Horizon Project 2008

A networking space for teachers and students of the Horizon Project 2008

Debra Ballweg
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Your role in Horizon Project
I would like to get involved with teachers and students from other schools in creating video dialogue concerning social, political, and economic issues that are such a part of our world.
About Me:
I teach at Verona Area High School, in Verona, Wisconsin. Currently, I work with 10th graders in a World History class and upper classmen/classwomen is a Global Issues class. I incorporate quite a bit of technology into my classes from iMovie, to iphoto, as a tool for creating iMovies, interactive keynotes and more.

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At 10:59pm on May 13, 2008, Marcia Tyrrell said…
As we are coming to the close of our year, we find that most leave their laptops here and use whatever they have at home to do work. I wanted to be able to use something like Blackboard to faciliate learning, but programs like Moodle work almost as well. Students upload files to a wiki for teachers to grade, or email assignments. As for how we found the money for all this, it was originally designed for students that needed an alternative school placement, but there were no suitable ones around (none of our students have acting out issues or defiance). They told me that if we could serve 7 students here rather than in an alternative school, we would break even financially (on the tuition savings we would have had to pay to the private/alternative school)
At 2:53pm on March 22, 2008, Madeline Brownstone said…
You wanted to know more about the classes I teach--my 7th graders are in IB MYP Technology. They just started with me February 1st. They are blogging in the Personal Learning Space and working in a class wiki. This week they are beginning their own inquiry projects. In the end, they will present their findings on the Web. My 11th graders are studying for the IB Diploma Program higher level exams in Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS). It is a 2-year course in which they study the social and ethical issues associated with IT developments. They are excited to be part of this global collaborative.
At 3:47pm on March 18, 2008, Marcia Tyrrell said…
Hi Debra~
I have a duel role: I am our school district's technology staff development facilitator and also dean (principal) of our district's 21st Century Lab School where we have at risk 11th and 12th graders and provide each with a laptop. They attend class only 12 hours a week, but are engaged in online activities and interactive technologies. We try to weave a human rights theme throughout. I was interested in Chris's music also because we just finished reading Ismail Beah's "A Long Way Gone".
At 5:39pm on March 13, 2008, Chris Flesuras, III said…
Nice to meet you, Debra. Actually, the music on my page is just from my personal collection. I was testing the audio uploading of this social networking site, and quickly put together a playlist to add to my page in case any of my students needed to know how to do the same. However, I'm really interested in your project and it sounds like a great challenge for your students. I'm assuming the song you were listening to on my page was by Lupe Fiasco - an up-and-coming hip-hop MC who I've been listening to a lot lately. He puts together some pretty powerful and articulate lyrics, and you may be interested in listening to his new album entitled 'The Cool'. Unfortunately, some of the language may be inappropriate for class use, though he isn't vulgar in his delivery. Some of the topics of his tracks deal with major social issues and the child rebel soldiers in Africa (and some are just a reflection of pop culture). American kids are great when it comes to creative expression through music, and I wish you well with your project. From talking with my students here in Japan, their perception of music is purely based on image, and lacks any real substance. Pop music in the States is the same, but due to America's rich multi-cultural background and willingness to speak openly about social issues, there are many forms of music that have deeper meaning and I think the youth over there really respond to that. I try to explain these things to my kids here in Japan, but to most of them think music is supposed to be fun and light. I can't really blame them, though. This is a karaoke culture that likes to sing songs that others create. However, they are capable of using other mediums to discuss serious issues and I think they will do well with the Horizon Project. Original song is just not one of these. But, I would like to follow what you are doing and maybe we could collaborate on another venture in the near future.
 
 

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Julie Lindsay Julie Lindsay created this Ning Network.

The Horizon Project is a sister to the Flat Classroom Project. This Ning is where teachers and students will connect, communicate and collaborate for the Horizon Project 2008. Co-founders: Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis

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