A “digital handshake” is an opportunity for teachers and
students to introduce themselves to the wider collaboration community, and are an essential ‘first step’ for successful engagement in global projects.
(Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds)

This year, we are running our primary "Handshake Phase" during November and December 2012; however, due to the unusual ongoing nature of this project, we will be accepting submissions until June 2013.


cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo shared by Truthout.org



The Classroom Handshake

We invite #globalclassroom teachers and students to share a little about themselves, their classroom, countries, and school communities with the wider project community, by creating a digital "classroom handshake". These handshakes will be showcased on our project blog and wiki, and will help us learn more about you!

How?


How you choose to create your classroom handshake is up to you - we suggest using a digital storytelling tool you are comfortable with, or are interested in learning more about - e.g. Animoto, PhotoPeach, iMovie, VoiceThread, Capzules, Voki, etc.

Please enable comments where-ever possible - so project organisers, and #globalclassroom participants can respond to your handshake!

If you're not sure what this looks like, please feel free to explore the examples below, or send an email to our Google Group. We're happy to help.

Where do I share our handshake?

  • Please join the wiki, and embed your handshake in the "Handshake Space" for your year level (K-3, 4-6, 7-12).
  • You can also embed your handshake in our Global Classroom Participants Map. (Tutorial Video)
  • Promote your handshake - Share a link on Twitter, Skype, or our Google Group.
  • Explore & comment on other classroom handshakes with your students!

We look forward to learning more about YOU!

Examples


Global Monster Project Handshake (Grade 4, VoiceThread)





The Teacher Handshake


The success of The Global Classroom Project relies on our teachers' participation, active engagement, and support for our online spaces. The sad truth is this: If we don't hear from, or see our new teachers engaging in our projects and spaces, we assume that you aren't there.

Global collaboration is not about the tools. It is about building personal connections and global relationships between teachers around the world. It is about moving beyond "seeing the name on the spreadsheet" to getting to know the real person . Based on our personal experiences, we guarantee that these powerful connections will change the way you teach, and the way you see the world.

Yet, we need YOU to take that first step - to "say hello" & return the 'handshake'

How?


1) Responding to our Welcome Email!
2) Joining and introducing yourselves in one or more of our community spaces, particularly on Skype, or our Google Group
3) Making your voice heard on our Introductions VoiceThread
4) Sending a tweet or an email to project organisers
5) Creating and sharing an introductory video, explaining who you are, and why you connect and collaborate globally, and uploading it to the Teacher Handshakes page in this wiki.





Video Tutorials

Thankyou to @MrsSchmidtB4 who created these video tutorials!


How to Embed into Wiki



How to Embed into our Participant Map

(Optional)