2. Flatteners The flat classroom project is based on Thomas Friedman’s book ‘The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century‘. And he believes that the world is becoming ‘flatter’ and the factors contributing to the flattening includes: Flattener #1: Collapse of the Berlin Wall, Flattener #2: Netscape, Flattener #3: Workflow Software, Flattener #4: Open Source, Flattener #5: Outsourcing, Flattener #6: Offshoring, Flattener #7: Supply-Chaining, Flattener #8: Insourcing, Flattener #9: In-forming, Flattener #10: The Steroids. The ‘real’ creators/contributors to this flat classroom project are Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis.
3. The Aim of the Project The aim of the flat classroom project is to ‘flatten’ the walls to help students from around the globe to connect virtually in order to share thoughts and experiences. This is done through: 1. Connecting the World Online (CWO) 2. World Wide Web(WWW) 3. Work Flow Software(WFS) 4. Uploading: The Changing Shape of Information (CSI) 5. Web 2.0 (W20) 6. Globalization and Outsourcing (G&O) 7. Google (GGL) 8. PLEs and Social Networking (PLE&SN) 9. Mobiles and Ubiquitous (M&U) 10. Virtual Communication(VCom) 11. Wireless Connectivity (WCon).
4. The Aim of the Project (cont.) So with our knowledge of the flatteners and soft wares that enable flattening of our world we will create an educational video using various filming styles through our perspectives and through outsourcing (ask for ideas from our global classes). We will also associate with global classes to experience the world becoming flat through wikis and bloggers.
5. Collapse of the Berlin Wall The collapse is what Thomas Friedman defines as the starting point of digital freedom. This is because the collapse represented the fall of communism and the prevail of freedom. Hence allowed people to write what they wanted and share what they wanted.
6. Supply Chaining Supply chaining enabled various companies to make services more effective and efficient as having various stores in various locations allows more accessibility to the people, the best example of that would be Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart Branches around USA
7. The Steroids As the name suggests it may be the most powerful flattener. Steroids includes phones, ipods, handheld PCs, Smartphone (iPhones) and many more. They all help to keep people updated and connected wherever they are and whenever they want, especially teens. Hence mobile devices has helped the world become a flatter place.
8. Google Google may be one of the most important form of software that contributed to the flattening of the world as it enables anyone to retrieve information from around the world. Without such websites the internet would have been a less popular and less user friendlye environment.
9. Digital Etiquette The flat classroom project enables students to experience real life situations such as deadlines, interaction within a society, the necessity and requirement of etiquette and the most important aspect of interdependence. Hence the flat classroom project helps to prepare students for the competitive real world.
