Looking for Better Lessons for Your Class? Why Not Try BetterLesson!

BetterLesson is a great (and free) social network just for teachers. Collaboration is easy and you can use any of the thousands of resources on the site. Share your own lesson plans or download any which other teachers have uploaded. Here's a brief introduction to BetterLesson:

Have You Tried Internet Projects in Your Class? Here are 24 Great Places to Start

I first learned about Internet projects when I took a class about technology integration. The teacher of the course, Dr. Donald J. Leu explained to us that Internet projects involve collaboration between classrooms, usually to solve a common problem. You can create your own project or join one of the many projects which have already started. Click here to view Dr. Leu's lectures on Internet project. (They are under part 3) See if you'd like to try any of the ideas below.

Benefits of Internet Projects

Bucket Buddies- students collect samples of water from local ponds

ePals Global Community- world's largest K-12 learning network

The Flat Stanley Project- younger kids really love this!

Global Grocery List Project- students share grocery prices

The Global Virtual Classroom- "collection of free, on-line educational activities and resources. It aims to complement the efforts of governments and education departments around the world to integrate technology into their classrooms and curricula and to link their schools to the information superhighway."

GlobalSchoolNet.org- find online expeditions, view photos & video gallery

Grades 1-9 Internet Projects

GSN Internet Projects Directory- "the original clearinghouse for collaborative projects from across the globe - projects hosted by the Global SchoolNet Foundation, other reputable organizations, and outstanding partner projects conducted by teachers worldwide!"

iLearn Collaboration Centre

Internet Project Ideas- good for junior high school students

Internet Projects- a list of seventeen links are on this page, including Thinkquest and  Sharing NASA

Internet Projects for Arithmatic- 9 ideas listed

Internet Projects for Kindergarten

Journey North- "Journey North engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. K-12 students share their own field observations with classmates across North America. They track the coming of spring through the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, robins, hummingbirds, whooping cranes, gray whales, bald eagles— and other birds and mammals; the budding of plants; changing sunlight; and other natural events. "

Kidlink Project Center- students design global and collaborative projects

Monster Exchange- "encourages the development of reading and writing skills while integrating Internet technology into the classroom curriculum."

My Hero Project- kids share stories about their heroes, from everyday people to famous people

Newsday- students write articles which they share with the world

Online Expeditions

Share a Historical Book Project

The Odyssey- students travel around the world and see what it's like to live in different places

Teacher's Guide to International Collaboration on the Internet- comprehensive site from the U.S. Department of Education

Vicki Blackwell's Online Projects for Kids

Connect-Collaborate-Create This Summer

With technology integration becoming more important every day, teachers need to explore all the new tools which are available. What better time to do that than during the summer. Web 2 is a site which is divided into three areas: connect, collaborate and create. You can log in as a guest and browse through the different areas. The large icons guide you with extra information i.e. video or activities you can do with the particular tool. Well worth the visit if you'd like to learn more about Web 2.0. Thanks to iLearn Technology for posting.

Here's another super-sized listing of Web 2.0 tools: Web 2.0