Be sure to structure communications by providing a goal besides socialization. Resource - Use in research projects. Provides opportunities for instruction on validity of sources and searching strategies. Mentor - Students are paired via email with experts or others of influence in the field they are studying. Collaboration - Schools or groups meet via email or virtually to execute a project.
Projects can be two schools or a list of many.
Survey - Student created survey to find out and collect information for analysis and study. Cooperative Challenge - Students work together to meet a challenge or solve a problem. Community Connection - Use the Web to create a stronger sense of community either in school, neighborhood or city. Interview community members and create a website. Simulations - activities require students to use their imaginations to recreate an event or a process.