Communication
Tools:
Online Collaborative
Projects and
Virtual Communities
Communication
tools can encourage problem solving and
decision-making and collaborative learning. Mediated communication can
offer
students’ powerful ways to collect, analyze, and synthesize data
electronically. It can foster collaboration in unique ways betweens
students
across the room and across the globe.
As a team,
you can investigate one or many technologies that
engage students in critical thinking activities through
the use of communication tools.
(1)
Online
Collaborative Projects:
Online collaborative projects are a
great way for students to engage in learning with peers around the
room,
country and the globe. A few good resources to begin your research:
Articles
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/globalbb.html
An article from TechLearning titled, Professional Development Goes Global.
This article describes how educators can use technology to “make the
world
their classroom.” It includes descriptions and links to quality
resources.
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/kenroy.htm
An article from TechLearning titled, Collaboration is the Name of the Internet
Classroom Game. The author shares ideas for collaborative projects
incorporating technology.
QESN Projects
Around the World
Online projects around the world for
students of all ages. Offered in English and French
Schoolworld
Internet
Education:
Offers about a dozen online projects.
Monster Project:
Instructor
Favorite!
Art and descriptive writing for elementary school students.
Global
Schoolhouse:
Find online projects in a variety of content areas across all grade
levels.
West
Logotree:
An alphabetical listing of online projects across all grade levels.
(2)
Virtual
Communities – Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication: Both
synchronous and asynchronous communication tools can offer powerful
ways for
students to build virtual communities and stay connected. Exchanging
ideas with
students and teachers in other places about science, math, literature, and ideas is inherently a social process of
constructing shared understandings. Students can expand their world and
their
knowledge of the world by being part of electronic communities.
There are
many ways in which the World Wide Web can be used for
communication. Some
examples from the web are: Blogs, discussion forums, online chats, IM,
Teacher-to-Teacher Collaboration, Newsgroups, Listservs, Bulletin
Boards,
Classroom Connect Teacher Connection, Classroom Web, Teacher Connection
Bulletin
Board, Deja-News Net , Educational Mailing Lists, TeachNet -
Teacher-to-Teacher
Collaboration, Classroom Magazines/Class Newsletters, Parent
Communications,
E-Mail Classroom Exchange
Examples
of Communication Tools
Blackboard.com
An online course delivery and
communication platform that can help to
take advantage of federal professional
development
funds, improve parent-teacher communication,
and even launch a virtual school
www.Epals.com
An online Classroom Exchange site has been helping teachers,
parents and students around the world take advantage of new
technologies that
enhance and enrich learning experiences
Examples
of Blogs
http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=12803462
Education Weblogs
http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2003/02/blogs.html
Writing w/ Weblogs
http://www.weblogg-ed.com
Weblogg-ed:
Using Weblogs in Education
http://schoolblogs.com
Schoolblogs.com
Ask
An Expert Examples
The
Electronic Emissary site helps teachers locate Internet account-
holders with
subject matter expertise relevant to their curricula who are willing to
volunteer some of their time to share their knowledge via electronic
mail.
http://www.askanexpert.com/
Askanexpert.com
connects with hundreds of real world experts ranging from
astronauts to
zookeepers, who have volunteered to answer
questions for free!