Assignment #9 Collaborative Project

The idea of collaboration with other schools, classrooms, communities etc. with students is intriguing and I can see how it could be very effective in certain circumstances. I believe I would be interested in finding ways to link this type of teaching with my curriculum. I know the students wouldfind it exciting and motivating at least for the first few times. It would take a lot of pre-planning and collaboration outside of the classroom for me as the teacher. I think teachers would be willing to do this but the time needed to set this up would be daunting for many. The plus is that once you set it up for the first time it would be much easier each time following.

When considering ways I could link it to my curriculum I can think of a few and with more time would be able to broaden my ideas and enrich my planning. I could have a math class, a technology class, and my art class have a web discussion about designing a mobile that would hang in the front foyer of the high school. We could hold this discussion using web cam in order to reduce travel disturbances in halls and loss of class time. The Technology students could explain the choices that we would have for materials as far as what to use, how heavy it would be, if it could be hung, how to alter the appearance of it. The Math class could figure out where the hanging points had to be in order for it to be balanced, be able to move freely and not get caught up in itself and calibrate weight scale and trajectory. The art students could decide what the design would look like, shapes of the floating pieces, the idea visually represented and the surface treatment. We would have to collaborate several times and go back and forth with design and materials as well as materials and function being that weight and size would change as the design changed.

It is an interesting concept but somewhat overwhelming when faced with the idea that I've never done it before. But I guess the kids would figure it out wouldn't they???