Collaborative+Projects

= = = Collaborative Projects = = in the = = Languages Classroom =

Collaborative projects, whether they be with a class in a different country or a class in the same city as you, are a great way of encouraging students to share the skills they have in the language they are learning. The aim of the project does not necessarily have to be to learn language from the partner class, but simply to get students to share what they know and learn that students elsewhere learn a different language too. This can be a very powerful motivating factor for students. So, you could set up a project with a class that is learning the same language as your class, or one that is learning a different language. There are still many conversations students could have. For example, they could talk about what it's like to learn their language, what the difficulties are, why they enjoy it (or don't) - and use some specific examples. They could teach the other class a few words and phrases in the language they are learning. This is great for students because it requires them to have a deep understanding of what they are learning in order to teach it to someone else.

Follow the links below to read through some guidelines and find some tools for creating collaborative projects. Feel free to add your own information at the bottom of each page. You may know of a project that is a great example, or link to your own, or you know of a great application that you have used and know other teachers would like. Please share!


 * = [[image:examplesimage.jpg width="151" height="114" caption="PROJECT EXAMPLES" link="Examples of Collaborative Projects"]] ||= [[image:lightbulb.jpg width="115" height="114" caption="IDEAS & PLANNING" link="Ideas and Planning for a Collaborative Project"]] ||= [[image:toolsimage.jpg width="151" height="113" caption="TOOLS FOR NEW LANGUAGE" link="Tools for Introducing New Language"]] ||= [[image:studentcontentimage.jpg width="168" height="112" caption="TOOLS FOR STUDENT CREATED CONTENT" link="Student Created Multimodal Project Content"]] ||= [[image:connectionimage.jpg width="131" height="113" caption="CONNECTING" link="Connecting With A Partner Class"]] ||= [[image:networkingimage.jpg width="115" height="117" caption="NETWORKING FOR EDUCATORS" link="Online Networking for Educators"]] ||
 * [[image:planner.jpg width="132" height="150" align="center" caption="PROJECT PLANNER" link="Project Planner for Collaborative Projects"]] ||||||||||  ||

Image Credit: '[|SpectrumG00109_www.lumaxart.com]' from www.flickr.com/photos/22177648@N06/2137735126