High School Flashbacks

cc licensed ( BY NC )
flickr photo by Rusty Sheriff: http://flickr.com/photos
/rustysheriff/4879559713/

There are days when I walk out of school wondering what I was thinking finding myself back in middle school and high school.  Those are not the rough teaching days but the days when the social and emotional equilibrium is out of whack and I am reminded of how awkward I felt during those years.  Every Wednesday our MUN students dress up as part of their training to feel comfortable in their skin no matter the circumstances.  I really give those kids credit as in high school I never would have stood up and debated live - never.  Perhaps I was too opinionated, not opinionated enough, shy or introverted.  Most probably it was a mix of all, depending on what day you bumped into me in the hallways.  I have grown out of that fear and now speak publicly with conviction and confidence but still feel that trepidation when I think back.

Last month an email went out to the Flat Classroom community asking if any of us were interested in judging the Eracism Project.  This was one of the projects that I had investigated and blogged about early in the course.  There were a few aspects to judging this project that appealed to me.  First of all, the judging is asynchronous so I do not need to be live so can fit it into my teaching, studying and mommying schedule.  Secondly, there are new Web 2.0 technologies to learn like ObaWorld and Voicethread.  Thirdly, I am going to be part of a judging team so I can work virtually and collaboratively with like-minded colleagues.  Finally, and not at all least, I can support students and teachers out there who are flattening their classrooms.

As I type this students around the world are preparing their opening remarks on the topic: "The use of Facebook by students around the world to communicate with one another does more harm than good." I attended online bootcamps on the use of ObaWorld and Voicethread and judging practices.  I studied the rubrics, connected with my judging partner who lives in Florida and am excited to be part of this new community.

What global projects do you participate in as a judge?