Every amazing project, invention, forward thinking product all started with an idea. Composer Eric Whitacer started with an idea. How can the whole world sing one song? He posted a challenge on a his blog and what became of it was one of his songs sung by 900 people around the world. Since then he has created two more Virtual Choirs. You can here his latest creation here, where it is posted on his blog. It contains 3,746 voices from 73 countries.

Eric took on quite a feat and it was incredibly successful. How can you apply his challenge to your classroom? Are there ways you can extend your classroom beyond the four walls of your classroom?

• epals – ePals is the leading provider of safe collaborative technology for schools to connect and learn in a protected, project-based learning network. With classrooms in 200 countries and territories, ePals makes it easy to connect learners locally, nationally or internationally.
• CAPS (collaboration around the planet) – classrooms around the globe looking for classrooms to collaborate with; You will receive emails based on the criteria you are interested in.
• Global Collaborative Projects – long list of global opportunities
• Global SchoolNet – Global SchoolNet’s mission is to support 21st century learning and improve academic performance through content-driven collaboration
• Or you can check out these ideas for global collaboration.

The benefits of global collaboration sounds enticing, but just a bit overwhelming for you…right now. How about you try this instead?

• Video chat with a classroom in your building, district, or region using Skype, Gmail, and more ideas.
• Use the many elements in google to work with a local student in the same or older grade/another school to create a project.
• While on a field trip, record it using an iphone or Flipcam and create a video about the location. Connect with another school that will visit the same place. Combine the videos. Send the video to the company.

How will you connect your classroom to at least one other this month?