I was so lucky to go to Bett2015 and even luckier to attend #TMBett15. There were some great presentations on a variety of topics. Sadly I did not get to do my presentation as there just was not the time. If I had had the opportunity to present this is what I would have said.
As an MFL teacher I obviously have a vested interest in running cross channel projects. An online exchange can be an excellent way to work in language skills, getting the students to correct each other's language and then ultimately to work together to negotiate meaning to produce a final project.
However, a global project is not just the domain of the languages teacher. A project such as this can be of great benefit in other subject areas too. It can bring to students an intercultural understanding which in this day and age is absolutely necessary. As teachers we should make it our business to educate our students about the need to understand one another and other cultures.
To get going on a global classroom project there are three steps to follow.
1. An information exchange - get the students comfortable communicating with each other.
2. Comparison and analysis - this is the part where they really learn about each other in a way that they could not learn from a text book. Not only that they also gain an invaluable perspective on how others perceive them.
3. A final collaborative project - the two sides work together to produce a final product to sum up what they have learnt about and from each other. A blog perhaps, or a PowerPoint presentation.
All that remains now is to consider the tools we might use. Here are some of the tools I would use for written and oral communication and collaboration.
I am enjoying some interesting projects at the moment. I would love to hear your thoughts too.
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