Connected+Classroom+Ning

The fourth grade students are participating in [|The Connected Classroom] which is a flatclassroom project with classes across the world.
===Our goal is to promote an enthusiasm, excitement and a love of learning while expanding their world through collaborations with students in other international and public schools around the world. We are using a private Ning ([|www.ning.com]) to discuss topics of common interest with students in a global collaboration with classes from other countries including Thailand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.===

**More About Ning**
===Ning is an easy to use, free, online networking tool that allows students to share their ideas in a blog format, respond to others’ ideas through discussion board posts, and to post a range of responses including images, voice, and video. One exciting feature of a Ning is that it allows us to collaborate with other students around the world. This means that students around the world can begin to discuss and share their thoughts and ideas related to global topics and issues.===

Currently...
==students have created avatars, started to design their main page, added their introductions to the forum, and are beginning to connect with and respond to other students involved in the project. As a class we agreed to using the following guidelines when responding to others:==

**Responding to Forum Posts** **On our Connected Classroom Ning**
· **Connect to the person’s ideas and extend them** · **Represent your school** · **Be open to differences** · **Have voice using a careful selection of words** · **Use complete sentences and proper grammar** · **Use accurate punctuation** · **Be positive**
 * Remember a thoughtful response should:**

· **ALL CAPITAL LETTERS** · **Repeating words** · **Soooooooooo many of the same letters** · **Abbreviated IM words** · **Typing of emoticons :-) :-(** · **Unfriendly tone –No anger or sarcasm** · **Ask personal questions including phone numbers, last names, email address, home address**
 * Your response should NOT include:**