The simplest form – writing
e-mails to other learners – is not really collaborative learning, although it can be an introduction to more collaborative projects. The disadvantage of undirected e-mail correspondence is that content is often very mundane and is not enhanced by the use of technology, e.g. “Hello Sipho, I like soccer.” To make this type of correspondence more collaborative, it is necessary to have a focus, as both correspondents are needed to make it succeed.
Internet
Internet projects in which different classes participate in the same project are more ambitious but very rewarding. There are many examples of collaborative projects on the Internet. Investigate these web sites (some of them are specific projects, while others are directories of projects you can read about or subscribe to):
Teachers are able to design unit plans and classroom activities so that students engage in reasoning with, represent and solve complex real-world problems, as well as to reflect on and communicate solutions (KD.3.d).
