Multi-Distict+Connections

Questions from a second life conversation: 2/23/09
 * 1) How can we best connect classrooms?
 * 2) What product or content can we produce?
 * 3) What technology is needed to make it happen? For video conferencing?
 * 4) What wiki should we use? PB Wiki is blocked by Lancaster
 * 5) Is tool box pro an option?

Men, I went to the head of Jamestown's fantastic IS department, Ray Monahan, this afternoon to pitch an idea that we've all batted around for quite a while, namely taking our classes all digital and linking Jamestown, Lancaster and Horseheads students together in a digital learning environment. I explained that while kids can learn by turning in stuff to the teacher, they'd learn more skills more thoroughly, quicker, and more efficiently if we were to engage kids in an environment of sharing and learning from each other both inter and intra district. Ray loved the concept and asked what we needed to turn the vision into reality. I explained that Jason Kathman and I would like to go paperless next year and that we'd need more access to computers. We each have team mobile carts now, but we have to share with the other teachers. Ray remarked that waiting until next year would be bad due to budget concerns, and that we should do it NOW. Because there is a 14 cart waiting list in the district already, we discussed other ideas for increased access. He offered to get us 12 top-of-the-line laptops in a cart dedicated to the WSTCSS digital learning project - 6 for each of us. This would allow pairs to each have a machine for one teacher or groups of four to have have a machine for both of us simultaneously. He asked a tech how long it would take to get and configure them the way we want, and the answer was one week. This is why Jamestown rules and you all should come here to work! So, would it be possible for you guys to join us in the endeavor? To start, Jase and I would like to build a common blog/wiki so that our kids could share data. I also envision a shared learning network (I already have a Ning site and Ning has removed the ads) that all of our kids could be members of. One issue is that Jase and I are opposites - I teach 7th and he has 8th this year, and we'll switch next year. However, it would be really cool if we all could figure out a way to align curriculums and work together as teachers AND students - sharing ideas, lessons, links, assignments, and test/projects digitally. I'll be doing a ELA/SS research project in the library for the next three weeks, so now is a great time for me to be looking at options/ideas as I won't have lessons to create. Our dreams are becoming reality. If possible, I'd like to discuss it in Second Life before our 8 PM Sunday night Virtual Pioneers meeting. Let me know your ideas and how we can work together get this project off the ground and be leaders in the upcoming paradigm shift in education. Jeff Kresge - Team Adeste, Persell Middle School, Jamestown, NY 14701 Homepage: http://www.jamestownpublicschools.org/persell/faculty/jkresge/Site/Welcome.html Twitter Name: jkresge Lost Neighborhood Project: http://www.jamestownpublicschools.org/persell/faculty/jkresge/Site_2/Lost_Neighborhood_Home.html