To be honest, collaboration in teaching is either a wonderful experience for all involved or it is an experience for which you wish novacaine was prescribed. Remember group projects from 5th grade? Bad collaboration is the adult equivalent. As a pre-service teacher I witnessed both.
I witnessed teachers reach out to others, while others view collaboration as "fluff" projects, not true academics.
I think that collaboration through technology makes for a dynamic learning environment for students.
When I attended primary school pen pals were all the rage. I think I corresponded with pen pals in grades 1-4. Usually, our entire class participated. It was a truly enriching experience to know that others students, although different from us, experienced much of the same things we did.
I have grandiose plans for my future classroom... Will I pull it off? I don't know, but I an an idealist; occasionally I fall on my face. I'm okay with that.
What better way for 3rd graders to learn about Scotland than a collaboration with a Scottish classroom? I envision an assignment where both sets of students take photos of 10 items in their town: road signs, town hall, playground, etc. I can think of many math lessons... cost of milk? Gas? Weather conditions? Style trends? Language lessons... Alternate spellings color/colour. Slang.
Videos, blogs, Skype, etc. There are endless possibilities.
The best way to learn about other cultures is through experience... You can't teach it. Understanding replaces an "Us vs Them" mentality. Of course, this type of true learning doesn't appear on standardized tests. I will spare you my standardized tests rant!
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