Inside Innovative Classrooms

By wiki, webcam and Tweet, fourth graders connect
Release Date: Dec. 3, 2009

If fourth graders in Mrs. Ward's class at Slingerlands have a question about New York State geography, they might consult an encyclopedia or the Internet. But, they might also flip on a webcam and discuss the issue in real time with their counterparts in Mrs. Jones' fourth grade class at Clarksville.

Consider the game of Jeopardy the two classes recently played against each other via videoconference.

What is the step in the writing process where you check for punctuation, correct spelling and for capital letters?

Students in Mrs. Ward’s class at Slingerlands think back to what they have learned this year and begin to write answers on their white boards. As they look up to the front of the class, they see, projected onto a screen, video of Mrs. Jones’ class at Clarksville doing the same thing.

The game was just one activity as part of the “Fourth Graders Connect” partnership that the two classes — known collectively as Team Ward/Jones — have formed for the year. It shows how students can use technology to collaborate on projects, get to know each other better, and to reinforce the curriculum.

Students use electronic means such as Twitter, a wiki (a Web site that allows a group to share information among its members), videos and podcasts, and videoconferencing to learn from each other.

For example, Mrs. Jones’ classes recently completed their science unit on floating and sinking, and told Mrs. Ward’s class about it via Tweets (messages sent over Twitter). Mrs. Ward’s class will study floating and sinking later in the year, and are very intrigued about it after hearing what their buddies at Clarksville have learned.

“Using different media can hook those students who are not as easily engaged,” Mrs. Jones said. “My students are also interested in learning about ecosystems which Kelly's class has already done according to their Tweets.”

The classes also produced video tours of their respective buildings and shared them with each other over the Wiki site.

Jamila Beesley, a student in Mrs. Ward’s class, said that students have learned that mastering technology and using it to learn takes patience and some problem-solving skills.

“Technology is not easy,” she said. “You have to figure out how to do all of these things. And, when you learn how to do it, it becomes easier.”

Indeed, Mrs. Ward said that many students are sharing what they have learned about technology at home.

“I think that by connecting this way to another school that is just a few miles down the road, they are starting to see some possibilities in terms of connecting to people all over the world that they couldn't have even imagined before we began this project,” she said.