Reflection 6: What is a Telecollaborative Lesson?

A telecollaborative lesson plan would be defined as involving your students within a project to share information with a group of people. Within in the word telecollaborative is collaborative which is grouping your students to work together through the internet. Another way of explaining this would be pen pals. Teachers would have their students write to others from all over their world. Sharing their experiences, understanding the differences between different countries. Being that times have changed and new technology has developed we would no longer call them pen pals but "key pals".

To use telecollaborative lessons is a good eye-opener for students, the results are very positive in that in helps students face reality. It is important for everyone to be aware of the world and its issues today. It is extremely important to start at a young age. The more knowledgeable the better. It is the students that become our future leaders. As a young child you are not so aware of the differences between countries. You do not realize that everyone many not live as comfortably as you. When students have key pals they are able to meet people from all over the world, they are able to share their experiences as well key pals are able to do the same. Communicating stories back and forth. Yes it is a positive experience but it may not always be a happy experience. For the students of Brenda Dyck, this was the case. For each reflection we are given a guide to base our writings on. For this reflection the guide given to us was based upon a teachers experience in using the telecollaboraitve lesson method. This teacher was Brenda Dyck of ABC Charter Public School in Canada. At the time she was teaching middle school. Her telecolloborative project was having her students key pal those in Israeli. At first the conversation was of any normal 13 or 14 year olds, talking about music, sports, weekend activities. The students had grown close. The students had learned through their key pals in Israeli that they were privileged compared to them. Their key pals would explain their feelings of insecurity within their own "home", how they do not feel safe while doing such little things as going to the movies with their friends. Her students then came across a CNN video of a recent Israeli bombing, the students were silent and in awe at what had happened. Worried that their key pals were in danger.

In conclusion telecollaborative lessons are very positive, opening the eyes of students to real world issues. I'm sure Brenda Dyck's students had learned a lesson. Learned to appreciate the little things they are able to do such as going to the movies or just feeling safe within their own home without worrying about bombings occurring. One thing we should all be thankful for is the gift of life, to be able to start a new day.