Collaborating Across the Miles!

@imagination Twitter Takeover with Consultant Steve Auslander

We asked Steve Auslander, one of our Imagination Creativity Consultants (formerly Ambassadors) to share with us his strategies for collaborating across the miles. As a Skype Master Teacher, Steve has done an amazing job connecting his students/Chapter in Indiana with kids in other Chapters throughout the US and all over the world. Steve took over our Twitter handle on November 1, and here is his best advice from that Twitter Takeover event @imagination. Enjoy!

Steve Auslander, 5th Grade Teacher and Imagination Creativity Consultant here live to chat about connecting students!

I created this video on fun ways to connect classes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvGciVAG6LQrxGi3fvOU_-jlfJn12Wtoa …

Here’s more Skype magic -a spontaneous sing along between my Indy 5th graders and 5th graders in Israel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-_uEObz6ro&t=25s

My favorite is the Microsoft Educator Community. You can register 4 Skype Collaboration Projects right on the site! https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/overview …

My favorite way to use Skype with kids is through games! All kids love @getkahoot! Over Skype screen sharing, you can play a game with other classes!

Mystery Skype is a popular game as well. My kids love it and it’s amazing for geography, problem solving and teamwork! @SkypeClassroom

We use Mystery Skype to establish a relationship w/another class. Often we stay in touch throughout the year for other global events!

We Skyped with a class in Uruguay sharing #CardboardChallenge games. Now we’re doing a Candy Exchange with them.

Learning is enhanced when we build and maintain relationships with others. When we learn with those who are different from us we all win!

Sometimes time zones make collaboration tricky! Skype offers free video messaging. Other great resources include @flipgrid and @padlet

I’ve played Mystery Skype, Mystery Number, Mystery Animal, Mystery Decimal Area Code, Mystery Country Calling Code, Skype Kahoot, and more!

Challenge yourself to try a Skype adventure with your class on 11/28 or 11/29 for #SkypeaThon! https://education.microsoft.com/skypeathon

I’ll leave you with this: Let’s connect kids w/kids from different backgrounds. The world needs more of that! @skypeclassroom

Thanks for reading! For more from Imagination on Twitter, find us @imagination. See you there!