Rural+Collaboration

** Purpose: **
Reduce the social isolation of Year 7 & 8 students in rural and remote schools by creating online learning opportunities with similar students across schools, effectively creating a 'virtual intermediate' class. By providing opportunities for our students to Connect, Communicate, Collaborate & Create (C4).


 * To enable our students to be confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners. (NZC)
 * A programme to develop key competencies, encompass the Values of the NZC across the learning areas with a student centred, integrated inquiry based approach supported by Web 2.0 technologies.


 * Student Selection Criteria: **

Year Year 7 & 8, each subsequent year in a project introduces new Year 7s into the class.

From isolated schools where there are low numbers of senior students.

Participating schools are expected to assist in collaboration in the planning and provision of the programme.

A face to face camp will be planned for every second year - participation in this part of the project is required.

Students have the opportunity to reach out beyond the walls of the classroom and connect to each other and a wider community.
 * Connect **

Students communicating through Web 2.0 environments, if given the freedom to follow their areas of interest, can be empowered to take control of their own learning as they find real purpose and relevance in their interactions.
 * Communicate **

Like-minded individuals gather online to embrace common enterprises, which often involve access and processing information.
 * Collaborate **

As knowledge producers, our students become active participants in their own learning processes.
 * Create **

Collaborate
 * Project Development/Ideas: **
 * === 4 C’s === || === Key Competencies === || === Tools === || === Contexts === ||
 * Connect

Communicate

Create || Relating to others Managing Self; Participating & contributing

Using Language, symbols & texts

Thinking; || Adobe Connect, Skype, [|WeLearn] (student social network tool) Blog, TeacherTube, Wiki, Podomatic, PhotoStory, MovieMaker || ** My Digital Footprint ** Introduction to online learning environments; cybersafety; setting the ground rules for appropriate interactions. [|Pt England - Cybersmart Curriculum]


 * All About Me ** – establishing communications, developing a learning community, sharing interests, abilities & knowledge.(Develop in weLearn - profiles, groups & interactions)

* Developing skills and confidence online.

**PostCards from New Zealand** (Around NZ in 42 Days) Students promote their place (many choices for creating) share with each other. Whakapapa making links with the land & tikanga maori

--- Scaffold & Model the following activities for students to lead: Big Questions Philosophy Forum Challenges Maths, Current Events … Quizzes Game shows Statistics Comparative studies Surveys - Survey Monkey etc Book Club Student Forum Competitions Support for Movie & Photo competitions. --- (enterprise studies) ||
 * Student Experts ** – develop their own online spaces for others to join. Individual inquiry projects.
 * Planning & Fundraising for Camp **
 * The model above is a guide & not exclusively matched to the individual key competencies & tools. **