This class is project-based. That means that almost your entire grade consists of your completion of projects. You must complete four projects including one project in each of four categories. The project categories are listed below with project descriptions.
Since every student has different circumstances, you have some flexibility in choosing which projects you will do and what you will do for each project. Hopefully, most, if not all, of the projects you do will directly benefit your current or future teaching.
If you are at a school with little or no access to telecommunications, you should consider: (1) projects that will be useful when your school gets telecommunications; and (2) projects that require little access, such as projects where students compose email messages that you send from your account at home or at Loyola College.
Each of your projects, with the exception of the Web Site Creation Project, must be a distinct project. That is, although the topics of projects might overlap and be related, you cannot designate one project as filling two categories. For example, you might create an interesting telecollaboraive (Classroom Internet) project that involves critical information literacy, but you may only use that project for either the Classroom Internet Project or the Critical Information Literacy Project, but not both. The exception to this is the Web site project, which may be a stand-alone project or the Web site for another of your projects.
You are encouraged, but not required, to put all your projects on the Web. The easiest way to do this is to create one Web page that points to all your other projects. You are required to put your Web site project on the Web, and this is likely to be the Web site for one of your projects, but it is helpful to have them all available on the Web (and it makes them easier to hand in and grade).
This is a graduate-level class, and you are all responsible adults who can plan appropriately. The only deadline for this class is that all projects must be completed by the end of the semester. However, you are encouraged to complete and hand in projects throughout the semester. Most projects cannot be completed in a short amount of time and waiting until the end of the semester will make it impossible to complete the class. Extensions and incomplete grades will not be granted except in extraordinary circumstances.
For planning purposes, consider handing in one project by week 7 (class 4 in Summer), one project by week 10 (class 6 in Summer), and one project by week 13 (class 7 in Summer) (assuming your Web Site Project is combined with another project). Note that handing in projects at the end of the semester not only leaves you a lot to do in a short time, it also limits the feedback you can receive in a timely manner. It is easier for you and the instructor to clear up misinterpretations of assignments, minimum criteria, and general expectations when some work is handed before the end of the semester.
Telecollaborative projects lend themselves to be done in groups. Many projects may be completed as group projects (especially, but not limited to the Plan-A-Project Project). You might find that your classmates and their students are perfect telecollaborators. If you would like to do one or more projects in a group, consult your instructor.
When appropriate, each project handout will include a list of minimum grading criteria. If the minimum grading criteria are met, you will receive a B for the project. The grade of A is reserved for outstanding work that goes beyond the minimum criteria. The rubrics list some ideas for ways to exceed the minimum criteria. The lists on the rubrics are, by no means, complete, and you might find other ways to exceed the minimum criteria. If you think you have exceeded the minimum criteria in other ways, be sure to include a note to the instructor with your project.
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This page was created by Dr. David M. Marcovitz.
Last Updated: September 12, 2008