Gold Quest-Classroom Collaboration

Introduction

The International Society of Technology in Education has identified Problem-Solving and Collaboration as key skills for success in society.

“A Global Collaborator has the ability to address and potentially solve significant problems in students’ communities and around the world, both independently and in collaboration with others.”

This Quest involves classroom-to-classroom collaboration and communication. The goal is to solve an issue or problem of significance with others across the globe. Your classroom will take on a problem and work through a possible solution or solutions. This might also be done with students in smaller groups. You will be investigating possible solutions through collaboration with other students around the globe.

I Can Statements

• collaborate with others on a project
• create a presentation backing it up with research

Key Vocabulary

Global Collaborator: A global collaborator is a student that uses digital tools to connect with others from different backgrounds and cultures to learn and work together.

Digital Citizen: A digital citizen is a student that recognizes the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for living, learning and working with others using technology. This requires acting and modeling behaviors that are safe, legal, and ethical.

Play the Vocabulary Game below to practice the Key Vocabulary. 

Steps 

As a classroom or in small groups:

1. Explore problems or issues in your school, community, or world regarding any of the following: environment (climate, drinking water), endangered animals, health (smoking, drugs, alcohol), safety (internet and social media), social (hunger, homelessness, disease), literacy, poverty, gun safety, racism, immigration or identify another problem your classmates may want to review.
   a. Look at several of the resources provided in the classroom collaboration resources section at the bottom. 
   b. Identify an issue or join in one that another school is working on that is also of value to your group or class.
2. Once you’ve identified your issue, your teacher will set up a collaboration session with another classroom working on a similar issue.
   a. You will connect with a collaborating group and introduce yourselves
   b. Use a shared working environment (Google Docs, Office 365, wiki, blog) to share your questions, concerns, and possible areas to focus on as you work through the problem

3. Collaboration: Identify and split up the research needed.

a. Agree on future dates and/or methods for collaboration
b. Set target date(s) for completion of your research

4. Share and evaluate the findings and research links in your shared document

5. Based on the research you completed, collaborate and brainstorm potential solutions for each of your locations.

6. Write up your specific solution(s) or action plan(s) with steps and a timeline.

7. Identify a target audience (school council, parent group, local business group, other students) that is important to taking action on the issue.

8. Create a presentation (on your own or with your collaborators) that is backed up by research for your audience and share it.

9. Take action on your solution! Be ready to share your results.

Completing this Quest

By completing this assignment you are certifying that you/your class has participated in a global collaboration working with another classroom or others outside of your classroom, using technology resources. You have collaborated with others to investigate solutions to issues with others, and have participated constructively.

  Check off this Quest on the 21t4s roadmap 

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