The term "project" is used in different ways in relation to teaching and technology. The projects described in this section are structured online projects with the following characteristics:

• The project has a definite, stated PURPOSE.
• There is a specific CURRICULUM RELATIONSHIP, which may apply to grade level, subject, and/or theme.
• One person or site is active in the role of moderator or LEADER to keep the project on target.
• Participants sign up or REGISTER.
• There are definite beginning and ending dates on a project TIMELINE.
• Participating students or groups are involved in a COLLABORATIVE role.
• Students or groups contribute by ONLINE SHARING.

Teachers may find projects on lists maintained at educational resource sites, sponsored by companies or organizations, or on a specific school home page. Some projects are organized by companies that charge a fee for participation. Rosemary Shaw’s article, Which Online Project Is Right For Me?

CIESE Online Classroom Projects ..........
http://www.k12science.org/currichome.html
Grades 1 and up. Descriptions and dates of interdisciplinary collaborative projects with math and science themes. Also classroom projects based on analysis of real time data. Grade level given in description. Schedules for fall 2009 projects have not yet been posted, but students can participate in the "Down the Drain" ongoing water usage project targeted for grades 4-8 at any time.

A Dance With the Butterflies ..........
http://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~ssilverman/butterflies/index.htm
Grades k-3. This project was open March 15, 2006 to June 15, 2006. It is well worth browsing to follow the process and benefits of online projects. Participants were to interpret the butterfly’s metamorphosis. Each teacher designed a local lesson using multiple formats and media to present information with multiple teaching strategies. Students created multiple products for sharing to demonstrate their learning. Be sure to check the blog for further insights on project participation and happenings since the project ended.

ePALS Projects ..........
http://content.epals.com/projects/info.aspx?DivID=index/
Grades 1-8. Each project follows a four-step design: students collect information through discussion and research, exchange emails with partners, create presentation, and reflect/assess. Click the picture for a project guide. Locate partners by posting on the project forum. Teachers are encouraged to design their own projects (see How To menu). Bee Tip: ePALS Book Club is an ongoing project open to students at any grade level to exchange reactions to books.

Global Education Collaborative ..........
http://globaleducation.ning.com/
Grades k-Adult. Postings of collaborative projects as forums are included in other conversations about global education. Addressed to teachers to involve students as appropriate. Check the forum postings frequently as this is an active site. An individual forum or blog can be followed by activating their own RSS feed.

Global Schoolhouse ..........
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/index.html
Grades k-12. Collaborative projects including Doors to Diplomacy, CyberFair, GeoGame, Newsday, online expeditions and the Projects Registry of collaborative projects organized by topic, grade, and project date. This Internet Projects Registry is easy to browse for current and future projects by age level or start date. This is one central place on the Internet where you can find projects from other organizations such as CIESE, as well as projects conducted by classroom teachers in 194 countries.

Global Virtual Classroom ..........
http://www.virtualclassroom.org/
Grades 2-12. Teacher led groups collaborate on self-determined projects in the Clubhouse. A registering teacher is given access to search the online listing of groups to find partners. Another part is a contest for schools collaborating to build a website. Elementary sites are judged separately from secondary. It’s eacy to view the winning entries from last year.

GLOBE Program ..........
http://www.globe.gov/
Grades 4 and up. Students from over 20,000 schools around the world have participated in GLOBE projects, making environmental observations at or near their schools and using the Internet to report their data. Scientists use GLOBE data in their research and provide feedback to the students. A teacher must attend a training and be certified by GLOBE in order to submit student data and to receive GLOBE educational materials. Many teacher helps.

iEARN ..........
http://www.iearn.org/
Grades 1-12. Interactive, global student projects designed to "make a difference" on the planet. Some could be used in elementary. There are about 20,000 participating schools worldwide. Members can access a guide to working on projects, a tutorial on accessing project conferences, and an opportunity to join any of the about 150 projects or forums. Costs depend on degree of participation.

JASON Expeditions ..........
http://www.jasonproject.org/
Grades 5-9. A program of scientific expedition designed to excite and engage middle school students in authentic, multidisciplinary research and to provide professional development for teachers. Monster Storms is the first unit in the new Jason curriculum. Operation: Resilient Planet is an ecology unit planned for release summer 2008. Take the tour to see how this free project works for the teacher and students.

Journey North ..........
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Grades 2-7. Global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. Requires free registration. Spring journeys begin February and March; fall in September. Teacher section online with lesson plans and supporting resources including a discussion group. Can be basis for many lessons even if not participating. Archived.

KidProj ..........
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/
Grades 2-8. Part of the KidLink site. Adults set up a project, students exchange information and can have their work posted as part of KidLink. Exchanges are adult supervised. Most listings are ongoing projects that can be joined at any time. Many are only email exchanges rather than true collaborative online projects.

MidLink Magazine ..........
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/newest.htm
Grades 3-9. Postings of free classroom projects for student writing and media production. All content must be original and come directly from the classroom. Archived since beginning in 1994.

Mrs. Silverman's Webfolio ..........
http://www.kids-learn.org/
Grades k-4. Showcases current and past projects coordinated by Susan Silverman. Click on a project that is "Accepting Participants" to see the timeline and procedures. When visiting other past projects, first click on the project information link, then visit the student showcase to see the results.

My Hero ..........
http://myhero.com/myhero/
Grades 2 and up. Individuals or classes submit an explanation of why they think of a specific individual as a hero. Several ways to participate: enter paragraph in the guestbook, create a Hero Web Page using the interactive program at the site, submit original work of art using the template on the site, submit a short film in the annual contest, or exchange ideas on a topic in My Hero Forum. You'll find lessons plans, resources, and a hero-of-the-day in the Teacher's Room. Searchable. Select to use in English or Spanish. Excellent site maintenance.

National Schoolyard Birding Challenge ..........
http://www.fledgingbirders.org/challenge.html
Grades k-12. Students work together to identify and record various bird species observed on their school grounds. At the end of the month the group findings are submitted online. Unfortunately, this project is constructed as a "contest" and there is no online sharing between groups or feedback. It could be used as the basis for a teacher designed collaboration project at one of the other sites.

Newsday ..........
http://www.gsn.org/project/newsday/
Grades 5-9. Newsday is now accessed as a Global SchoolNet project. Students become reporters, editors, layout artists, and publishers of their own newspaper based on the news articles submitted to this site. A multicurricular and international project. There is a Newsday session each semester. Check registration deadlines in advance.

OneWorld Classrooms ..........
http://www.oneworldclassrooms.org/
Grades k-12. Several different opportunities for exchange of general information, art, music or technology content. Free materials on site accessed with registration. Participation on some projects is free, otherwise fees up to $100. Newest section (January, 2008) is not technically a project, but a language lab for students to hear other students sharing their first language via a variety of media; currently English, Spanish and Chinese. Bee Tip: Risk-free opportunities for student penpals and student publishing.

© 2003-2008, Mary Berry.
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