Online Collaborative Projects: Implementing the Project

space After all the planning, it's finally time to implement your project. Use the guidelines below to get off to a good start.

Seven Safety Rules for Participants

Use first names only
Provide no personal information
Never share a password
Never agree to meet someone
Tell a teacher about inappropriate messages
Don't attach names to pictures
Ask the receiver before sending attachments

Find and Recruit Partners

Start small (someone across the hall or across town), then large.
Post the project on websites.
Find a teacher in town or online.
Remember, if you send email, plan on only 10% of the people responding.
When you recruit, use a call for participation.
State specifics such as timeline, technology needed, and project goals.
Keep the number of participants reasonable.
If you get too many participants, chunk the project into pieces.

Field Test

Try the project out with one school first.
Practice sharing files and information.
Try out your procedures,

Preproject Preparation

Know your hardware and software.
Test the system ahead of time.
Anticipate problems.

Implement

Connect with participants through email.
Find help.
Meet deadlines and send reminders.
Provide help and encouragement.
Stay flexible within your plan.
Have fun!
Design a project headquarters.

Conclude

Find the project and thank everyone.
Share outcomes.
Keep in touch with participant

Evaluate

Keep a journal of what worked and what didn't work.
Ask participants and students for help in evaluation.

Implement the Project
Start with a small project. For example, you might team with a teacher in another school in your district or a teacher you've met at a conference. Keep the project simple and realistic.