Communication and Collaboration via the Internet
(General Collaboration Sites, Blogging, E-mail, E-mentoring, Podcasts, Wikis)

General Collaboration Sites

• CIESE Online Classroom Projects ... projects for students that are collaborative (around the world), Internet-based, with a focus on real-time data collection. Projects are aligned with the National Science Standards and NCTM math standards.
• Connected Classroom's Registry of Telecollaborative Projects ... a list of projects that schools can collaborate on using the Internet.
• Keypals, Chats, and Links to the Online Community ... a list of links to help in the development of a technology communication project.  Hosted by the Knowledge Network Explorer.
• KidProj ... project created to develop an international community of kids and ideas.  Maintained by KidLink.
• Learning Circles - Virtual Communities for Elementary and Secondary Schools ... online article by Margaret Riel for Technology Studies in Education provides examples of how to cultivate a virtual community via online communications and in the classroom.
• Synching Up With the Kid ... online article by Josh McHugh for Edutopia looks at how schools are (and are not) using technology to motivate digital learners.  References blogs, wikis, and RSS feeds.
• Teacher's Guide to International Collaboration on the Internet ... resources for schools to connect with international schools related to many subject areas (Art, Environment, Foreign Languages, Language Arts, Math, Music, Science, Social Studies) for grades K-12.   Maintained by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Weather Report ... sponsored by the Utah Education Network (UEN) this site allows schools to submit weather reports then retrieve data from other locations.

Blogging

• Blogging in Education ... a blog on blogging for learning and teaching by Lucie deLaBruere including an extensive list of sites to help in  using blogs with students and for professional development.
• BlogMeister ... blogging service designed for educators and learners.
• CourseForum ... a product that includes both free and pay-to-use versions for schools to produce online content.
• Global SchoolNet Foundation ... tools for collaboration focusing on web logs, blogs, and online journaling tools.
• Why Blog? ... online article by Frank Catalano for T.H.E. Journal (Dec 2005) discussing uses of blogs for students, teachers, and parents.

E-mail

• Creative Connections Project ... the project links US classrooms with partner classes in Latin America, Amazon Rain Forest, China and Africa via e-mail and the Internet.
• E-mail Keypals for Language Fluency ... an article by Thomas N. Robb providing suggestions on using e-mail in the classroom.
• How to Find a Key Pal ... suggestions, safety tips, and forms to use when setting up a key pal project.  Hosted by the West Loogootee School District.
• SPAM E-mail ... a resource maintained by the FTC in an attempt to help consumers and businesses cope with unwanted bulk e-mail (AKA SPAM).

E-mentors

• Electronic Emissary ... a source for teachers and students who wish to link learners with e-mentors.  Hosted by the College of William and Mary.

Podcasts

• Art for the Ears ... a short article from Edutopia  by Cherie Lucas describing a podcast project by students for an art museum in New York City - PDF version (March 2006)
• Audacity... free audio file editor.  Create and edit audio files then convert them to an MP3 file with their add-on (MP3 Plug-in).  An easy to use program for kids and adults when creating podcasts.
• Education Podcast Network ... organization that collects and publishes school created podcasts.
• In I-Pod We Trust ... an online article for T.H.E. Journal by Mikael Blaisdell providing examples of schools that are using podcasts for learning (March 2006).
• i-Pods at GCSU ... see how i-Pods are being used at Georgia College and State University for pre-service teachers and for schools.

• iPod in Education: The Potential for Teaching and Learning ... a white paper written by Shelley Pasnik for Apple on ways to use MP3 players (winter, 2007).

• Pew Charitable Trust Report - Podcasting Catching On ... abstract of report from April, 2005, looking at the rise of podcasts.
• Podcast Ideas - More ... a wiki with ideas on using podcasts for learning, add your own.
• Podcast Maker ... Website Discovery's free podcast maker that compiles MP3 files into an XML format so audio software can subscribe to a site for automatic downloads.
• Podcasting in Education ... hosted by Apple, this site contains suggestions for instructional uses as well as free podcast downloads related to educational content including ELL and world (foreign) language units.
• Using Skype as a Community Media Production Tool ... online article by Phil Shapiro for the Digital Divide Network discusses how Skype (free Internet-based communications tool) can be used to record online interviews that can then be edited for podcasts and other digital formats.

Podcasts on Technology

• Study Details Gender Differences in Net Use ... NPR broadcast from Talk of the Nation, January 3, 2006, discussing study looking at how men and women use the Internet in different ways.  Lee Rainie, the founding director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, explores the study's findings.

Wikis

• Francopedia Canadienne Accueil ... an all French wiki from Canada.
• Seedwiki.Com ... create your own wiki with this free wiki provider.
• Wiki, Don't Lose That Number ... a short explanation of wikis' use in the classroom with examples.  Published by GLEF Edutopia.