SCAN + Collaborize Classroom = Synergy!

Sandra Wozniak, my guest blogger for this post, is an experienced classroom teacher and director of curriculum and technology for TregoED. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Sandy to design topics, discussion questions and writing activities using Collaborize Classroom to introduce and extend SCAN lessons.

Having the opportunity and flexibility of trying out all kinds of fun 2.0 tools in class, I have stumbled upon some great ones.  There are many tools out there that harness the Net generation’s enthusiasm for videos, social media, sharing, etc and can promote 21^st century skills.  I am always looking for ways to take those tools and move them to the D quadrant – increasing relevance and rigor in the classroom across all disciplines.

Combining the critical thinking strategy built into the SCAN tool and the flexibility of the Collaborize Classroom tool creates a synergy that builds-in writing and higher order thinking. SCAN is a tool that is best done synchronously, having students read a problem based scenario, select a perspective to represent and dive into a guided discussion focused on collaborating on a solution.

Because computer access is often difficult, it is best to get students to dive right into the session with little time spent on introduction.  How then to prepare students for the dive?  Collaborize Classroom is the perfect platform to introduce the topic with a relevant video or article and some questions to get them thinking.

TregoEd is working with Collaborize Classroom to provide great questions to set up a SCAN session or to get kids writing as a follow-up to a session with a whole library of ideas. Check out the topics covered by both:  Electoral College, Pearl Harbor, Cell phones in school, Alternative Energy, Egyptian Artifacts, etc.  This is a great way to leverage the strengths of both platforms in and engaging students in a media they love.

I encourage teachers to check out this powerful combination. If you have a SCAN lesson you love but need suggestions for how you can use Collaborize Classroom to complement your work in class, just post the SCAN lesson title and I will put my love of curriculum design to work!