pros:

- teaches students important skills for future professional settings

- allows for resource sharing among teachers

- students learn from each other and are challenged to explain their rationale

for what they know

- students can accomplish a bigger goal by combining their efforts and each taking 

a piece of the assignment

cons:

- Can create animosity if not all group members actively participate

-May require more effort to schedule and plan out group tasks

-

- Google docs for sharing writing and peer review

- Popplet & Padlet for brainstorming sessions -group members 

can add their ideas onto the group board

- Give students a real world task or problem to solve

- teach and model skills students need to be successful 

during project - i.e. constructive criticism

- Teacher should put careful thought into how to assign 

groups (by skill level? interests? etc)

- Add your culture in the box: http://www.elanguages.org/pages/130571

-Around the World with 80 schools: http://aroundtheworldwith80schools.net

This is more of a starting point for teachers to develop their own projects    

using Skype. Good idea for connecting World Language students with target

language classes.

-Teachers share resources allow for

variety of activities with students while still 

being time sensitive

- World Language teachers can access authentic materials

and target language speakers through collaborative efforts

Supports learning by:

- provides multiple perspectives for students to learn from

- develop critical thinking through debate and coming to group consensus

1. utilize rubrics to clearly set expectations at

beginning of task.

2. Incorporate a peer review mechanism to

allow for fairness

3. Give students time to plan responsibilities and

make deadlines for each other

pros-

-development of higher level thinking skills

-students gain an increased understanding of diverse 

perspectives through working with their peers.

- Global possibilities/topics not limited to local issues. 

 With use of technology a project can break barriers

and limitations typical of a classroom situation

Cons -

-personality & communication issues - With teacher

encouragement are students able to work out their

differences for the greater good of the project??

- Can be time consuming and infringe upon normal 

pacing requirements

-How to ensure productivity? Teacher has to use 

effective questions, planning etc. to ensure a positive

outcome. Ultimately success of project rests on teacher

preparedness & organization

- teaching students to self manage which ultimately effects their

productivity in class.

- engages students in thinking globally

- student and faculty interaction that is not teacher giving information but

rather students synthesizing information with guidance from teacher. -

this fosters mutual respect in classroom

Blogs & wikis

http://musicuentos.com/2010/11/commercials/  

builds listening skills in spanish

https://audioboom.com/boos/633389-collaborative-project-for-spanish-class

- Allow students to work in small groups

- Carefully consider which students will work together

- Review grading criteria at beginning of project, including both content and participation

- Practice discussion skills in advance

- Make sure all students have a task

- More advanced students can help lower-performing individuals

- Provide regular assessment and feedback

- Allow flexibility as new problems/solutions come up

- Share best practices with other teachers/schools

Pros:

- offers opportunity to solve "real world" problems

- offers opportunity to practice "real world" skills

- learning outcomes are deeper than with traditional instructional models

Cons:

- more time-consuming than traditional instructional models

- can lead to interpersonal conflicts

- danger of some students "slacking off" and relying on others to complete assignments

- requires students to actively participate

- allows students to direct their own learning

- builds on previous knowledge & experience

- diversity is a strength

- perseverence is a necessity

1.  http://list.ly/list/1rE-student-created-ibooks-ebooks

2.  http://www.edutopia.org/tech-to-learn-free-online-resources-video

3.  http://www.bedford.k12.ma.us/academics/jgms-student-work.html

4.  http://leo677.wix.com/studentwork

1.  Skype an Author https://education.skype.com/resources/168-skype-an-author

2.  Google Apps for Education:  http://www.google.com/work/apps/education/

3.  LibGuides:  http://springshare.com/libguides/