Needed to write to parents/caregivers because some students were so enthusiastic that they planned to get started this weekend. I also wanted to ask parents for their support and permission for their son/daughter to participate in the class private Facebook space. By email, I invited students to register an interest in participating in the class private Facebook space. Have included both the letter to parents/caregivers and the email to students in this blog.
Letter to parents/caregivers
Dear Parents/Caregivers of students in 809 English,
This is a request for your support for a trial project involving your son/daughter in 809 English and for your permission for your son/daughter to participate in a private 809 English Facebook space.
The 20% FT4L trial project stands for 20% of English lesson time per week i.e., one lesson out of five, being Free Time for Learning. The learning challenge for students is “How would you use your time if you had a choice? Only two rules: Must be learning using English language and must be reported.” This is an opportunity for students to learn time management skills as well as being preparation for the Year 12 Research Project.
Why 20%? Here is a story about how the yellow Post-it stickers were invented. Apparently, the boss of a big company gave the workers every Friday (20% of their working week) for doing their own thing provided it was somehow connected with their work and they reported on what they had been doing. One worker invented the yellow sticker, which the company then produced, and the rest is history.
By the way, Google do the same 20% strategy and that’s how a number of their apps have been invented. Most remarkably, the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics was won by scientists for a project they did for fun on Friday nights after work!
When the 809 English students first heard about the FT4L trial last Friday, they were generally enthusiastic and so we have been starting the planning. The purpose of this letter is to include you in the trial, especially because some of the students are already wanting to do some of the work at home.
For more details on the 20% FT4L trial project, please visit this site –
A private 809 English Facebook space would be a way for the students in this trial to ask questions, try out ideas, get help etc. anytime and anywhere. This is increasingly the nature of modern learning where students can be working at home at night and on the weekends. On occasion, they will need help and online support will be faster than waiting for the next English lesson. Membership of the 809 English Facebook space would be limited to students in the class and a few teachers. No friends. It would be an opportunity to teach cyber safety. Participation would be the same as for the 20% FT4L trial project – voluntary.
Why Facebook rather than a blog or Moodle? Increasingly, students already know Facebook and so it’s a matter of adding a space to their Internet life rather than learning a new set of navigation for a new networking site. Also, the school has already conducted trials in blogs and wikis with mixed success and a review suggested that students can be reluctant to visit sites associated only with school.
How would we manage cyber safety? We would follow the advice in the “Parents guide to Facebook” article on ABC web site at http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2011/03/16/3165555.htm
If you have questions/comments etc., please email me or phone 0419 823 222.
Regards,
Michael Cowling, 809 English teacher. 31mar11.
email to students
How much would you be interested in joining a private 809 English Facebook space?
I'm interested in trying out the idea because we could share ideas, ask questions, get help in safety.
Only the students in 809 English, as well as a few teachers, would be members.
No friends because you can still do that in other Facebook spaces.
It would also be an opportunity to teach cyber safety.
Once again, it's voluntary and so you would need to choose in.
Please email me your answer.
BTW
I'm trying out the idea of a public blog where people can read about our trial project and even make a comment. It's like a journal mostly for teachers but anyone on the Internet can read it. Here's the link
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