Joy in Their Lives by Thomas
Found this today on Twitter:
picture this: two of my boys -arms around each others’ shoulders - reading your kids Mapskip comments; smiles; joy in their lives; thank you
We were so touched by this tweet… we couldn’t have been wishing for a better reaction by our youngest users on the site.
The situation in the class room described above is part of an ongoing project between Nespelem Elementary School in Coulee Dam, WA and Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, TN. The teachers in both schools have succeeded in bringing their students together in work assignments and cultural echanges with wikis, Skype calls and also with shared stories, sound recordings and photos on MapSkip.
Judging from this blogpost by Ms. Edwards, one of the teachers at Nespelem, the project has been very successful and it is quite amazing to read about how the students have been utilizing a number of available Web 2.0 tools to achieve their assignments.
These kids are the next generation of true pionieers of the Web!
And may I just point out that both Kazumi and me were delighted to see this photo of MapSkip in the classroom. Thank you. 
March 21st, 2009 at 8:47 am
Thanks for this connection. The teacher/student friendly features create the canvas on which Kim (who started the Mapskip part of our project) and I guide the students’ growing pictures of connectedness. When the recess bell rings, many of these students rush to the writing classroom, login, and check their Mapskip projects before the eight minute break ends and class begins. It has become a focus for their day that adds a positive point in their young lives. And the we don’t need research to remind us that learning is enhanced when the environment is positive and hopeful. So I thank Mapskip for the features and Kim Trefz for sharing this marvelous tool for learning and sharing. Sheri Edwards