What are Internet Curriculum-based Projects?

Internet or Telecommunications Curriculum-based projects connect teachers and students and sometimes experts in different places by usually using the Internet to discuss curriculum issues. By the use of asynchronous tools students can share information and viewpoints with other students and even experts. These tools can including video conferencing, chat programs, forums, web boards, school web pages and emailing messages. There are many different telecommunications curriculum projects and their activities include discussion, teleconversations, exchanges, data collection and analysis, guests live in your classroom, ask an expert, virtual fieldtrips, observing special events, research, publishing and performance, electronic appearances, information problems including problem posing, quizzes and puzzles and tag along on a scientific expedition.

Many such projects are advertised on the AussieSchoolhouse, the Oz-teachernet, the Global Schoolhouse and EdNA. The project often involves the use of an email list but may involve direct contact with the other class or expert. Teachers can advertise their own projects on email lists or join existing projects. Telecommunications curriculum-based projects offer a safe, structured environment for teachers and students to participate in. As these projects are prepared by another teacher they are safe to use with students and this can help assure some parents who have fears of their childrens' use of the Internet. When joining a project teachers find that because they have been organised by another teacher some of their work has been done for them and in fact they are collaborating with another teacher.

Learning Technology Competencies

Education Queensland has three levels of competencies.The first level is to adopt information technology. This level 'focuses on basic awareness, knowledge and understanding with limited application in the given areas'. The second level is 'to adapt information technology'. This level focuses on teacher's capacity to adapt, apply and extend level 1 competencies. The third level is to become adept when using information technology 'demonstrated expertise in one or more areas and leadership and management roles in these areas.' (Education Queensland 1997:41)

Each of the three levels has four dimensions. The first dimension is about information skills which involves the operation of both hardware and software.The second dimension is curriculum applications, including classroom planning and management use of learning technology in key learning areas. The next is school planning processes and procedures to promote continuity and coordinate learning technology activities across the whole-school. This relates to the school's Management and Learning Tecnology Plan (MALT plan). The last is student-centred learning which involves the teacher applying effective learning and teaching principles to learning technology activities with students.(Education Queensland,1997)

In Education Queensland's Computers in Learning Policy, teachers must develop skills and competencies in the use and application of computers to ensure support for the integration of learning technology across the P-12 curriculum. To ensure this'teachers must develop competencies to ensure that students'access to computers is effective and meaningful' (Department of Education, Queensland, 1995: 3) The policy also includes the principles which teachers should use when using computers in learning. These are the integration of computers into the curriculum, the continuity of learning about computers across the year levels, equitable access and participation for all students, and for this learning to take place in a supportive environment whilst encouraging students to participate in decision making concerning the appropriate use of computers.

Doing an Internet Curriculum-based Project with other classes and other students enables teachers to meet many of the goals set by Education Departments for computer or learning technology policies for schools as book raps incorporate curriculum integration with reading and writing and the real life focus of talking and sharing information. Education Queensland's priorities are that 'Learning technology will enable students and teachers to build new educational environments by using tools that not only process information but allow the learner to investigate, manipulate, test and extend knowledge.'(Education Queensland,1995)

Two such Internet Curriculum-based Projects that can be used by teachers to build their learning technology competencies are Travel Buddies and Book Rap.