TIGed

The 2011 Flat Classroom Conference is only three weeks away! Bringing together over 200 educators and students from more than 45 schools and learning institutions across 14 countries in Beijing, this already highly diverse event will diversify even further as participants from locations around the world connect into the event virtually. TIG has partnered with the Flat Classroom conference to coordinate virtual participation so, if you can't make it to China, TIG will help to ensure you don't miss out! Information about how to participate virtually in the event can be found on the Flat CLassroom 2011 wiki.

There will also be ONE online meeting prior to the conference offered at TWO different days and times to accommodate audiences around the world focused on virtual participation details and expecations, as well as further opportunities to engage in global learning. Facilitated by the Flat Classroom 2011 conference organizers and TakingITGlobal, this meeting will be offered at the following times:

• Meeting #1:Tuesday Feb 8, 7am EST, 12 Midday GMT, 8pm China, 11pm Australia - Julie Lindsay to lead with co-facilitation by Katherine Walraven of TakingITGlobal
• Meeting #2:Sunday Feb 13 5pm EST, 10 pm GMT, Monday Feb 14 6am China, 9am Australia  - Vicki Davis to lead with co-facilitation by Michael Furdyk of TakingITGlobal

There areTWO levels of virtual participation for the Flat Classroom Conference 2011:

1)Participation as afull team member in the Leadership Workshop OR the Student Summit

• This invitation is limited to 36 students and 40 educators
• Interested participants must sign up via this online form
• Confirmation of a place will be sent out by Friday February 18
• Attendance at one of the online meetings (or listening to the recording) is expected
• Participants in the Student Summit will automatically be added to working teams - Teams accessed via the wiki http://conference2011.flatclassroomproject.org/Student+Teams
• Participants in the Leadership Workshop will be allocated a team during the first day of the conference http://conference2011.flatclassroomproject.org/Leadership+Teams
• Interaction as a team member may be in real time and/or virtual via the online spaces (eg wiki) however it is expected that for a LEVEL 1 participant some real time attendance will be possible
• We are also excited to announce that we are able to offer one credit through Buffalo State, SUNY (International Graduate Programs for Educators) for completion of the conference for both in person and virtual participants. More details on the wiki soon!

2) Participation via Virtual Flat Classroom online spaceshttp://flatclass.tigweb.org/

• This will take the form of watching streamed video, participating in backchannel discussion and interacting via microblogging, comments to blog posts and other shared media and Web 2.0 tools
• Interaction and involvement may be in real time or asynchronous
• Interaction with team members is encouraged but there is no expectation for full contribution or continuity
• This invitation is not limited to a set number, there is no form to fill in, and interested participants are very welcome to join our online meetings to learn more about Flat Classroom and TakingITGlobal

We hope to 'see' you at the Flat Classroom Conference!