Connecting in the Classroom

As a classroom teacher, one of the best instructional strategies I ever implemented was true collaboration using technology. My students each created their own blog, and I formed a partnership with other teachers that were interested in doing the same thing. The teachers and I worked together to plan lessons and pair students using ability grouping.  Through this partnership, our students commented on each others' blogs, created video study guides for each other, and participated in virtual competitions using Skype. It was a great experience, and breaking down the classroom walls was hands down the best thing I ever did as a teacher.

But breaking down the classroom walls doesn't have to just be about connecting classrooms. It can be about connecting students with experts in a field of study, also. I know of great teachers who have found experts for students to interview using Skype, FaceTime, and Google Hangout. I've outlined those lessons below:

• A group of 6th graders studying water conservation interview a professional working from Cairo, Egypt to teach methods of conservation.
• Students in a social studies class hold discussions with their state's governor regarding topics relevant to their area. They use Today's Meet to further the conversation.
• An English teacher assigns a research paper on which college is best for each student. During research, former students use FaceTime to connect with the class and discuss their perspective of college life.

With a move towards project based learning,  which includes an authentic audience, teachers are looking for opportunities such as the ones described above to connect classrooms with experts. These experts serve to validate design and presentations that students develop, contribute to research, and serve as a partner in classrooms. 

Although guest speakers and community partners that provide resources to students and classrooms are still important, the methodologies used in classrooms today are and should be those that replicate the 21st century. Information is differentiated, personal for each team of students, and doesn't simply follow the experiences that we as adults had in the classroom, but rather, the experiences that we as adults have in the real world.

Everyone has something to offer the classroom. Everyone has a passion, and that is the part that makes a difference in education. My passion is assisting teachers in finding these experts, professionals, and partners in education. Most teachers will state that finding collaborators is their number one stumbling block. In response to this, I am developing a database of professionals willing and able to contribute in classrooms.

If you can contribute, please add to the database through this form. 

If you are a teacher that needs to find partners in education, please complete this form.

When my students used technology to collaborate with others, we found that our students were making greater strides in their learning goals, realized the importance of digital citizenship, and developed skills that are necessary for teamwork. Let's give all kids that chance. Help our database grow!