Chapter 1

Our story begins in London in the teacher’s lounge. Seated in a chair is Dr. Phileas Floyd, an eccentric Victorian-style gentleman who is reading the local paper. He continues to check his watch. Dr. Floyd tends to be a bit obsessed with time. There are several teachers also in the lounge having a cup of coffee and quietly grading papers.

Your Collaborative Learning Team (CLT) enters the room continuing a lively discussion about Blended Learning they started in the hallway. The other teachers in the room join in. Your team is very excited about the possibilities of every student with a laptop. Other teachers in the room are not so sure. These teachers complain that they have no time to learn the Google tools they need to implement Blended Learning.

With the mention of time, Dr. Floyd looks up from the paper. “I believe any teacher can master a Google tool before the winter holiday” he proclaims. “In fact, I’m willing to make a wager.” All the teachers in the room turn their attention to Dr. Floyd. They are fascinated by this dapper gentleman.

“I will wager $30,000 British pounds that this team,” Dr. Floyd points directly at you. “This team of teachers can learn a new Google tool, implement it in a unit of study that includes Portrait of a Graduate skills AND circumnavigate the globe IN 80 DAYS!!”

The room ignites with conversation. Your team is flabbergasted. You look at the members of the team and nod in agreement. You are ready to accept the wager.

As you depart the room, you notice the newspaper lying on the table. The headline reads, “London Bank Robbery, Suspect Still At Large.”