Comments on: 21st Century Skill - Collaboration http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/2009/05/15/21st-century-skill-collaboration/ Scot Graden - Superintendent of Saline Area Schools Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:30:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: First Quarter Reflection « From Mr. “A” to Mr. “Z” http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/2009/05/15/21st-century-skill-collaboration/comment-page-1/#comment-11436 First Quarter Reflection « From Mr. “A” to Mr. “Z” Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:33:35 +0000 http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/?p=990#comment-11436 [...] classroom has value, because I was awarded the grant near the end of the first quarter.  Without the ability to collaborate with some very fine teachers in my PLN on the other side of the globe, I would never have been able [...] [...] classroom has value, because I was awarded the grant near the end of the first quarter.  Without the ability to collaborate with some very fine teachers in my PLN on the other side of the globe, I would never have been able [...]

]]> By: Staci Nazareth http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/2009/05/15/21st-century-skill-collaboration/comment-page-1/#comment-11305 Staci Nazareth Fri, 22 May 2009 12:02:50 +0000 http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/?p=990#comment-11305 At the Middle School, we have been working on ways for students to collaborate effectively for a while. I think it was 2 years ago that we were able to have kids collaborate on Google Docs using their Presentation feature. This was really cool. One of the coolest examples of this was that we had a special ed student work on his project and share it out, and then he was able to get feedback on his project from his teacher, his teacher consultant, me, AND one of our building techs Eddie J., who he had become friends with. It really helped that student to have an audience view his work. I am hopeful that we will be able to pursue using Google Docs with our students in the future because collaborative work is the way the world is going to run. We just can't afford to physically bring people together in the same room! The other tool we use for collaborative work is Moodle. Moodle is an online virtual classroom tool. Kids are able to post discussions, and one of our teachers, Kara D. is using the workshop feature- and that is REALLY COOL. Kids submit their writing pieces and they are able to view other kids writing and give peer feedback. The teacher can also give feedback. Their writing improves not only from the specific suggestions for improvement by their peers, but also because they know that others are reading their work. And finally, (sorry I'm so long winded today....) I have been talking with our tech director about online e-portfolios. I am hoping that at some point soon we will be able to have kids post their work online so that their friends and families will be able to view and comment. Anyway, to sum it all up- I believe in collaboration! Give us the tools and we'll be all over it. At the Middle School, we have been working on ways for students to collaborate effectively for a while. I think it was 2 years ago that we were able to have kids collaborate on Google Docs using their Presentation feature. This was really cool. One of the coolest examples of this was that we had a special ed student work on his project and share it out, and then he was able to get feedback on his project from his teacher, his teacher consultant, me, AND one of our building techs Eddie J., who he had become friends with. It really helped that student to have an audience view his work. I am hopeful that we will be able to pursue using Google Docs with our students in the future because collaborative work is the way the world is going to run. We just can’t afford to physically bring people together in the same room!

The other tool we use for collaborative work is Moodle. Moodle is an online virtual classroom tool. Kids are able to post discussions, and one of our teachers, Kara D. is using the workshop feature- and that is REALLY COOL. Kids submit their writing pieces and they are able to view other kids writing and give peer feedback. The teacher can also give feedback. Their writing improves not only from the specific suggestions for improvement by their peers, but also because they know that others are reading their work.

And finally, (sorry I’m so long winded today….) I have been talking with our tech director about online e-portfolios. I am hoping that at some point soon we will be able to have kids post their work online so that their friends and families will be able to view and comment.

Anyway, to sum it all up- I believe in collaboration! Give us the tools and we’ll be all over it.

]]> By: Jeff D http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/2009/05/15/21st-century-skill-collaboration/comment-page-1/#comment-11300 Jeff D Fri, 15 May 2009 23:24:13 +0000 http://blogs.salineschools.com/gradens/?p=990#comment-11300 Scot- I agree with the 500 people who listed collaboration as one of the most important skills for the 21st Century. Not only is this an important skill, but it can also make student's lives much easier. Microsoft is working on a few products that enable collaboration in the classroom. One example of this is Office Live Workspace, which lets students store papers, essays, notes etc online, which they can then share with other students or keep private. Teachers can use it to share the most current syllabi to ensure that students and the teacher are all on the same page when it comes to due dates. These are just a few examples, and I encourage you to take a look at the Office Live Workspace homepage for more examples of how this service can benefit students and teachers. Cheers, Jeff MSFT Office Live Outreach Scot-
I agree with the 500 people who listed collaboration as one of the most important skills for the 21st Century. Not only is this an important skill, but it can also make student’s lives much easier.

Microsoft is working on a few products that enable collaboration in the classroom. One example of this is Office Live Workspace, which lets students store papers, essays, notes etc online, which they can then share with other students or keep private. Teachers can use it to share the most current syllabi to ensure that students and the teacher are all on the same page when it comes to due dates. These are just a few examples, and I encourage you to take a look at the Office Live Workspace homepage for more examples of how this service can benefit students and teachers.

Cheers,
Jeff
MSFT Office Live Outreach

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