Collaborative Projects: What, Why and How*

A collaborative project is a student centered, joint learning venture.

·         It can be global, country, inter-city, or even just class based

·         It can be an inquiry, a quest, an exploration, or an exchange of ideas

·          It must have a clear English Language learning outcome.

·         It must require HOTS.

·         It must apply and develop ICT skills.

·         It must require interaction.

·         It must be motivating.

Suggestion for s Successful Project:

1. State clearly and succinctly:

• the goal
• the instructions
• the assessment

                                                                         

2.       Create projects that require the students to react to each other’s ideas: interaction!

3.       Stay small and concise.  Have a simple, specific objective; finish it and begin a new project.

4.       Prepare careful and simple instructions and limit your project stages.

5.       Provide links (for elementary students) but have the students create their content: facilitate and navigate: don’t ‘dictate”.

Suggestion for Topics:

·         My City: My Favorite Place

·         My Favorite Song (movie/book/TV show)

·         Comment on a Poem (read an online poem - add a verse/ illustrate/write your opinion)

·         Write an online school newspaper

·         Interview a “celebrity” (a student/ a teacher/ the principal/ the  janitor/ the secretary)

·         Questions and Answers (‘Dear Abbey…’)

·         Opinions on Controversial Topics

*I am indebted to the British Council, Learning Technologies Course, for some of the ideas appearing in this article.
Judymu