class and into the evening hours.  This was something I was hoping would happen (naturally) and was glad to see in some cases that it did.  In the workforce projects are no longer just completed by people in one office building; the some of its parts come from all over the world and the students need to be prepared to effectively engage in that environment.  I believe they already are, they just needed to apply their social life to their academic/vocational life. 

By using Google docs the students were able to work in real time with their partners in Edina, MN.  Outside of class students could continue to use google docs or whatever means were at their disposal to continue their assignment.  In class we Skype to host the actual debate and the other students back-channeled using Cover it Live.   All students students were engaged and active participants in the debate be it by actually debating, debating in the back channel, and participating in real time polls and quizes.

Overall I was very pleased with how things worked out and couldn't have selected a more cooperative collaborating teacher/class.  I would enjoy doing things like this more often, but until the assembly line nature of the public school changes finding enough time to plan and cooperate is a challenge.   That being said, practice makes perfect! 

Google Docs Class Collaboration

If you've never used the power of google docs to to work with another class (from outside of your school) I highly recommend you give it a shot.  Currently my Civics classes are working with another class from Edina, Mn on a debate and it seems to be producing some awesome stuff. 

My students have been assigned partners to work with in another school.  They are working together and chatting through google docs, but also using their own time and a combination of twitter/facebook/skype/etc. to work with their counterparts on their own time.  The students seemed genuinely excited to use their own devices and social media to complete this task with new people have way across the country. 

This activity will culminate Friday in a live debate via skype.  A good deal of planning between myself and the cooperating teacher needed to take place before this began and we naturally ran into some problems, but overall I am happy with how it is going.