Welcome to Mystery Skyping!
Reference: black print copied from Mystery Skype wiki (January 2013); blue print - ideas from debriefing our challenges and success - changes we are making as a class to improve our teamwork and communication skills are in bold blue/purple print
- use #mysteryskype to connect on twitter with other classes
It's a great way to connect with classes from around the world
- Open students up to classes from around the globe.
It's an engaging way to teach geography and map skills
- Using a variety of geography based questions, students try to find the location of another class.
- The use of Google Maps and atlases give students the opportunity to study the many countries, states, and landmarks of the world.
It's an amazing team building exercise
- With students having different jobs, each plays an important role in discovering the final location.
- Students must work together in order for the activity to be successful
How it works
- Classes go back and forth asking questions to help them find the location of the other school. If a class asked a question that receives a yes answer, they get to ask a follow up question. If they ask a question that receives a no answer, the other class then has an opportunity to ask a question.
- The call continues until both classes have discovered the location of one another. Afterwards, the classes can discuss a little bit about their location and what a typical school day is like.
- Students have different roles that allow them to work together to try to find the location.
ROLES: *** new / amended ones for our class
Group 1: Inquirers (2-3 max)
- They should be quick thinkers, communicators, and come prepared with a series of questions as well as be ready to share information about our area/school and/or ask questions about their area/location. They are also in control of ensuring the other class can see/hear us.
- They are the students actually speaking with the other class. They are in charge of both asking relevant, closed questions as well as answering the other class' questions. An example of a question that they may ask would be, "are you east of the Mississippi River?"
Group 2: Records,Reporters, “Fish Bowl” Observers (at least 2 per group if numbers allow)
- 2-4 people; need 2 laptops or ipads to record in google docs, camera / iPhone/ ipad for documentarian to video and/or take photos;
- Within a week, this group is responsible for sharing/reporting on online a
- what we learned (geography, culturally, individual / teamwork skills, communication...)
- Question Keepers - These students are in charge or recording each question that is asked as well as the response: for both our class and their class. Must be good listeners. This allows for information to be reviewed during the course of the Mystery Skype. It also allows for questions to be saved to be posted later on a blog or wiki.
- Documentarian(s): takes photos/film and notes during the session
Group 3: Geographers: 4 people max
- Need2 2 atlases, Globe, maps, 2 laptops/ipads or other devices
- Google Mappers - These students use online maps to search based upon the clues that are given. They use the maps to zoom in on different countries, states, cities, and geographic landmarks to narrow in on the location of the other class. They then can share this information to come up with new questions.
- Atlas/globe - Students use a traditional atlas to help find the location. They may need to look data up on climate and in population tables, language tables, etc,...
- need 2-3 laptops/ipads or other devices; several large maps
- should be quick thinking, able to deduce from clues and have strong search skills
- Logical Reasoners - Use information gathered in clues to try to eliminate states and countries. In many cases, they use a puzzle to try to remove pieces as they're able to.
- Clue Keepers - Clue keepers use a map to mark down any important information. They can color, cross out, and make marks on the map to help narrow down the choices and formulate new questions.
Group 5: 1 -4
Runners - These people are probably the most important in the room! They ensure communication between groups as well as order in the room.
This person is in charge of running between all the other jobs. They share information that is gathered as well as bring questions to the inquirers. They help to keep order so that everyone isn't yelling out across the room.
- They need to be alert and ready to keep watch on the varied groups and pay attention to the inquirers
- They also need to be assertive enough to assume control and help keep the noise level down so that we can hear the other party and they can hear us
- use IM chat - not going to use due to privacy concerns; despite most of the class having already set up a Hum chat (on their own!), we cannot insist that people share their private information (phone numbers/emails) with the other 25 in class
- set up twitter account
- set up to use twitter hashtag #
At this time, we won't use twitter - Ms Lees and only 2 other students are already
on twitter and this would also require setting up another account - for now we
have decided to hold off due to privacy concerns
d. use google doc chat - 1 person in each group in charge of following the clues
This remains an option - will discuss after we debrief next week
e. use an overhead projector - 1 person writes on the overhead so that we can all
see the clues (not just 1 per group) projected on paper screen
- March 1 we tried this with Ms Clarke's class from Alabama and we will debrief
Recorders and Reporters:
***1 week to collaborate and Share Mystery Skype Session***
- Debrief successes and challenges
- what we learned
- about them
- about ourselves
Last year we visited:
- Carmel Proctor (Ms Lees' friend) in Guernsey - 1st time trial (Wed Feb 13, 2013) and with Mrs Oakland's class - Mrs Edward's class in Washington State.
- Mrs Krebs' Gr 7 class in a small town (<300) in Iowa (Wed Feb 20)
- Ms Clarke (March 1 from Wadley, Alabama)
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