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=__KidSourcing__=

Kidsourcing is a Twitter-based self-directed learning project for 5th-8th graders. The name is a portmanteau of the word "Kid" and the word "Crowdsourcing".

Objectives:
The goal of this project is to kindle the spark of natural curiosity in students. Platforms like Twitter give educators a great opportunity to direct their own learning in the form of the Personal Learning Network, or PLN. Kidsourcing uses this model to tap into the knowledge base of a crowd of a student's peers to help aid in their own individualized learning program.

How it works:
Step 1: Students create personal accounts on Twitter. Once the accounts are created, they will be added to the KidSourcing List on twitter. Students can then follow the list to see questions and answers from the other students who are part of the community.

Step 2: Students reflect on questions they would like to ask to help them better understand things they would like to learn.

Step 3: Students "tweet" their questions and can begin to interact with other students. The process should involve a great deal of helping other students find answers to their questions. While every student will be targeting some specific knowledge they are personally interested in acquiring, they will be exposed to many other disciplines and areas of understanding through their collaboration with other students.

Examples:
Students will be guided to ask questions that are thought-provoking and challenging. Simple fact questions are strongly discouraged, meaning, if you can Google it, don't tweet it.

Example of a bad question: "In what year did the American Civil War start?"

Example of a good question: "Why did the American Civil War start?"

The second question is good because it is a discussion starter. Different people will have different opinions about WHY something happened, but asking WHEN it happened will tend to promote much less discussion.

Time Frame:
This project will start in January 2010, but has no specific end date. Students and teachers from around the world are encouraged to join and contribute both questions and answers to the community.

How to join:

Contact George Haines Twitter: @oline73 E-Mail: oline73 [at] gmail [dot] com

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