A Telecollaborative Project is an activity where students collaborate using the Internet to solve an information problem.

A Telecollaborative Project is an activity where students collaborate using the Internet to solve an information problem. Telecollaborative projects can be done in any subject at any grade level. They include opportunities for integrating technology, exchange of information and development of critical and creative thinking to occur.  An Internet project can be many, many things. It can be as simple as an exchange of email between children in different locations, developing a new web site on your next classroom topic or it can be as ambitious as collecting original data from the ends of the earth to produce new knowledge and original insight into the nature of our world.

• are a very exciting learning experience and are highly motivating for students.

• can be used to develop any of the Technology Outcomes.

• can be used to develop many core subject topic objectives and can be used to develop multiple curricular goals simultaneously.

• provide an opportunity for students to learn to take ownership of their own learning,  set goals and self-assess.

• provide an opportunity for differentiated instruction to take place, and individual learning needs to be met.

Ask yourself these 2 questions:

The Information and Communication Technology Interim Program of Studies Curriculum is not meant to be a separate curriculum on top of all other Curricula. It is a curriculum within other curricula. It is not a separate subject nor a separate goal. It is a means to an end… not an end in itself. We need to think of the Technology Outcomes as skills that will enable our students to be more effective researchers and presenters. Technology Outcomes should be integrated into many of our classroom activities. This doesn't mean we won't still use all of the other skills and resources available to us. It means we have more and sometimes better alternatives to draw from, and we need be selective, choosing the most effective for any required task.

The idea of doing a continuous series of projects or multiple projects in different subject simultaneously would indeed be too time consuming and as well as overwhelming for students. Although this is an exciting way for students to learn. Planning is always the key to success in teaching.

Collegial planning would avoid duplications that could arise. You might consider doing only one long term or two short-term projects in a school year, planning together with teachers in other grades/subjects so that all of the outcomes are covered over the three years in each division. It is important that two teachers teaching different subject to the same class check that they don't start projects during the same time frame. Many students would find it too much to be doing more than one project at a time.

Individual teacher planning is critical for efficient use of class time. It is important to remember we are not looking at two different curricular being taught sequentially over a long period but of multiple curricular goals being integrated into a single (possibly short-term) project. We would begin with a core subject topic, decide on the best learning method (projects perhaps) and then select the Technology Outcomes that will best enhance the learning in the activity. By planning ahead we can cover objectives from multiple curricular topic simultaneously, thus using time economically.

A Telecollaborative Project is only one of many strategies that teachers may employ. If we are to effectively teach all of the unique individuals that comprise the average class it is necessary to use a variety of teaching strategies throughout the year. We cannot include all of the outcomes into one project. Each project will include those technology outcomes that enhance the objectives of specific subject-related goals.

There are many resources on the Internet to help you understand what options you have and to help you find your most appropriate starting point.