
C. Introduction to Making Collaborative Learning Projects
Once you have participated in
a
successful networked learning project, you may want
to think about organizing your own basic online project.
We conducted our first networked project, Letters to Santa Claus,
in 1984 on the original Free Educational Mail Network, and have repeated the
project annually for the past twenty years. This classically simple but effective project has been completed by thousands of
classrooms. The Santa Call for
Collaboration, which we post every September to various network mailing lists, provides well-organized information and guidelines about the
project, and invites teachers to participate. When teachers register via email, we send
them detailed instructions for completing
the project.
Over the years we have evolved time-proven
principles and guidelines for successful projects. Like many aspects of successful
teaching, we have found that planning is the key to success.
This section shows you, step by step, how to plan, organize, and conduct
your own simple networked learning project.
Special
thanks to San Diego teacher Dennis Cowick, who has been our faithful volunteer Santa
project coordinator every year since 1984. |