Collaborative Learning – Collaborative Teaching

"I thought the class was excellent. The information in the class was totally practical. It would be easy to use at any grade level. Using technology is a great way to reach even reluctant students - I'm excited to get started!" - Jr. High Teacher, St. Cloud

"This class was a great class to learn more about computers and how to use them with your students, parents, and colleagues. It is something that I will be able to use immediately. What a great way to collaborate with other teachers!  This is a class that elementary teachers can use with their classroom." - Elementary Teacher, St. Cloud

"I think the class provided valuable and worthwhile information for an educator looking to get kids more involved in their learning.  The wikis, blogs, and googledocs especially will be wonderful tools as we communicate to students and parents, and as we encourage students to learn cooperatively." - Jr. High Teacher, St. Cloud

Purpose of this course

Help teachers and administrators discover ways to work with students, parents, and colleagues by using free online applications that can be worked on anywhere internet is available.

What applications are going to be used:

1. PBWiki - A wiki is a website that allows users with the appropriate password to edit and comment, giving a true collaborative experience.

• Teacher can create an informational website.
• Teachers can work together on the same website to create a true “Team” site for students or parents.  This can be done many ways including grade level teams, subject area departments, or multi-school disciplines.
• Administrators can facilitate either public or private online “meetings” giving staff an opportunity to work together online.
• Students can collaborate with classmates while teachers monitor progress and interject when interested.

2. Google Docs - A free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users.  Students can also submit assignments online to teachers eliminating the obstacles to paper-pencil work being turned in.  Similarily, staff can submit documents to administrators, again lessening the hassles that accompany large amounts of paperwork.

3. Gliffy - An online application that makes it easy for you to create, share, and collaborate with diagrams. It looks and feels like a desktop application, but it works through your web browser, so there is nothing to install or maintain.  If you enjoy having your students mind map concepts or study a process of any kind (science project, wood working product, paper outline) this is a great site to us.  Students can again share their work with other students online, collaborate with classmates, and submit assignments to teachers online.  In addition, staff and administrators can plan and visually share steps in any process in a simple and easy to understand format.

 4. 4teachers.org - A series of free online applications for teachers to use with students including...

• Rubric Creator
• Persuasive Essay/Speech Organizer
• Research Paper Organizer
• Project Based Learning Information
• Web Poster Site
• Teacher Toolbox

Our goal for the week is to introduce teachers and administrators to these applications and allow each professional to use what works best in their setting to help our students find new and innovative ways to succeed.

College Credit: 2 semester/3 quarter graduate credits from St. Thomas University upon completion of the 30 hours.

When:  July 20-23, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

When: South Junior High School - Computer Lab 142

Cost: $285 (for college credit), $160 (without college credit) paid to "Innovative Classroom"  

For more information, please feel free to email me at rl-cox@charter.net.

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