Workshop 7

Title: Learning With the World- Using Technology to Connect Students in Project Based Learning

Workshop Description:

The objective of this workshop is to inspire and encourage teachers and administrators to engage their students in Global Collaborative Projects using Information and Communications Technologies. By using examples of students’ projects, interactions, artefacts and collaborations between students and their global partners, it will become evident that these connections are beneficial and inspirational for students and teachers.

Using real and extremely moving examples, how connecting our students in Canada to others around the world, has, and is, changing all of our lives, while making a difference to our planet. Using a variety of tools such as web pages, wikis, blogs, collaborative classroom space, web casts, video conferencing and e-mail, students participate in projects that are based on common themes and based in curriculum that meets provincial and state standards. Students learn with each other not just about each other.
Throughout the course of the workshop, we will be presenting a variety of Global Collaborative projects with a main focus on the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) projects. We will explore the projects, show online and actual student work.

Participants will also have an opportunity to participate in an activity that will be set up in engaging collaborative classroom space.

We will also be using Adobe Connect or Elluminate to connect live with international teachers to engage in a discussion about the benefits of students using 2.0 tools and engaging in on line synchronous and asynchronous communication and collaboration.

1 hour- Presentation of Global Collaborative Projects
1 hour- on line participation in collaborative classroom space with a focus on group collaboration on a particular project. We will tour My Hero, iEARN forums, and contribute to discussions and galleries on the collaborative classroom space.
1/2 hour - Live connection with international teacher to engage in discussion about collaboration tools
1/2 hour question and answer session.

Presenters: Mali Bickley and Jim Carelton


Jim Carleton has been a classroom teacher for 24 years. Presently Jim is the Information Communications and Technology consultant at the Simcoe County District School Board in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Jim is passionate about using technology to connect students together globally to make a difference in the world. He has won numerous local and national awards for his work in using ICT to connect students from around the world in meaningful projects.

Jim is the county coordinator for the Canadian division of the International Educational and Resource Network (iEARN) and also a member of several organizations that focus on global collaboration and responsible use of ICT.

Mali Bickley has 27 years experience as a classroom teacher. Over the past 6 years, she has used ICT and successfully integrated literacy and content area curriculum to have her students connect, communicate and collaborate with several classes from around the world. As a classroom teacher, Mali is using Global Education Projects to integrate reading and writing strategies into meaningful projects that connect students globally. Mali’s students have successfully collaborated with each other and students around the world to make a difference in the lives of others. Mali is the assistant country coordinator of iEARN Canada and designs and facilitates many international projects.

Both Jim and Mali have given workshops on Collaborative Global Education projects and integrating ICT into classroom practice to several schools, districts, universities and interested organizations, such as Taking it Global, World Vision, ECOO and NECC both nationally and internationally. They have clearly seen how students become highly engaged in global collaborative projects that use ICT. Jim and Mali feel the rewards of teaching include seeing how students become passionate about the connections they have made with others.