This idea just came to me as a way of linking classes together for collaborative commenting on blogs and working together on projects. Last year three of us got together from Dunedin, Nelson and Auckland as we were all studying the Rocky Shore.
http://rockyshore.wikispaces.com/
It was really powerful learning as each of the classes in three different regions of the country were studying the same thing at the same time.
If we could use this VLN space to 'hook up' with other classes it might work.
Here is a map of where we are... Your wish is my command Suskya!
I have made the map open and have started adding you to it but I don't know where some of you are so you can load yourself on the map by dragging the wee droppy thing to where you are and add your place/school name and blog address. To see others use the slider to pull the Google Map to zoom out. Cos I started it it seems to focus on Nelson- the centre of the universe!
View Collaboration VLN in a larger map
OK- to kick things off here is our class blog site
We enjoy comments so if you leave comments on our blog site we will promise to leave some comments on yours.
Let's get some linking going here and really make it hum.
Looks good Allanah. I check your Moturoa blog regularly to steal ideas. I'm currently teaching a variety of ages at St Jos so I'll connect whenever our learning paths cross.
I can't really give my blog address as I don't teach in one class. Anyway people are welcome to play on my puzzling blog at www.puzzlingnelson.blogspot.com.
Sounds like a plan Allanah,
I don't have a class blog myself but have a couple of 'local' cluster ones eg for gathering teacher and student voice, that educators might like to visit - these spaces are 'evolving'
http://www.rotoruateacherstalk.blogspot.com/
http://rotoruastudentstalk.blogspot.com/
Due to the nature of the blogs, with 'pages' you can't really leave comments unfortunately.
Across the two Clusters I work with we have lots of classes blogging.
I have started to create a directory HERE
Will email the Cluster schools again and get this 'bubbling' again........
Looking forward to seeing this space grow.
Hi Paula
We have a similar group contact blogs for our cluster with lots of the cluster blogs on it.
http://linklearning.wikispaces.com/Contacts
This is a great idea...I am working with a group of reluctant writers this term and next, to encourage writing for a purpose and for an audience. At the same time encourage teachers in a city school (who haven't currently got any blogs up and going) to look at ways of using technology to meet the curriculum demands.
http://www.the6snswriters.blogspot.com
And would love people to visit and comment. Thanks
Great idea Rachel. I'm in! I'm having trouble getting my parents to leave comments. :( I'm doing a big focus on nursery rhymes this term so would love to hear from any other junior classes doing the same.
That's great Judy. Just the sort of thing that we are looking for as a way of connecting classes.
Great idea - like others getting parents onboard to leave comments can be tricky, even when asking specific questions or surveys.
We love comments so feel free to visit - yr 0-2's
I took a quick look at your blog and saw that you are learning about water cycles.
Our wiki about waterways may be useful. It's a coupla years old but still has some good resources there.
-: CLEANED :- http://waterways.wikispaces.com/ -: CLEANED :-
Awesome - thanks Allanah, off there to have a look now.
Any ideas or suggestions you have on our blog would be welcome too
It's not flash- we were just starting getting the hang of using wikis but there are a couple of good resources there.
Hi everyone - i am interested in sharing experiences and ideas that spark from playing the everyday normal PE games. You can join the wiki www.porthillscollaborate.wikispaces.com or join my group "game sequences" to find some great ideas for leaving the screen and running around.
Hi,
I have a writing wiki linked to my blog so we can blog our current events and visual language etc but use the wiki to gather more in depth comments/ discussions. We are just getting started on the wiki but would love other schools to join and add their thoughts on the discussion pages. In the past we have had online editing sessions with other schools and I'd love to do that again.
Would love to have class collaborated stories -we start, you add, we add... and /or individual kids buddied up with similar abilities to develop peer tutoring skills.
All comments on the blog greatly appreciated too :- http://room3nps.blogspot.com/ -:
Hi Kelliem
Love the idea, my class is yr 0-2 though and participating individually would be challenging, however we may be able to contribute our ideas as a whole class.
I will show our senior class teacher and see if they are keen to be involved though.
Good luck.
Katreena
Hi everyone...
I work 5 mornings in a year 5/6 class, and I'm trying to get them to blog regularly about what they are learning. We are also learning how to make 'academic comments' on other peoples blogs not just one word comments so this looks like a great area to find some schools who are like minded. We would really love you to comment on our blog too. We are trying to make a new post at least once a week.... we don't always meet this target, but are working on it.
Our blog address is -: CLEANED :- http://room10-in-2011.blogspot.com/ -: CLEANED :-
Thanks
Fiona
Cool Fiona, I too work full time in a yr 5/6 class and we have worked out a criteria for good comments maybe we could share with your students.
Hi Melanie...
We would love to hear from you. Let us know your blog address and then maybe we can practice on you
Hi Fiona that sounds like a plan and we will do the same with you.
http://bestschoolintheworld1.blogspot.com