Tool #7: Reaching Outside your Classroom: Online Digital Projects

First, as a side note, using animated avatar versions of real people who have developed global learning techniques to discuss their project with other potential project developers (as was done in the video provided in this tool) is NOT a step forward.  It is silly.  With the advances in technology available to us today, a collaborative video presentation of the two ladies discussing their experiences would have been much more interesting and useful. .....Just sayin' (as our students say).

My first attempt at "digitally reaching outside my classroom" will cover Greek Theatre History:

1. Objective:  The students will explore and analyze various aspects of Ancient Greek Theatre.
2. Implementation:  Fall 2012
3. Tools: First, both my 1st and 7th period Theatre class will collaborate on this project using Google Docs and in-class project materials.  We will use digital photography and videos to record project results, then we'll post video slideshows and videos to You Tube to share with other classrooms, and Poll Everywhere to determine student's prior knowledge.
4. Project Description:   Each class will divide into four groups and will each be assigned four different topics:  Greek plays and playwrights, Greek Theatre of Dionysus (on of the first known amphitheaters), Greek masks, and Greek mythology depicted through drama.  Each group will collaborative research and record their findings on their topics, and will then collaboratively develop physical products to illustrate their topics: perform an excerpt from "Antigone," produce a physical labeled model of Theatre of Dionysus, construct a Greek mask, and write and perform a skit using a mythological-like story to explain the physical world (how did the scorpion get its sting?). Each product will be recorded through photography/video and posted to You Tube.  
5. Networking Opportunity:  We will share our project results via You Tube with 6th grade classes (English and Social Studies) when they study Greek mythology and history.  We could first use Poll Everywhere to determine the 6th graders knowledge of Ancient Greek Theatre, and then we can have a joint discussion afterward using Skype.