You can connect your classroom to the world! Using the methods I've learned over the past 9 years, I share how you can do just this. Starting in 2006 when I co-created the Flat Classroom Projects (winner ISTE Online Learning Award 2006), through today, I connect my students with the world. This presentation shows you how and is an updated version of the 7 steps shared in Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds. You can do this!

2. Why aren’t we finding the
right answers in education?

3. We’re asking the wrong questions

4. How can I help my students do better
on the test?
WRONG QUESTION

5. How can I help my students have a more
successful life?
RIGHT QUESTION

6. How can I keep my students quiet?
WRONG QUESTION

7. How can I excite my students
about learning?
RIGHT QUESTION

8. How can I keep all the strangers in the
world away from my students?
WRONG QUESTION

9. How can I connect my students to the
world so they can make friends?
RIGHT QUESTION

10. Essential Questions for Today
 What are the steps I should take to connect myself and improve my
teaching?
 What are the steps take to connect my students?
 How has technology changed what we should be teaching?
 How can I create successful connections that empower learning?
 How do I cultivate good digital citizenship?
 What are some ideas and examples of global connections for all
grade levels and subjects?
 Where are some simple places I can start connecting today?
 Where can I get the slides and links from today?

11. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE
3.CITIZENSHIP
4.CONTRIBUTE &
COLLABORATE
5.CHOICE
6.CREATE
7.CELEBRATEand Re-create
Cultivate Good
Things that Matter

13. B
e
s
t
P
r
a
c
t
i
c
e

16. The power of Three!
Pick three

17. Vicki Davis
vicki@coolcatteacher.com
www.coolcatteacher.com/phm
@coolcatteacher
Innovate Like a Turtle

18. John Seely Brown,Visiting Scholar, University of
Southern California
“…you can’t just drop new
innovations into a classroom
and hope that the instructor
will invent effective ways to
use them.To fully utilize a
new teaching technology, you
often need to invent new
teaching practices as well.” Gamifi-ed Project:
An Intergenerational Learning Community
http://gamifi-ed.wikispaces.com
Westwood Students (9th graders) &
Masters Students from University of Alaska Southeast &
Gamifi-ed MOOC
ReinventingWriting
Hashtag: #KCDTTL
@coolcatteacher
Part 1: How has writing
been reinvented?

20. ITEMIZED BILL
Brian Tracy,
Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life,
Double Your Production and Achieve All Your Goals, p 8
For placing “x” on gauge $ 1.00
For knowing which gauge
to place the “x” on $9,999.00
Read

22. Step 1
CONNECT
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31

23. 4 Essential Ways to Connect
1. Connect with yourself
2. Connect myself to others
3. Connect with my students
4. Connect my students to the world

25. Will you be ok
with teaching the
same year 30
times
-or-
30 years with
each one better
than the last?

26. FIXED MINDSET
A belief that you are
what you are right
now and can never
improve or change.

27. GROWTH
MINDSET
A belief that you
can grow, improve,
and learn

28. Goal Setting Tip: Accurately assess your
strengths and weaknesses
 ““If, like those with the growth mindset, you believe you
can develop yourself, then you're open to accurate
information about your current abilities, even if it's
unflattering. What's more, if you're oriented toward
learning, as they are, you need accurate information
about your current abilities in order to learn effectively.”
 Carol Dweck, Mindset

29. Meet Mrs. Adkins: Not a Turtle, a Titan
Her secret to
innovating with
kids:
3 folders a
weekend.

30. Can I change?
WRONG QUESTION

32. How will I change and level up today?
RIGHT QUESTION

39. http://flickr.com/photos/prittibaby/477057343/

41. Connect Yourself Tip#1: RSS Reader
Feedspot (Feedly is also good)
I use Mr. Reader on my ipad
If you liked iGoogle use netvibes

42. Connect Yourself Tip#2: Newsmap
www.newsmap.jp

43. Connect Yourself Tip #3: Flipboard
Flipboard on the Web and Mobiles

44. “Pull is the ability to
attract people and
resources to you that
are relevant and
valuable, even if you
were not even aware
before that they
existed.”
Brown, J. S., Davidson, L., & Hagel III, J.
(2010). The Power of Pull (Kindle Edition ed.).
USA: Basic Books. Loc. 172-73, 183-85.
Step 1: Connect
How to build the learning pathway
P 41-42

45. How can I learn something when I’m so
busy?
WRONG QUESTION

46. Which PLN tool will I set up and read 5
minutes a day?
RIGHT QUESTION

47. 15 minutes
2-3 times a week

56. “Working with
people across the
world has challenged
me.”
“The majority of my partners
wanted to contribute
something
meaningful to the
project.”
Horizon Project Students
http://horizonproject.wikispaces.com
Casey tells her story
P 29

57. ©Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay
Taxonomy of global
connection p 54-56

58. Classroom Wiki (2005) K12 Online Conference
Teacher Collaboration
Wiki (2006)
Flat Classroom™ Project
(2006-2012)
Horizon Project (2007-
2008)
Digiteen Project (2007-
2012)
Digiteen Island in Open
Sim (2008-2010)
Arab Israeli Conflict
Simulation (2009, 2011,
2013)
Flat Classroom
Conference – Doha,
Qatar (2009)
NetGenEd Project (2009-
2013) – with Don
Tapscott
Flat Classroom Live at
ASB Unplugged, Mumbai
(2010)
India Immersion Project
(2010)
Eracism Project (2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Flat Classroom
Conference China 2011
China Immersion Project
(2011)
Hope for Slaves (2012) Gamifi-ed (2014) Physics of the Future
(2014)
A Global Project Journey

59. http://gamifi-ed.wikispaces.com

61. Creating a
Connection
Strategy
p 51- 54

63. Creating a
Connection
Strategy
p 51- 54

64. Creating a
Connection
Strategy
p 51- 54

65. Creating a
Connection
Strategy
p 51- 54

66. Creating a
Connection
Strategy
p 51- 54

67. Creating a
Connection
Strategy
p 51- 54

68. How can I do this when I’m so
overwhelmed now?
WRONG QUESTION

69. What are some projects I can
join that are already organized
(so I don’t have to stress)?
RIGHT QUESTION

70. How to find Project Partners?
#1 Social Networks
3. Where?3. Where?
Description URL
Global Project Ideas http://globalcollaborations.wikispaces.com
Global Education
Collaborative
Http://globaleducation.ning.com
Taking IT Global http://www.tigweb.org/tiged
Classroom 2.0 http://classroom20.com

71. How to find Project Partners?
#2 Established Networks
3. Where?3. Where?
Location URL
iEarn http://www.iearn.org/
ePals http://www.epals.com/
Skype Education http://education.skype.com/
Global Classroom Project http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/
eTwinning (europe online) http://www.etwinning.net

72. How to find Project Partners?
#3 Hashtags
3. Where?3. Where?
Location URL
#oetc15 or YOUR
CONFERENCE HASHTAG
Connect with people in your state to do
projects!
#globaled Global education conversations
#globalclassroom Conversations around global classroom
conversations
#edchat Lots of conversations happen on this
hashtag in education
#mysteryskype Mystery Skype hashtag on Twitter is also a
place where you can find partners

73. How to find Project Partners?
#4 Conferences
3. Where?3. Where?
Location URL
K12 Online Conference
(online only) - free
http://k12onlineconference.org/
Global Education
Conference (online only)
– free
http://www.globaleducationconference.co
m/
ISTE ($) http://www.iste.org
Lots of conferences by
curriculum area
Look for them!

74. 21st Century Skills
21st Century
CONNECTIONS

75. 4 Essential Ways to Connect
1. Connect with yourself
2. Connect myself to others
3. Connect with my students
4. Connect my students to the world

76. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT

77. Step 2
COMMUNICATE
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31

79. Horizon
Project
2008

82. Connect with authors

84. Understanding the Middle East through a
Simulation
Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher
9th Grade Students
Westwood Schools
Camilla, Georgia USA
Dr. Jeff Stanzler
Leah Stilman, Eliza Bivins-Fink,
Crystal LaBrosse
University of Michigan
http://aic.conflix.org

85. How can I make it easy to communicate
across the world?
WRONG QUESTION

86. How can I make sure my students can
understand and use synchronous and
asynchronous communications
methods?
RIGHT QUESTION

87. www.edmodo.com
Free, blogging, assignments

88. http://www.epals.com/

89. www.iearn.org

90. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE

91. Step 3
CITIZENSHIP
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31

93. Best Software Ever Invented
to Be Safe Online
P 103

94. We need to be strong against
online threats
 Identity Theft
 Cyberstalking
 Viruses,
 Malware
 Spyware
 Phishing
 Pharming
 Intellectual
Property Thieves
P 102

95. Pauline Roberts - Sciracy

96. Classroom Champions

97. Sue Sadler –Traveling Rhinos

98. Gamifi-ed

99. How can I make everything perfect when
my students are online?
WRONG QUESTION

100. How do I use teachable moments to
help us all fail forward and learn?
RIGHT QUESTION

102. Citizenship Chapter begins
on p 98

103. 5 Steps to Internet Safety
1.Stop
2.Screenshot
3.Block
4.Tell
5.Share
P 104-105

104. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE
3.CITIZENSHIP
Cultivate Good

105. Step 4
CONTRIBUTE &
COLLABORATE
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31

106. Klossner’s (2010) 90-9-1 principle
Step 4: Contribute &
Collaborate
Everyone is
expected to
contribute in a
flattened
classroom
P 128

107.  Fosters community (Elbow 373)
 Helps see problems from multiple viewpoints (Howard 10)
 Co-authoring impacts the writing of individual authors (Aghbar)
 Improves Learning Experiences (wolf 2010)
 “Ideal model for constructing, reorganizing and acquiring new
information” (Janssen et all 2010)
 Global collaboration is essential in today’s workplace (Friedman)
 Shorten time required to solve pressing world problems (Tapscott)
Benefits of Collaborative Writing
Hong Kong 2011
Students edit wiki with virtual partners
ReinventingWriting
Hashtag: #KCDTTL
@coolcatteacher
Part 1: How has writing
been reinvented?

108. Audience is Important
“Technology creates opportunities for
students to do meaningful work that has
value outside school, receive feedback on
their work, and experience the rewards of
publication or exhibition.”
Peck & Dorricott, 1994
http://caret.iste.org/index.cfm?fuseactio
n=evidence&answerID=9&words=audien
ce
Read

109. The Collaborative Writing Cloud 9
Wikis
Collaborative
Writing Apps
Blogs
Social
Bookmarking
Graphic
Organizers
Collaborative
Notebooks
ePaper
Cartooning
Cloud
Syncing

110. Vicki A. Davis
Teacher, IT Director
@coolcatteacher
www.coolcatteacher.com
Author, Reinventing Writing (June 2014)
Author, Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds

111. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE
3.CITIZENSHIP
4.CONTRIBUTE &
COLLABORATE
Cultivate Good

112. Step 5
CHOICE
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31
^

113. How can I make kids want to learn?
WRONG QUESTION

114. How can I inspire curiosity and intrigue
about what I’m teaching?
RIGHT QUESTION

116. 10 Places to Find, Download &
Read Free or Inexpensive eBooks
Site Link Site Link
Project
Gutenberg
www.gutenberg.
org
eReaderIQ www.ereaderiq.
com
Free Booksy www.freebooksy.
com
Book Bub www.bookbub.c
om
Bookish www.bookish.co
m
Hundred Zeroes www.hundredzer
oes.com
Goodreaders www.goodreads.
com
What Should I
Read Next?
www.whatshould
ireadnext.com
Which Book www.openingthe
book.com/which
book
Calibre www.calibre-
ebook.com
Learn More: Epic Ebook Guide
http://www.coolcatteacher.com/epic-ebook-guide/
ReinventingWriting
Hashtag: #JRNC
@coolcatteacher
Part 1: How has writing
been reinvented?
#1 Reinventing Paper

117. 6 Easy Ways to Publish eBooks
1. Liber.io
1. http://liber.io/
2. (Write in Google Drive  eBook)
2. Draft
1. http://draftin.com/
3. iBooks Author
4. LeanPub
1. http://leanpub.com/
5. Powerpoint or Keynote (Yes you can!)
6. Scrivener
Learn more:
http://www.coolcatteacher.com/publish-ebooks-free/
ReinventingWriting
Hashtag: #JRNC
@coolcatteacher
Part 1: How has writing
been reinvented?
#1 Reinventing Paper

118. www.classtools.net

119. Brainstorming tool
bubbl.us/
Source: http://www.web2teachingtools.com/bubbl_us.html

121. See: 7 Ways to Use Canva to Create
Compelling Graphics
http://www.coolcatteacher.com/canva-how-to/

123. Tons of free resources for your whiteboard / classroom
http://www.mentormob.com
Theresa Allen’s page: http://j.mp/1dDkYbO

124. List.ly

125. Ed.ted.com – great flipped tool

126. • Weebly.com
• Webs.com
• Wixx.com
• Wikispaces
• Wordpress
• Voicethread (for younger students)
• Burn DVD
Efolios
21st century
competencies
• eFolios
• Collaborative Writing
• Cloud Tools for Whole Schools
• Multimedia
• eBooks
• 3D Virtual Worlds

127. Wikis •Wiki Composition
•Writing
•Research
•Programming
•Organizing
•Widget finding
•Mentoring
•Acting
•Presenting
•(Get on film)
•Camera
•Photography
•Graphic Design
•“looks”
•Record audio files
•Audacity editor
•VoiceThread
•Animoto
•Outdoor dig storytlng
or photography
•Maps
•Environmental
research
•Discussion mgt
•Cell phone enabled
Blogging or pics, twitter
•Live streaming
•Reflecting
•Opinion
•Reporting on
group issues

128. Digital
Storytelling •Script Writer
•Call Sheets
•Production
Schedule
•Asst Director
•Acting
•Presenting
•Lighting
•Flow &
movement
•Camera
•Editing
•Lighting
•Storyboarding
•Audio Editing
•Music Selection
•Sound Capture
•Scene Scout
•Scene set up
•Storyboarding
•Acting
•Directing
•Movie Ideas
•Vision Casting
•Reflecting
•Status Reporting
•Journal
process
•Ideas

129. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE
3.CITIZENSHIP
4.CONTRIBUTE &
COLLABORATE
5.CHOICE
Cultivate Good

130. Step 6
CREATE
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31

131. Students have a voice

132. Aaron Maurer – Map your Heartbreak

133. Read
#geniushour
The Passion Driven
Classroom by
Angela Maiers

134. Read
#invent2learn
Invent to Learn
By Sylvia Martinez and
Gary Stager

135. Hour of Code
Code.org

136. http://gamifi-
ed.wikispaces.com

137. Does this project matter to me?
WRONG QUESTION

138. Does this project matter to my
students?
RIGHT QUESTION

139. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE
3.CITIZENSHIP
4.CONTRIBUTE &
COLLABORATE
5.CHOICE
6.CREATE
Cultivate Good
Things that Matter

140. Step 7
CELEBRATE
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31

141. Ways to Celebrate
• Hall of Fame
• Best of Project
• Award Events
• Online School Museum
• Press Releases
• Social Media Posts
• Memorabilia
• Online Presentations
• “Awards” Shows
• Crowdsourced Voting
• Participant surveys
• Certificates
• Personal recognition from
administrators
• “Popcorn” conversations
• Reflection spaces
• Journaling
• Personal portfolios
• DVD Recordings
PUBLIC PRIVATE

142. Project Celebration: Student Summit
“In addition to the in-class required
assessment for a global project, it
is advised that students are able
to celebrate and reflect with
others from the project, including
teachers and students. ”
P 266-267 Showcase: The
Student Summit in Action

143. Step 7 ½
CELEBRATE
Part II of the Book covers the steps, p 31
and Re-create

144. Marilyn Monroe
“Sometimes good things fall
apart so better things can fall
together.”

145. Vicki Davis
Innovate or Depreciate

146. 7 ½ Steps to Flatten Your
Classroom
1.CONNECT
2.COMMUNICATE
3.CITIZENSHIP
4.CONTRIBUTE &
COLLABORATE
5.CHOICE
6.CREATE
7.CELEBRATEand Re-create
Cultivate Good
Things that Matter

147. Eat a
watermelon

148. Not
whole!

149. Small
bites!

150. What am I going to do next year?
WRONG QUESTION

151. What am I going to do today?
RIGHT QUESTION

153. Last Essential Question
Where can I find these slides?
www.coolcatteacher.com/oetc15
(Also 20% discount on new book there too.)