Teach Essentials - Module 3 Activity 4

Step 2: Considering Communication Tools for Your Project

Choose one or more of the following communication tools to examine in more depth for possible use in your project. Tag or bookmark any resources with helpful information on how to use these tools in your classroom.
Option 1: E-mail
Option 2: Chat
Option 3: Instant Messaging (IM)
Option 4: Survey/Polling
Option 5: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

For information on projects that use communication tools to collaborate, you may want to visit: Virtual Architecture's Web Home
Offers a step-by-step guide for designing and implementing powerful curriculum-based telecomputing projects

Note: All websites referenced in this module are available for easy access in the Communication Web Sites file.

Option 1: E-mail

The ideas presented in the following article can inspire you to think of creative ways for using e-mail to enhance learner learning.

You've Got E-mail—But Can You Really Make It Deliver?
Describes how you can plan a project involving e-mail so that it has powerful, clear connections to the curriculum; includes 10 tips for completing telecollaborative projects successfully using any web-based e-mail.

See possible resources for web-based e-mail and e-mail projects.

The following links suggest ways to use chats constructively in the classroom. See these possible resources for online chat services appropriate for education.

Examples of How Chats Have Been Used in Classrooms
Lists specific activities that teachers have used with chat tools and provides links that you can use to explore learner roles during chats, strategies to enhance chat sessions, and chat room etiquette.

How to run a good chat
Provides tips for using chat in the classroom

Option 3: Instant Messaging (IM)

The following blog discusses the use of instant messaging in the classroom. See possible resources for instant messaging.

The Case for Instant Messaging in the Classroom
Presents an article emphasizing positive reasons for instant messaging in the classroom.

Option 4: Survey/Polling

The following links provide information and examples addressing how learners can
effectively create and administer surveys and polls. See other resources for creating online surveys.

Opinion Surveys
Includes lesson and discussion ideas on how to introduce learners to factors that can affect the accuracy of opinion surveys.

Survey How To
Tells how to write survey questions, determine question type and responses, organize and format the survey, administer the survey, and more.

Option 5: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

The following links provide information and examples addressing how to use Voice Over IP in the classroom. See other resources for VoIP.

Skype in the Classroom
Presents a comprehensive article written for teachers and ICT coordinators
describing how to begin using Skype

Just Skype It
Contains a short blog entry describing how one teacher used Skype at school and in her personal life.