Project_Outline

Project Outline

Each week we would like you to complete simple tasks that will help you get to know each other and learn how to use a Wiki. By spreading this out over 8 weeks, none of us will be overwhelmed by this project. We are sure that teachers and staff at both schools have so much on their plates now they really don’t need any additional work. We promise to use the KISS principle. That is, to “Keep it simple, silly!”

1. Visit the Wiki Site; sign up for a Wikispaces account then request membership in our Wiki 2. Read about our respective schools, Bangor Academy and Kempsville Middle from the links at the right. 3. Read about our respective countries from Wikipedia; Northern Ireland, Bangor, NI, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, Kempsville, VA. Be sure to check out the weather link to see the daily weather and time of each country. 4. Under the discussions tab (top), visit the “//The Tea Room//” and introduce yourself - Be sure to include your full name, the grade or age group you teach, the subject you teach, how long you have been teaching and a little about yourself. 5. For fun, under the discussion tab (top) "//What I will do for my students,"// tell us about the craziest or most inventive thing you have ever done for or with your students to engage them in a lesson. Upload a photo if you have one available. 6. Please respond to others' postings. Having interaction between teachers is vital to this project! Feel free to post discussions of your own! 7. Watch the Video from Bangor Academy and Sixth Form college introducing their school - [|http://video.bangoracademy.org.uk]
 * Week 1 and 2. Getting started**

**Respond to the discussion questions -** “The Tea Room” and introduce yourself - Be sure to include your full name, the grade or age group you teach, the subject you teach, how long you have been teaching and a little about yourself

**One** – Using the in house email in the Wiki, send an email to all the group members. Share a simple idea that might work as a great global collaboration project between our schools. Don't get too in depth. We don't need a lot of thinking yet!
 * Week 3**

**Two** - Under the "Notify Me" tab be sure to check to be notified every time a page or discussion gets posted so that you can stay current - []

**Three - Respond to the discussion question** – Have your classes ever participated in an online global project of any type? If so what was the results? Did the project work? Was there educational worth? Did the students enjoy the effort? Was it worth your time? Please share your expertise and experience!


 * Week 4** – If you haven’t done so already, create your profile, upload an image. Be creative. Think of this as similar to your Facebook profile. View mine as an example - [|Diann Caviness]

**Respond to the discussion question** – Do you think teachers should be friends with their students on a social networking site such as Facebook? Please give reasons to justify your opinion.


 * Week 5** – Creating and editing a Wiki Page. You have the //option// of creating your own Wiki space. Try it; show us your classroom virtually. Please keep in mind any internet safety policies your schools may have if posting student pictures. Email the group your Wikispace address so that we can visit it.


 * Respond to the discussion question ** – There are so many WEB 2.0 sites and technology tools we, as teachers, can incorporate into our lessons. Can you recommend one that you have found success with? Please include links or examples to share with us.

**Week 6 ** – Post a discussion question about something you would like to know about each others’ school; how curriculums are taught differently in different countries, our project or your philosophy of teaching for all of us to respond to.

** Respond to the discussion questions posted by participants about our schools **

**Week 7 ** – Have you made a connection? Do you have an idea for a project between classes? If so, let us know about it on the “Future Projects Page.” Just click edit to add your ideas to the page

** Off the “Future Projects Page” discussion tab, post any questions you may have about someone’s idea **.

**Week 8 ** – This project was a big experiment. Did it work? Do you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas to improve or move forward? Please add your two cents worth to the discussion “What do you think?” that will be posted at the beginning of week 8. Everyone please respond, and then reply to two postings.

** Respond to the discussion question ** – “What do you think?”


 * Possible discussion questions: **

What is your opinion of an online global project between schools? Do you think it could be beneficial to the students? Is it worth the extra time and effort a teacher must put into it for it to be successful?

iTouch, iPads, iPhones are the latest greatest technology tools. How could such a tool be used in the classroom setting? There are a lot of free reference apps that could be installed that would be a great resource for students to have access to. Would you be willing to incorporate such a tool into your lessons?

What type of technology does your school have? (ie) projectors, document cameras, Interactive white boards, wireless laptop carts. Of the tools you have and work with on a daily basis, besides the computer, losing which technology tool would be the most upsetting if it were taken away?

Of the two, being able to respond with an answer or being able to find the answer fast using available resources, which is more beneficial for students to be able to do?

What are the methods you employ in your classroom to raise the critical thinking skills of your students?


 * Conclusion **

We want this to be a joint effort between all our teachers. We are looking for creative, enthusiastic ideas on how to make this exchange work! More importantly we are looking for an exchange between our schools that will make the Sister City Project between Virginia Beach and Bangor proud!

Thank you so very much for participating in this project. The participants of the Sister City Project between Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA and Bangor, Northern Ireland greatly appreciate you taking the time It means a lot to both of our schools, cities and countries.