Flat Classroom® Conference

The Project Based Learning Conference for Students and Educators

A New Kind of Conference

Tired of going to conferences and just listening all day?
Do you wish you could use the tools and create new products for learning?
Do you want to have contacts who are ready to collaborate?

The Flat Classroom® Conference is a unique limited-seating conference including students and educators to envision the future of education as they use leading technology tools such as wikis, blogs, social networking and multi-media storytelling. The conference is diverse in participation while allowing smaller groups with leading world-class presenters in a "flattened" environment where virtual participants join in the conversation from remote corners of the world.
Educators will leave the conference understanding how to collaborate globally and with skills and contacts in hand to start projects. Students will leave the conference with leadership skills, technology skills, presentation skills, and a better understanding of diverse cultures and collaboration.

Who should attend?

This event is targeted to teachers and students of past, current and future 'flat classroom' collaborations as well as Information Technology teachers and Directors and school administrators who are responsible for pedagogical development with curriculum design, global collaboration, global competency, and international mindedness in their schools. Essentially everyone involved in the education process, including students are invited to attend and actively participate.

Two strands: 'Leadership Workshop' and 'Student Summit' will meet separately as well as in combined sessions to discuss and model best practice for promoting international collaboration as part of a global flat classroom. All participants will be given the opportunity to develop leadership skills in using information technology, particularly Web 2.0 tools, to connect, communicate and collaborate.

Flat Classroom Workshop, Mumbai February 2012

The NEXT Flat Classroom Workshop, will be at the ASB Unplugged Conference, Mumbai India, February 23-25, 2012. Expressions of interest welcome.

Flat Classroom Conference 2013

Flat Classroom Conference and Live Events Inc. invite applications from interested schools globally to host future Flat Classroom Conferences.
Right now we are looking for a venue for the 2013 conference.
Details and application process for hosting a Flat Classroom Conference are on this website.

Mission

The aim of the Flat Classroom Conference is to bring together geographically dispersed participants with a view to sharing ideas while using mobile computing, learning about Web 2.0 communication and collaboration tools in a flattened world, and, in the case of the workshop, working on a project theme that can be transplanted back into their home school. The selected theme will inspire unity and action as well as fostering continued connections after the actual event. It is envisaged this will improve global understanding and cement friendships for ongoing collaborations. It is also envisaged that this will provide an opportunity for students and teachers together to 'create the future' through exploration of a global or social issue and developing an 'action' plan to work globally to overcome this.

Learn about Project Based Conferencing in our new book!

Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time is now available for preorder. (January 26, 2012 release date.)

Like our Facebook page for updates on free webinars and the book club.
Join our book club - we'll send you details.
Apply to the Flat Classroom certified teacher course (now open to all educators)
Let us know if you are a college professor or professional developer who wants to use this book.
Contact us to schedule an interview on your website.
Order the book at Amazon or on Pearson's website.

Students at the Gateway of India during the Flat Classroom Workshop in Mumbai, India

A Vision for the Future Flat Classroom Conference 2009 Documentary

Students and teachers riding camels in Qatar at the 2009 conference.

Conference Objectives

To provide an opportunity for participants and supporters of Flat Classroom® Projects to have an educational and cultural exchange via an organized gathering.
To promote connection and understanding between geographically dispersed, ethnically and culturally diverse groups of students in meaningful, global cooperative authentic learning experiences.
To focus on enhancing digital citizenship and fostering best practice methods for online learning in ways that can be shared synchronously and asynchronously with other schools around the world.
To provide further opportunity for pedagogical development using emerging technologies in differing modes.
To promote leadership skills for 21st century learning amongst participants of all ages with an increasing leadership role for students in education practice.
To provide an opportunity for participants to explore and experience what it means to learn in a 'flat classroom' with extensive involvement from students and teachers, both face-to-face and virtually.
To advance our approach to the next stage in the establishment of educationally viable and valued global classroom(s) and all this means for relationship building and the development of independent and cultural learning for teachers and students.

Further information
The Flat Classroom® Conference is designed and created by Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay, co-founders of
Flat Classroom® Projects and is put on by Flat Classroom® Conference and Live Events Inc. non-profit US-based 501(3)(c).
The full conference is held biennially, with the inaugural event being in Doha, Qatar in January 2009. Regional Flat Classroom® workshops are held more often. Recent workshops include the 21st Century Learning Conference, Hong Kong and ASB Unplugged, Mumbai, India.
You are invited to join our educational network, Flat Classroom® Conference Ning.