Imagine a science classroom in which a computer is connected to the telephone line by means of a modem and the students in the classroom are communicating on a day-to-day basis with students in another city or country. Computer-based telecommunications networks enable individuals and groups to "go on line" to send and retrieve messages, send files of information, exchange graphics, and video technologies.
One of the first programs of this nature in science education is the National Geographic Kids Network. Although designed for students in grades 4-6, it paved the way showing how the computer could be used in the area of telecommunications. In the Kids Network students conduct original research, share data, exchange letters and maps in a series of units including Hello (introduction to telecommunications), Acid Rain, and Weather in Action.
Another program is the Global Thinking Project (GTP), a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary problem solving curriculum and telecommunications system. The GTP uses the Internet to enable students around the word to explore global problems and concerns, learn strategies of inquiry to solve local problems, as well as the knowledge and technological means to deal with them globally. The GTP uses the computer to link classrooms in different countries to study a flexibly-based global-ecological curriculum consisting of a series of problem solving projects.
Collaborative projects, such as the GTP provide a powerful means to engaging students in scientific inquiry and cross-cultural learning. The chart that follows describes four collaborative projects.
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Collaborative Science Project |
Focus of the Project |
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A network of environmental educators who support a series of collaborative projects including acid rain, batnet, birdwatch, coyote howl, insectworld, plants, roadkill, salt tract, vernal pools, water shed, and whale net. |
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A k-12 project linking students, teachers and scientists around the world to learn about the environment. |
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An environmental science project linking students and teachers around the world to investigate a series of projects, including the green classroom, Project Clean Air, Project Water Watch, Project Solid Waste, Project Soil and Project EarthMonth. |
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An educational program that enables students to investigate the Universe while applying tools and concepts from science, math and technology. |
Designing Project Using CLEO
CLEO enables you to design your own colloboritive project online. The tools and procedures are available from the CLEO website.
http://cleo.terc.edu/cleo/cleo-home.cfm
Additional Collaborative Science Projects
Clearing Houses of Collaborative Projects