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Module 5: Collaborative projects

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Collaborative Internet projects Core

M5 Task 1 - Looking at collaborative projects
M5 Task 2 - Types of collaborative projects
M5 Task 3 - Science outcomes

Collaborative Internet projects can link online students, educators, experts, institutions, and people from other communities as they exchange information, ideas and, in some cases, physical objects. The project members work together, as individuals or groups, to create a community working to fulfil predetermined goals. Collaborative projects are a means for local, national and international exchange between teachers and students. They represent an excellent means of learning for world citizens of the twenty-first century.

Here are some basic questions you can ask to work out whether an online collaborative project is worthwhile.

  • Is it relevant to the curriculum?
  • Does it have definite goals and outcomes?
  • Is it something that cannot be done any other way?
  • Is it truly collaborative?
  • Is there some sort of feedback or evaluation?
  • Is there an end to the project?

One of the best ways to learn about collaborative Internet projects is to explore some. This section looks at some ongoing projects and some that have already been completed.

M5 Task 1 - Looking at collaborative projects Core

Here are some links to a variety of collaborative projects, some small-scale and some quite ambitious. Some links contain a lot of information, others only a paragraph or two. Spend some time exploring and then answer the questions underneath the list.

The GLOBE Program
http://www.globe.gov/globe_flash.html

Journey North
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

SEED
http://www.seed.slb.com/index.htm

lab's alive!
http://www.araratcc.vic.edu.au/users/web/labsalive/index.htm

The JASON Project
http://jasonproject.org/expedition/expeditions.htm

CIESE
http://k12science.ati.stevens-tech.edu/
Select Curriculum > K-12 Education > Collaborative Projects

SchoolWorld Internet Education
http://www.schoolworld.asn.au
Select SchoolWorld Projects

Travel Buddies
http://www.schools.ash.org.au/hillview/travbud.html

Choose one of the projects and make notes in response to the following questions.

  • Is it relevant to the curriculum?
  • Does it have definite goals and outcomes?
  • Is it something that cannot be done any other way?
  • Is it truly collaborative?
  • Is there some sort of feedback or evaluation?
  • Is there an end to the project?
  • What methods of communication are being used?
  • Are there other activities, in addition to Internet use, included in the project?
  • What learning outcomes could be achieved by students?
  • Could this project find a place in your classroom practice, and if so, what existing activities could it enrich, extend or complement?
  • Would it require modification of your classroom? If so, what changes would you make?

Print You can print out these questions if you wish (M5 Task 1 Questions).

Print Here are some suggestions for the questions on collaborative projects (M5 Task 1 Suggestions).

M5 Task 2 - Types of collaborative projects Core

To get some idea of different types of collaborative projects, go to Virtual Architecture (http://virtual-architecture.wm.edu) and read the article Curriculum-Based Telecollaboration: Using Activity Structures to Design Student Projects, by Judi Harris. To find this article, you will need to click on Ch. 1: Foundational Ideas and select Activity structures for curriculum-based telecollaboration from under the heading Focus: Designing an Activity.

(This is a pdf file and it could take some minutes to download, depending on the capacity of your modem and processor. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it.)

Help You can read a summary of this article if you wish (M5 Task 2 Harris Summary).

For a fairly extensive list of the types of communication, exchanges and outcomes that can occur go to Telecollaborate! (http://telecollaborate.net/) and read Guide for Project Participation.

Revisit some of the sites from Task 2 and categorise them according to the Harris criteria.

M5 Task 3 - Science outcomes Core

Choose a Science-related collaborative project and make brief notes about ways in which it would strengthen Science outcomes for your State or Territory curriculum. Also note how it would assist outcomes related to new communication technologies.

Visit the Links hyperlink at the top of this page for access to your State or Territory education system.

Print Here is a table to help you with this task (M5 Task 3 Proforma).

Take a look at an example of how an integrated unit of work can be developed around a Global Classroom project (http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/gc/index.htm). Click on Support for Projects > Global Classroom Projects and the Curriculum.
 
       
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