So now that you’ve decided to take the plunge and run a project for a few of your teachers, where should you start?
First, you need a good idea that you can develop into a project for your teachers. So where do these ideas come from?
The Curriculum
First and foremost, they should come from the curriculum. Sometimes a careful or even cursory review of the required curriculum will inspire some great ideas.
- How will students understand this content better by talking to students in another area?
- How might students share their created work nationally or internationally as a motivation and inspiration (and to meet ISTE Student Collaboration and Communication Standards)?
- Is there content already in the required curriculum that would be perfect to discuss, share, collaborate, challenge another class with?
Teacher Needs
Another great source of ideas for projects is the needs of your teachers.
- What are they struggling to teach?
- What units are frustrating or in need of “jazzing up?”
- What amazing unit might they want to share with another class?
- What student created work is worthy of a national audience?
Viral CAPspace Collaborations
Have you noticed this year that some collaboration ideas in CAPspace have been multiplying like rabbits?
- First it was penpals.
- Then it was Monster Match copycats and Halloween spin-offs.
- Then Turkey Talk…
- Then Weather Buddies…
These collaborations go viral for a reason. They are good ideas and simple to do! Educators create and share great ideas.
Bottom Line
- A great project idea is simple.
- It fits tightly to the curriculum.
- It makes sense to teachers.
- More than one of your teachers want to do it!
Tomorrow, we’ll start talking about how to manage a project with 3-4 or more of your teachers participating. For now, consider what project several of your teachers might want to do.
Your Turn
- What do you think makes a great project idea?
- Where do you get your inspiration for VC projects?
- What is holding you back from creating and running a project for your teachers?
Please comment!
If you are totally new to collaborative projects and/or would like step by step assistance making a collaborative project happen, from start to finish, sign up for Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections, a six week online course beginning January 25.
Hi Janine — I just wanted to leave a compliment and tell you how impressed I am with your site and the activities you are running.
I hope all is going well with your dissertation.
Best regards,
Dave Keefe
Hi Dave – thanks so much for the comment! All is going well – I hope to graduate in May! Thanks again for writing in….
Janine