2. 1
KFIT International School Project (KISP)
Status Report and Revised Work Plan
1 March 2012
BACKGROUND
The KFIT International School Project (KISP) is a component of UNESCO Bangkok’s Facilitating Effective ICT-Pedagogy
Integration Project, which aims to create an enabling environment for student-centered use of ICT. KISP will engage the
project participants (TEIs and schools from Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) in capability
building workshops on Project-Based Learning (PBL) and tele-collaboration that would lead to practice through the following
identified scenarios:
Scenario Scope
A Collaboration of students who are from the same school
inter-disciplinary
B Collaboration of students from different schools but in the same country
inter-school
C Collaboration of students from different schools from different countries
inter-cultural
While scenarios A and B could be implemented within the schools and countries of the participants, scenario C will feature
schools from different countries working with each other. UNESCO, on the other hand, will facilitate the conduct of the inter-
cultural collaboration among schools from different countries by providing guidance to the TEIs. It has also been decided that
the Asia-Pacific Education Community portal (EC), the main platform for UNESCO’s capacity building workshops on PBL
and tele-collaboration,1 will be the platform for scenario C.
However, some of the countries opted not participate in scenario C, particularly for countries that are not proficient and
comfortable with the English language, the working language of the project. Bangladesh on the other hand, chose not to
participate as they are currently implementing another PBL model; participating in KISP might cause confusion among its
teacher-participants. Consequently, other countries were asked to participate; Canada and Korea were selected, as its
1
http://ict.unescobkk.org/
3. 2
participants already have a background in project-based learning and use of ICT in education.2 Participants from China and the
Philippines are the holdovers from the capacity building workshops organized and conducted by UNESCO, with China adding
another university in the mix of participating groups (Nanjing University).
Country Teacher Education Institute (TEI)
Canada McGill University
China East China Normal University
South China Normal University
Nanjing University
Korea3 -
Philippines Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
STATUS REPORT
In order to facilitate the conduct of scenario C, online meetings among the participants and UNESCO were organized.4 The
objectives, timeframe, and outcomes were set and clarified during the first meeting and was used in the concept note for KISP:
Objectives
A. UNESCO
• To expand the community of teachers who were trained and to put the training into practice
• To document processes, experiences, and feedback as inputs to the Regional Guide on PBL and telecollaboration that
will be published in 2012
• To measure the effectiveness of PBL
• To further strengthen the partnerships between teacher educators and teachers
B. Canada (For the participating classes)
• To increase awareness of different cultures
• To integrate ICT for collaborative learning in and across classrooms
2
the participating school from Korea, Daegu Wolam Elementary School, was an awardee at the recent Intel Teach School Awards
3
No TEI as of writing this report; it is assumed that Daegu Wolam Elementary School will work without a TEI
4
Via Skype; first meeting was on 25 November 2011; second meeting was 9 February 2012
4. 3
• To be exposed to different social cultural environments (e.g. in QEP curriculum – Social Studies)
• To learn about different views on geographic and climate differences
C. China (For the participating classes):
• To provide actual opportunities for authentic English practice
• To learn about other countries’ experiences on various global issues (e.g. Science: climate changes/environmental
education)
• To improve and contribute to the international understanding of different cultures
Timeframe
Phase Activities Target dates
• Clarification of scope and targets among the project’s core September
team members (i.e. UNESCO + TEIs) 2011 to
November
1 • Identifying classroom teachers
2011
(project initiation and • Initiating communication between teachers and core team to
preparation) identify topics, process and calendar
• Familiarization with the online collaboration platform (i.e.
UNESCO’s Education Community or EC)
2 • Implementation of the designed PBL within the national late
(sharing each group’s project team November to
and developing ideas for December
multi-national / inter-cultural
• Sharing processes and products between countries
2011
group projects) • Facilitating teacher’s engagement in discussion on the
online platform (EC)
• TEIs: monitoring and documentation of the processes and
products
3 • Implementation of the designed PBL (international / inter- February
Multi-national / inter-cultural cultural) 2012 –
group project May/June
• Sharing processes and products between countries
2012
• Facilitating teacher’s engagement in discussion on the
online platform (EC)
• TEIs: monitoring and documentation of the processes and
products
5. 4
Target outputs:
• Publication: UNESCO Regional Guide on PBL and Telecollaboration, including relevant case studies
• Research articles to be co-authored by TEIs and/or school teachers
• Project progress report for the Korean Government
However, the timeframe for Phases 1 and 2 was not followed; this was confirmed during the second online meeting. 5
Additionally, participants (TEIs) requested for closer supervision and guidance from UNESCO; TEIs mentioned the need for
information on recommended topics for collaboration, research questions as well as templates on PBL and tele-collaboration.
In response, UNESCO has posted on the EC the materials of the capacity building workshops on PBL and tele-collaboration.
An official launching date for the implementation of Phases 1, 2 and 3 for Scenario C (inter-cultural collaboration) was set at
March 5, 2012.
UNESCO is now in the midst facilitating Phase 1, including the process of identifying participant schools, gathering
suggestions on how to make the EC more suitable to the needs of KISP participants as well as making the TEIs and schools
become more active users of the EC.
5
Via Skype; 9 February 2012. For details, see minutes of meeting.
6. 5
WORK PLAN
The timeframe has been adjusted to reflect the official launching date of the project:
Phase Activities Target dates
• Clarification of scope and targets among the project’s core February 9 to
team members (i.e. UNESCO + TEIs) March 16
1 • Identifying classroom teachers
(project initiation and • Initiating communication between teachers and core team
preparation) to identify topics, process and calendar
• Familiarization with the online collaboration platform (i.e.
UNESCO’s Education Community or EC)
2 • Implementation of the designed PBL within the national March 12 to
(sharing each group’s project team May 20
and developing ideas for
multi-national / inter-cultural
• Sharing processes and products between countries
group projects) • Facilitating teacher’s engagement in discussion on the
online platform (EC)
• TEIs: monitoring and documentation of the processes and
products
3 May 14 to
Multi-national / inter-cultural July 31
group project
7. UNESCO KISP
EDUCATION COMMUNITY
Tele-collaboration
TEI
Country1
Framework
4 5
School1 School2
Country1 Country1
UNESCO
6 7
School2 School1
Projects through inter-
1 KISP Group ●
Country4 Country2
(EC) cultural collaboration
Live Chat ● Publication
Forum (Regional Guide
TEI Wiki TEI
TEIs
Country4
on PBL and tele-
Docs Country2 collaboration
3 Other ● Research articles
Tele-collaboration ● Project Progress
2 School1
tools School2 report
Country4 Country2
Schools
School2 School1
Country3 Country3
TEI
Country3
EDUCATION COMMUNITY
UNESCO
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
1 UNESCO clarifies with TEI the 4 TEIs continue to identify and 7 Schools implement multi-
project scope and targets refine topics, process and national / inter-culture group
calendar project
2 TEIs identify schools (teachers
and students) 5 TEIs coordinate with schools for
national project
3 Entry and familiarization with
the Education Community (EC) 6 Schools implement PBL within
national teams
8. A simplified Gantt Chart further illustrates the tasks and activities for each phase:
UNESCO
Schools
TEIs
February March April May June July
Phase Activity Task
Conduct online meeting (via Skype) x x
Clarification of scope and targets among Make improvements to EC (1st round) x x
the project's core team members Start using EC (use forums instead of email) x x
ceremonial launch x x x
Send form to TEIs x
Identify classroom teachers
Submit accomplished form to UNESCO x
1 Revive forum on project topics / themes x
Project Initiation and Preparation Initiating communication between Post revised or additional topics / themes x
teachers and core team to identify topics,
Present draft process and calendar x
process and calendar
Revise draft process and calendar x x
Familiarization with the online invite all KISP participants to KISP group (EC) x
collaboration platform (i.e. UNESCO’s Start using EC (introductions) x x x
Education Community or EC) Make improvements to EC (2nd round) x x x
Implementation of the designed PBL Identify topics / themes for national project x x
within national teams Implement project x x
2 Sharing processes and products between
x
(sharing each group’s project and countries Upload project output in EC
developing ideas for multi-national / Facilitating teacher’s engagement in x x
inter-cultural group projects) discussion on the online platform (EC) Exhange comments in EC
monitoring and documentation of the
processes and products Prepare project reports (national) x
Implementation of the designed PBL Identify topics / themes for international project x x
(multi-national / inter-cultural) Implement project x
3 Sharing processes and products between
x
Multi-national / inter-cultural group countries Upload project output in EC
project Facilitating teacher’s engagement in
discussion on the online platform (EC) Exhange comments in EC x x
monitoring and documentation of the
processes and products Prepare progress and implementation reports x
online meeting with core team x x
Project close-out Project assessment and evaluation ceremonial close-out x x x
prepare terminal report x x
9. Task-related details are as follows:
Phase Activity Task Output From To Groups Involved
Clarification of scope and targets among
Conduct online meeting (via Skype) Feb 9 Core Team: UNESCO (Lead), TEIs
the project's core team members
Make improvements to EC (1st round) EC customisation / upgrade Feb 9 Mar 2 UNESCO
Start using EC (use forums instead of email) Feb 9 UNESCO, TEIs, Schools
ceremonial launch Mar 5 Mar 5 UNESCO, TEIs, Schools
Send form to TEIs teacher data worksheet Feb 22 UNESCO
1 Identify classroom teachers
Submit accomplished form to UNESCO
list of participating schools, data on teachers
Feb 22 Feb 28 TEIs
Project Initiation and students
and Preparation Revive forum on project topics / themes Feb 27 UNESCO
Initiating communication between list of topics for consideration
Post revised or additional topics / themes Feb 27 Mar 12 TEIs, Schools
teachers and core team to identify topics,
process and calendar Present draft process and calendar final process and calendar Mar 1 UNESCO
Revise draft process and calendar Mar 1 Mar 9 TEIs, UNESCO
Familiarization with the online invite all KISP participants to KISP group (EC) clean member list for KISP group Mar 5 Mar 15 UNESCO (Lead), TEIs
collaboration platform (i.e. UNESCO’s Start using EC (introductions) Mar 5 UNESCO, TEIs, Schools
Education Community or EC) Make improvements to EC (2nd round) EC customisation / upgrade Mar 5 Mar 16 UNESCO, TEIs, Schools
2 Implementation of the designed PBL Identify topics / themes for national project Final topics / themes for national project Mar 12 Mar 30 TEIs, Schools
(sharing each within national teams Implement project student projects (national) Apr 2 May 14 Schools (Lead), TEIs
group’s project and Sharing processes and products between Upload project output in EC uploaded projects in EC May 14 Schools
countries
developing ideas for
Facilitating teacher’s engagement in
multi-national / discussion on the online platform (EC)
Exhange comments in EC forum posts on student projects Apr 2 May 20 Schools (Lead), TEIs
inter-cultural groupmonitoring and documentation of the
projects) Prepare project reports (national) project reports (national) May 20 TEIs
processes and products
Implementation of the designed PBL Identify topics / themes for international project Final topics / themes for international project May 14 May 31 TEIs, Schools
(international / inter-cultural) Implement project student projects (multi-national / inter-cultural) Jun 4 Jul 16 Schools (Lead), TEIs
3 Sharing processes and products between
Upload project output in EC uploaded projects in EC Jul 16 Schools
Multi-national / countries
inter-cultural group Facilitating teacher’s engagement in Exhange comments in EC forum posts on student projects Jun 4 Jul 27 Schools (Lead), TEIs
project discussion on the online platform (EC)
monitoring and documentation of the
Prepare project reports (multi-national / inter-cultural) project reports (multi-national / inter-cultural) Jul 20 TEIs
processes and products
online meeting with core team Jul 23 Core Team: UNESCO (Lead), TEIs
Project close-out Project assessment and evaluation ceremonial close-out Jul 27 UNESCO, TEIs, Schools
prepare terminal report terminal report Jul 31 UNESCO, TEIs
