Reflections on Globaloria coming into 2009...

Yesterday, while celebrating the coming of year 2009, I started evaluating our work in Globaloria in 2008. What have we accomplished? What have we learned, on our own and from each other? What have we struggled through? Where have we succeeded? The term "we" for me includes the students and the teachers, because in this class we are all learners, which, as hard and impossible as it seemed to me in the beginning, has proven to be the most rewarding aspect of the class. The end of the physical year is sort of a mid check point for the class, which is getting more challenging but more rewarding at the same time. So, if going back to August...

We have originally started with a diverse group of 15 students, 15 different personalities, ambitions, working habits, etc. that totally "made" the group. The beginning of the semester was chaotic because the structure of the class, the independence in learning, as well as the need for collaboration and dealing with new software to all of us required constant attention, reinforcement of rules, and reevaluation of practices in close collaboration with Denise. Of course, we could not have done anything without the support from our school and district administration as well as the Globaloria team, which ensured quick install of Flash...

From there on, the life in class has taken a form of its own. Up to date, we have lost two students and have accepted a new one, these being the changes that made us reevaluate our grouping practices for the next year because of the huge role collaboration plays throughout the course. The class has also opened various talents in our students and heightened their interest in school (the testimony of one of the parents!). Their game ideas are very relevant to the social issues of today and are overflowing with creativity.

The students constantly surprise me with their catching on to the new things with Flash. Whatever I could not figure out in a million of years, they get it in a snap! However, not everybody is this way, so these students and I slowly go through the tutorials and learn something new ourselves! Of course, if the overachievers don't jump in and explain everything in an instant! I cannot wait to see what this class will bring during the second semester, especially teh final product, which is not only the games, but also my students' social learning, collaboration, and work skills honed throughout the course.