3 Possible Types of Online Projects Interpersonal Information Collection and Analysis Problem Solving

Interpersonal Communication beyond Pen Pals through traditional mail, , chats, forums, video conferencing or other means. Global classrooms encourage groups of students to share their ideas and experiences through a worldwide exchange of ideas. Electronic Appearances often involve experts answering questions. For example, you might chat with an astronaut online. Telementoring involves students and teachers in becoming coaches and mentors for others. For example, your class might teach another class what they've learned about electricity through a video conference demonstration. Question and Answer Activities ask students to formulate both questions and answers as part of a content- rich activity. For example, one class may send a picture of a local plant and ask the other class to identify it and list possible uses. Math story problem exchanges are another popular question and answer activity. Many websites such as How Stuff Works have options for asking questions and sharing ideas. Impersonations are a fun way to learn about people. Your class might take on the role of a character in a book and write to another class in that voice.

Information Collection and Analysis Information Exchanges involve students in sharing all kinds of data. For example, students might exchange information about the cost of living in the place that they live. Database Creation asks students to collect and organize information in some way. For example, your project might involve the creation of a database of recipes from different cultures, books reviews, or recycling information. Electronic Publishing involves students in sharing information with the world through the creation of web pages and other forms of electronic publication. For example, you might create an online project where students share modern folktales. Telefieldtrips allow students to share their real-world field trips with others who might not be able to experience a field trip. For instance, students visiting a local factory could take photographs and share these pictures with others on a web page. They might even communicate with other schools during the field trip through or video conferencing. A class could also participate in an ongoing professional field trip such as a scientific expedition to a live volcano. Pooled Data Analysis projects enable students to collaborate with others on social and scientific inquiries such as water testing, soil analysis, or local history. Information is brought together, analyzed, and shared.

Problem Solving Information searches involve students in seeking out data in order to solve a problem. Students might ask questions, use websites, or collect data live. Peer Feedback Activities ask students to collaborate through sharing ideas and providing peer review or clues in solving a problem. For example, one student might create a picture and another child could write a story to go with the picture. Parallel Problem Solving allows students to work on similar problems at the same time and share their results. Sequential Problem Solving involves students in a series of problem solving activities over time. Each problem may build on others. Some travel buddy projects involve sequential activities. For example, a stuffed bird is sent from place to place and students follow it's experiences. Telepresent Problem Solving involves students working through problems live. For example, students at different locations may conduct the same experiment at the same time and share their results live. Simulations let students have a virtual experience with a real world problem. Students explore real-world issues without the consequences of impacting the world. For example, they may pretend to experience an earthquake or other disaster.