Thanks to the innovation and imagination of Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis, "FlatClassroom" is a recognized term and concept amongst educators.  Based on the ideas of Thomas Friedman's book, The World is Flat, teachers are taking advantage of current technologies to bring students together across time zones and borders to work collaboratively and create projects they can share with the world.

Purpose: An overview of the FlatClassroom concept, examples of student projects, demonstration of tools teachers use to connect and sites where teachers locate collaborating groups.

FlatClassroom Projects

“Have you ever felt as connected to your fellow citizens of the world as you do today?” “In the contemporary world, we are closer to each other than ever before. We are paradoxically being pushed close together and one might say into the same classrooms while the physical gaps remain far apart.”

Since then, their presence on the web has spread to virtual worlds, Social Networks, blogs, other wikis and Google Sites and students are collaborating globally to create media, products and more.  There are over 16 countries involved in the project now, and many more interested. 

Examples from the Original FlatClassroom Project  Project overview and documentation

·    2007 http://flatclassroomproject.wikispaces.com/ (Seven schools involved)

·    2006 http://flatclassroomproject2006.wikispaces.com/

·    2009 http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/New+Projects+0910

·    Digiteen Project http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d6ftt7w_2fqd83thq

·    NetGen Project http://netgened.wikispaces.com/

Project Overview 2006 

Seven Steps to a Flatclassroom (purchase from Atomic Learning for good copy) see html/wiki version here.

Resources

How to connect & where to find projects

ePals

ePals is a Global Community of collaborative learners, teachers, and academic experts in 200 countries and territories that provides Connections to students, classes, and school districts worldwide that are safe and secure for linking classes, schools, and school districts globally via ePals SchoolMail™, ePals SchoolBlog™, and Classroom Match. 

iEarn

Non-profit global network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world 

The Globe Project

GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System Science Projects (ESSPs) in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment.

Global School Net

Global SchoolNet's mission is to support 21st century learning and improve academic performance through content driven collaboration. We engage teachers and students in meaningful project learning exchanges with people worldwide to develop literacy and communication skills, foster teamwork and collaboration, encourage workforce preparedness and create multi-cultural understanding. We prepare youth for full participation as productive and effective citizens in an increasing global economy.

Global Nomads ($$)

Established in 1998, the Global Nomads Group (GNG) is an international NGO that creates interactive educational programs for students about global issues. GNG’s educational programs include (1) four types of videoconferences — The PULSE, Currents, Innovations and Rapid Response — where students learn about and discuss subjects with their peers from around the world in live, facilitated sessions; and (2) videos and learning content on a variety of international issues relevant to teachers and students.

All GNG programs are directly linked to school curricula, education standards and 21st century learning objectives, and are accompanied by lesson plans and training to teachers. Programs are broadcast during the school day and cover a range of topics in the curriculum, including civics, social and global studies, geography, world history, science, economics and politics.

Monster Exchange

Monster Exchange is designed to encourage the development of reading and writing skills while integrating Internet technology into the classroom curriculum. Classrooms from a variety of schools worldwide are paired together; the students in each classroom are split into groups, each of which designs an original picture of a monster. The students must then write a description of the monster. The partnered classes then exchange their descriptions via e-mail and the Internet. These students are then challenged to use reading comprehension skills to read the descriptions and translate them into a monster picture. The true challenge involves creating a redrawn picture as close to the original picture as possible without looking at the original and using only the written description of the monster.

Tools

Gaggle.net

Gaggle is dedicated to providing safe email accounts for students. On the Gaggle Network teachers control what can be written and who can correspond with the students. Messages with inappropriate words are automatically re-routed to the teacher's account. This allows the teacher to decide whether or not the student gets to see the message.  Provides a blog for class and for individual students, a translator and some storage for photos.  Used by the Hands Across the Border program at ACES.

ning.com

An online platform for people to create their own social networks. Ning competes with large social sites like MySpace and Facebook by appealing to people who want to create their own social networks around specific interests with their own visual design, choice of features and member data.^[7] The unique feature of Ning is that anyone can create their own social network for a particular topic or need, catering to specific membership bases.  from wikipedia

Flatclassroom ning

skype

A free downloadable software that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and, in some countries, to free-of-charge numbers, are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.  from wikipedia

elluminate

View a presenter or participant's computer desktop and talk over voice or chat.  There is a "three for free" program for educators and may allow video as well.

diigo for Education

Social Bookmarking online

You can create student accounts for an entire class with just a few clicks (and student email addresses are optional for account creation)

Students of the same class are automatically set up as a Diigo group so they can start using all the benefits that a Diigo group provides, such as group bookmarks and annotations, and group forums.

Privacy settings of student accounts are pre-set so that only teachers and classmates can communicate with them.

wikis, blog, Google Sites - provide a place to build a student project and post information

Other Resources that are just interesting:

Global Grocery List

Global Grocery List is a long standing project that generates real, peer collected data for student computation, analysis, and conclusion-building within the context of social studies, science, mathematics and other disciplines.   This project was designed by The Landmark Project, and continues to be supported by the Global SchoolNet Foundation.  Good for conversations about why prices vary by region and country and how to judge accuracy of data.

Everyone is Doing it...

Holbrook Connects with Turkey, China, India and more

Traditions and Rituals - a 1st grade wiki

Collaborative Novel - Witches and Wikis

Organizing around a Book Study - Students from each country were partnered and were given topics to research, discuss and publish their findings/teachings on a wiki page.  Examples from 2006:

Connecting the World Online

How the World Wide Web has Changed the World

How Work Flow Software can Enhance Productivity and Communications

Why we should be promoting Web 2.0 tools for sharing information.

Globalization and Outsourcing

Google Takes Over the World

The Changing Shape of Information - PLE's and Social Networking

Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing

Virtual Communications

Wireless Connectivity

Standards:

Cultural Understanding and Global Connections

From the National Standards for Foreign Language Education

Statement of Philosophy

Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience. The United States must educate students who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which ALL students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other language, modern or classical. Children who come to school from non-English backgrounds should also have opportunities to develop further proficiencies in their first language.

STANDARDS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

COMMUNICATION

Communicate in Languages Other Than English

• Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions
• Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics
• Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

CULTURES

Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures

• Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied
• Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied

CONNECTIONS

Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information

• Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language
• Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures

COMPARISONS

Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

• Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own
• Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

COMMUNITIES

Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home & Around the World

• Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting
• Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.