Good morning all,

With the NJDOE and just about every other state department of education talking about the importance of globally connected (aka ‘flattened’) classrooms, many districts are trying to figure out exactly what that means and how to get there. Let’s face it: our time is precious, whether it is instructional, prep, or professional development. To utilize time effectively, you need a plan, a guide, a roadmap. Thanks to Atomic Learning and the inimitable Vicki Davis, that plan/guide/roadmap has arrived, and it’s completely free! Check out the just released, free ebook “Seven Steps to Flatten Your Classroom” [direct link to .PDF here].

Seven Steps to Flatten Your Classroom is a well-organized, easy-to-follow, clearly written “front end” to a MASSIVE collection of over 80 (!)  free instructional videos Vicki has developed for Atomic Learning based on her years of experience building globally collaborative projects with her students. What I love most about this resource is the way it breaks down the process of of  creating the environment needed to support such projects. Here’s her outline:

• Step 1: Connect Yourself
• Step 2: Connect Students
• Step 3: Create Prolearners
• Step 4: Communicate
• Step 5: Character
• Step 6: Citizenship and Safety
• Step 7: Choice and Focus

It’s all explained in the ebook with embedded links to videos that quickly explain each of the technologies, issues and concepts involved. Aren’t we all visual / auditory learners? These videos are focused, clearly expressed in a (largely!) jargon-free style that makes them perfect for guiding a study group or articulation team over a period of months as they explore together. Here’s an example:

It’s a little hard taking this one video out of the larger context, but I thought it was helpful as an example of the quality of the videos in the series.

In the end, it’s all about professional development. So, about a week ago, I asked my Twitter network what “effective PD” meant to them. Among the many great responses, Will Richardson said:

My interpretation of Will’s response:

• Long term = time horizon beyond this lesson, this week, this semester, this term, perhaps even this year [a strategic view]
• Job-embedded = directly related to day-to-day responsibilities, participant directed, not mass-style, undifferentiated “sit & get”
• Passion-based = tied to a subject or initiative you and/or your teammates feel strongly about [you get to decide - it's driven by your needs!]
• Online and face to face = using the web to extend the conversation beyond your own school walls

The Atomic Learning ebook “Seven Steps to Flatten Your Classroom” speaks to those points. It provides, in my view, a terrific framework for a team of educators to explore, learn, question, network, develop and grow together, over time, in pursuit of shared understanding and appreciation for the free tools that are connecting us all and transforming how we look at the world and ourselves.

What’s the next step? Interested teachers … committed administrators … some PD dollars … time … and the expectation of demonstrable change in professional practice!

Hope this helps!

-kj-