Around the World in 180 Days: Lucy and Michelle's Resource Guide to Creating and Maintaining School Partnerships

Several of you have asked for a list of the resources we have used that were mentioned in our presentations.  Here they are along with a few words of encouragement on getting started with global partnerships:

Lucy and Michelle's Guide to the Global Classroom...

You need 3 things to make it work:

1.Time

2.Enthusiasm

3.Vision

Step 1:Think about what you want to do? Link a class for a year? For a project? Or something specific? This helps to narrow down your search area and therefore find a partner school which is going to work for you.  Then, be willing to be flexible...other schools may NOT have the same flexibility as you.  You may need to work together to find a project that is "do-able" for both schools.

Step 2  :Find a partner in crime! Use Google or a search engine like www.globalgateway.org to find out about the place you want to link with, narrow it down to an area and then begin searching for schools in that area. Then start e-mailing. This might take lots of e-mails or you might get lucky like us! Alternatively you can use a site which hooks up schools looking for partners like an online dating service for schools? (should that be allowed?)

Step 3:  Get to know each other. It helps if you have clear ideas of what the other wants out of the partnership – are you going to have the children partnered up as pen pals or groups?  You can also work out the technology while you do this. www.skype.com, e-mail (use www.gaggle.com, if you need to) and www.moodle.com ,  if you are going to use it.  Remember, the voice recording capability at www.wildvoice.com !

Step 4:  Introduce the children to each other and the technology. You will often find they run the show from there – especially if they are older!

Step 5:Look to the future. Think about where you can take the partnership and how it will impact on the children. Bourton Meadow changed their History focus this year because we had the opportunity to work with Prairie Vale. Prairie Vale changed the content of writing assignments and technology curriculum map to include Skype, Twitter, Blogs, Email, etc.  Be prepared to be flexible!

Thanks to all of you who came out to hear us!!  We enjoyed meeting you all!

Michelle Anderson:

Read about Michelle’s school at:   http://www.prairievale.org

Read about Lucy and Michelle’ Excellent Adventures at:  http://anokieinengland.blogspot.com

Follow Michelle on Twitter:  ieduk8u

Skype ID: ieduk8u.ok

Email address:  andersonm@deercreek.k12.ok.us

Lucy Howard:

Read about Lucy’s school at:  http://www.bourtonmeadow.co.uk/

View Lucy’s VLE at:  http://learning.bourtonmeadow.bucks.sch.uk

Skype id: lucy-howard

Email address:  lhoward@bourtonmeadow.bucks.sch.uk