The Flat Classroom Project aims to flatten classroom walls by connecting middle and high school students from around the world using web 2.0 tools. Founded in 2006, it allows students to collaborate globally on real-world topics based on Thomas Friedman's book "The World is Flat." Students discuss concepts like globalization, outsourcing, and how the internet and web tools connect people worldwide. Participants are required to introduce themselves, write a collaborative report using a wiki, create a personal multimedia response, and reflect on their experience.

1. The Flat Classroom Project By: Kelly Hughes October 21, 2010 EDU 749

2. What is the Flat Classroom Project? A global collaborative project that joins together middle and high school students Co-founded in 2006 by Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay Uses Web 2.0 tools to support communication and interaction as well as collaboration and creation between students and teachers from classrooms around the world. Topics studied and discussed are real-world scenarios based on 'The World is Flat' by Thomas Friedman. The term “flat” refers to being “connected”

3. What is the Goal? To 'flatten' or lower the classroom walls so that instead of each class working isolated and alone, 2 or more classes are joined virtually to become one large classroom. Designed to: develop cultural understanding, Develop skills with Web 2.0 and other software, Gain experience in global collaboration and online learning, Develop awareness of what it means to live and work in a flat world, while researching and discussing the ideas developed in Friedman's book.

4. “Flat” Topics or “flatteners” Connecting the world online World Wide Web Workflow software The Changing Shape of Information Web 2.0 tools for sharing information Globalization and outsourcing Google takes over the world Personal Learning Environments and Social Networking Mobile and Ubiquitous Virtual Communication Wireless Connectivity

5. Content of project The Flat Classroom Project™ has four mandatory components for students: An audio or video introduction posted as a blog post on the educational network (Ning) A written collaborative report using a wiki - Students will edit the wiki and discuss the topic on the discussion tab of the page in teams A personal multimedia response (digital story/video) (topic as assigned on the project matrix) A Post Project Reflection - Students will post their reflection on the process to the educational network (Ning)

6. Past Project Winners http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/past-projects.html