This document describes a collaborative project between students in Egypt and Canada to read the Harry Potter books together online. The project aims to improve reading skills and cultural understanding while using online tools like Edmodo, Voxopop, and Skype. Teachers from each country established Edmodo groups for students to introduce themselves, form subgroups, and complete reading and discussion activities. While there were some technical obstacles, students became enthusiastic about communicating with peers in other countries and learning about each other's daily lives and cultures through the project.

1. Harry Potter Book Project in Edmodo
A Collaborative Initiative Between Students from Egypt and
Canada
Ayat Tawel and Bernadette Rego

2. Project Objectives
- Change stereotypes about other countries.
- Improving SS reading skill, writing and critical
thinking
- Using the language confidently in an authentic
environment.
- Enjoying travelling virtually to other countries
and making new friends.

3. Outline of tools used
• Edmodo
• PB Works
• Voxopop
• Skype
• Google Docs

4. Harry Potter Book Project:
How it started
• Teachers met via Skype and exchanged e-mails
• Both teachers were using Edmodo in an online
course (class digitools)
• Used Google docs to organize class lists and
create sub-groups (4-8 students).
• Established an Edmodo group.
• Parent permission forms.
• Student Conduct Guidelines.

5. What is Edmodo?
•
• http://www.edmodo.com
• Free learning management system
• Currently more than 6.5 million teachers and
students connected to Edmodo
User statistic source: http://about.edmodo.com/

6. Edmodo's Features
• It's a free, safe and closed place to connect, collaborate and
share content.
• No e-mail required for student sign-up
• Students cannot privately message each other
• Assignments, quizzes and grades can be created and shared.
• Important links and docs can be stored in folders.
• Teachers can create multiple groups and sub-groups.
• Teachers can award students badges.
• Parents can sign up with a special code.

7. Harry Potter Book Project:
Preliminary Work
• Educating students about each other's
respective countries and cultures
• Obtaining signed permission from parents
• Explaining conduct guidelines to students
• Creating student accounts
• Ensuring internet access for all students

8. Preliminary work (cont.)
• Establishing a wiki for students where they have a
link to the online open book website, vocabulary and
questions for each chapter.

9. Harry Potter Book Project:
Student Introductions
• Students introduced themselves in Edmodo
• Created voice introductions using Voxopop
(http://www.voxopop.com)

10. Voxopop audio introductions

11. Harry Potter Book Project:
Initial Challenges
• Deciding upon how to evaluate student work
• Educating students about online etiquette
• Encouraging students to post introductions
• Dividing students into sub-groups
•Motivating students who will work on their
own as an extra activity.
• Students’ access to internet.

12. Harry Potter Book Project:
Some Obstacles
• Voxopop (closed / open talk group)
• Students working online at school.
• Students working online on their own at
home. (Jing tutorial)
• Open book link no longer working (Plan B)
• Time constraints discouraging some students
(Adding a variety of optional work to do)

13. Harry Potter Book Project:
Successes
• Student enthusiasm in communicating with
peers and learning more about each other (daily
life, school day and subjects, Pyramids, RCMP,
food, landmarks..etc.), moving from a book
content to a general content.
• Students mastering Edmodo
• Students working effectively in groups
• Students' privacy protected throughout the
learning process

14. Harry Potter Book Project:
What We Have Learned
• Importance of weekly communication between
teachers
• Importance of educating students about online
etiquette
• Selecting tools that protect students' online
privacy
• Accepting obstacles may arise while embracing
a positive attitude

15. Recap of tools used
- Edmodo
- Voxopop
- Wiki
- Google docs
- Skype

16. "If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry
on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the
children." - Mohandas Gandhi
Thank you for this great opportunity
Ayat Tawel : ayatawel@gmail.com
@ayatawel
Bernadette Rego: regobernadette@gmail.com
@bernadetterego