Selecting an activity type

Once you have selected a suitable topic for a telecollaborative activity, the next task is to select an activity type. In lesson one you were introduced to a taxonomy of activity types developed by Judi Harris. As a quick reminder, here they are again.

INTERPERSONAL EXCHANGES
- Electronic appearances
- Electronic mentoring
- Global Classrooms
- Impersonations
- Keypals
- Q-and-A services


INFORMATION COLLECTION
- Database creation
- Electronic publishing
- Information exchanges
- Pooled data analysis
- Tele-fieldtrips

PROBLEM SOLVING PROJECTS
- Electronic process writing
- Information searches
- Parallel problem solving
- Sequential creations
- Simulations
- Social action groups
- Virtual gatherings

Select an activity type that is appropriate for your topic and that will accomplish the kinds of things that you would like to achieve. For example, if you are designing a social studies activity based around the civil war era, each participating class might research an historic character and then create an online impersonation of that character. (INTERPERSONAL EXCHANGES/ Impersonations)

On the other hand, you might be interested in designing a math activity that would involve simple statistics and graphing. Design a survey instrument to gather data and have each participating class gather data and share it. Finally each class comes up with its own way of analyzing and presenting the data. Again the presentations could be shared and discussed. (INFORMATION COLLECTION/Pooled data analysis)

The possibilities are endless!

Activity
1. Considering the types of activities, which one(s) is (are) most appropriate to your chosen topic?

2. If you are doing this lesson as part of a group, share your thoughts with others and ask for feedback. Give others in your group feedback and ideas on their activity types.