Aaaaaaaaand Action!

The serious part of the conference started on Friday. Unlike any other conference that you might have attended or heard about, this one was action-based, not lecture-based. It is hard to explain, but doesn't seem like anybody was bored!
Students from many different countries are in groups of four or five, and their teachers also formed small cohorts.

The interesting part was that no one in each group knew each other! Everyone within a group had to be from a different school_ many were from different countries. They had a very short time to work together and come up with a fascinating idea to implement collaboratively using technology!.............Way to flatten the world!

They had their short meetings, discussed problems of the world, came up with solutions and pitched it to each other. Students pitched their idea first. Teachers listened and criticized or gave suggestions for improvement. Then, it was the teachers turn! It was great to see the teachers with puppy faces standing in front of the students to pitch their ides and be criticized.

The idea was to come up with ways to collaborate globally to make the world a better place. Many tools such as google doc, wiki, voicethread, skype, etc. were used in their plans, while the main focus was not technology.

Meantime, there were mini workshops such as digital imaging and storytelling that everyone could attend and benefit from.

Then each group had to start developing their plan and they got voted on. Six students teams and six teachers team went to the top... and so on the process of elimination. There are really no true winners or losers. Every team had wonderful ideas that could be somehow implemented. Some were more clear and realistic.







Image Source: Private Collection

Counting the days...

I think I mentioned there are eight of us graduate students going to Beijing; ALL female! and somewhere down the road, we got the title of "Beijing Babes"! Not much of a professional title to be known as at a conference; just an inside joke, I guess. And then there's Dr. Z (short for Zeitz), one of the UNI faculty accompanying and guiding us through the whole process, besides our course instructor. By the way, if you already don't know this, he's got a cool educational blog at drzreflects if you're into watching fun videos and reading amazing things about education and technology.

Since this course is online, I actually haven't met any of the students in person yet , but we have had many means of communication so far. Besides our good old elearning tool, we also have had meetings through Adobe Connect, and Skype, and we have been sharing our thoughts and documents through different Google Docs and a wiki...
Yeah, I know! This bunch is too cool to use a regular phone!

We're almost ready to go and exited to share our experience Live, and connect to our students and/or families from Beijing. Some tools such as facebook, and google doc are actually blocked by the government, but I learned about a trick_or a new tool_ called VPN, virtual personal network! This system allows you to pay and use the blocked features, and the price is very reasonable.


Image Source: flickr.com by by olemiswebs

My first Trip to China!

"For this course, we are going to make a trip to China!" said my professor with a loud enthusiastic voice back in November 2010....and that's how it all began.

It's February of 2011, three days left to our flight, and I'm asking myself "am I really going to Beijing in a few days?" I have to admit I can't avoid the butterflies in my gut!
The main destination is the Flat Classroom Conference in Beijing. There are going to be eight of us UNI students along with two faculties. The course we're in is called Applied Instructional Design, and as part of the class, we are going to present in this International conference. If you think you are nervous presenting in front of your peers and classmates, try presenting in front of hundreds of educators from all over the world; smart, experienced, know-their-stuff teachers watching us teaching them a concept! as we represent the University of Northern Iowa. Yes, we have to be darn prepared and know what we're talking about.

This is not for grade anymore; this is for dignity!!!

By the way, any of the Ed. Tech & Design students at UNI are welcome to follow the conference Live at this link with provided streamed video, and could even choose to be a virtual participant. It's on February 25-27.

You may say where did the term "Flat" come from and what is the idea behind it.
The Flat Classroom Conference, is inspired by the writer of The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman. It's a simple but brilliant notion with great impact on future generations. Friedman explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and societies can, and must, adapt!

Image Source: flickr.com by matt512