ASTL PRESENTATION
NOVEMBER 19,1997
What are we doing?
Interdisciplinary and international project
Uses telecommunication to create a collaborative website dedicated to exploration of problems and solutions related to water pollution
New and innovative because 15 high school teachers in different disciplines in Brazil are thematically planning and creating curriculum together and with an elementary school teacher in California
How did we change our approach?
1. From focus on science to a focus on art as a new way of thinking and a new process of communication
2. Backwards thinking process: We began to focus first on product (web site)--then think about what we will do and how we will do it.
3. We are now thinking more about training, mentoring other teachers and students in this process.
4. We have opened this project beyond our schools to other teachers and institutions to create multiple collaborations.
5. We began to include the concept of spiraling curriculum in our project.
6. Driving questions to bring students and teachers through their door into this type of project based learning
7. We made sure we included activities for all intelligences
What is most puzzling and challenging?
How to coordinate 16 teachers in two countries to work collaboratively to create a successful, IMPORTANT project that will change the way we design education, and make a positive impact on education around the world?
How do we finance, coordinate and organize to spread this process?