jetech's post has reinforced my concerns. I started this project about 15 years ago. I believed then, and I believe now, that project like this create a larger stage for our students learning. I think it is important to involve our kids in projects bigger than our classroom. It helps us all develop a larger, world view.
In the first several years of the project, I conducted an active teacher listserv. We talked to one another and shared ideas, successes, and concerns about the project. Over the last 3 or 4 years, I began to get more and more complaints about the listserv (too much mail, it exposed participants to spam, etc.). So, I thought I'd try a safe, moderated blog, rather than a listserv, for our discussion this year. That would eliminate spam and excessive e-mail, I thought.
However, this blog feels pretty sterile to me. And the Postcard Geography project seems to have no life. I don't know whether a project like this can survive in today's spam-riddled internet environment, but I do know that if we don't talk to one another we are engaged in "parallel play" - not collaborative work.
So... are other classrooms experiencing a disappointing response from the project? Does anyone else feel the loss of community that I am feeling?
Speak up, please. Your feedback and suggestions are truly being sought. Let's see if we can breathe some life back into what could be a thriving project.
Wishing you all the happiest of holiday seasons...
Leni
P.S. I have received MANY beautiful cards, however, and thank each and every one of you who have sent one my way (snail mail and e-mail).
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4 comments:
I was very excited to be a part of this project, and I want to thank all the great classrooms that have sent my class colorful and informative postcards. I love the hand-written postcards, and my students enjoy finding each state on the map. One disappointment I do have, however, is with the many e-mailed postcards I have received. While I understand e-mailing one message to the entire list of classrooms is easy and efficient, it seems to undermine what I perceive to be the point of the project. My kids enjoy being active participants, writing the cards, mapping where they're going.
E-mailed cards, or cards with a generic typed message, take the kids out of the equation.
Our students were thrilled to be part of this project too, but have become quite dejected as time goes by and very few emailed or snail mailed postcards have been received. We know we are far away, but we have been mailing five postcards of every twenty, emailing the other fifteen. The students are enjoying looking at other schools' websites too, so the page we made at http://www.eatohillss.eq.edu.au/Library/About/Postcard/pg.htm has been useful.
Trish
I just received a great card from Chicago, postmarked from Palatine. Unfortunately, there was no message! I don't know who posted it. If the sender reads this, could you please send me an email? corrc@sbcglobal.net
Charlene Corr
St. Joseph School #204
Racine, WI 53402
Hello,
I do not necessarily agree that technology "undermines" this effort.
This project provides many opportunities to use a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Technology is just one aspect that lends a new spin as well as an opportunity for kids to use technology to communicate. They have learned many things about blocked email, Delivery Status Notification (Failure) and netiquette. The websites we selected to forward were the result of class scrutiny, discussion and evaluation. Many of my students have OT and developmental concerns. Their writing is very large and was initially barely legible. Some were frustrated. "Team teachers" provided Alphasmart instruction so that they could word process their work.I am sure that the instruction, planning, and time allotment is different for each teacher. Each teacher must determine which approach enhances student learning and success. The more involved we have become, the more benefits we have reaped.The supportive staff in my building has taken a genuine interest in this project. Designing our card, which was a lesson in determining importance, was a team effort. We voted for the design that best conveyed our message. We formed teams for writing to cover the large number of schools. I committed to 2 lists. This was my mistake. 5 participants received email from one team in the 1-2 group. We used this same format to send 25 snail-mail cards. Many of my students are at the Interactive Writing Stage and need support.We wrote a class message to 3-5 participants and attempted to send a bulk email. This was a tech learning disaster for all of us, especially me. I have discussed every aspect of this experience with my students. They are aware that everyone, even adults, learn and problem solve to remedy.The fringe benefits of this project continue to enhance social skills, cooperation, problem solving etc. The list is long and the benefit are many!
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