Activity Structures

Activity Structures are "models for designing educational telecomputing activities", or ways in which we can envision, then organize and develop effective, meaningful telecollaborative projects.  Activity Structures let us conceptualize a range of instructional "sets", or possibilities--structures. Flexible enough to be used in any subject at any grade level, and with any amount of technological resources,  (Dr. J. Harris, "Wetware") they allow teachers to focus on teaching and learning curriculum (knowledge, skills, and attitudes), while still bearing in mind how to take advantage of the new situational opportunities available to us through the Internet to create "worth it" learning experiences for our students.

• Keypals:
  the first and most popular type of interpersonal exchange, keypals involves facilitating communication between individuals who attend different schools, or who live in different regions.
• Global Classrooms:
  short or long interaction between  groups, usually two or more classrooms, based on a topic.
• Electronic Appearances:
  an activity structure wherein authors, scientists, or other professionals appear online to answer student questions or participate in discussion relevant to their own professional lives. Such activities differ from electronic mentoring in that they are usually restricted to very brief time frames.
• Electronic Mentoring:
  like electronic appearances, but occurring with subject area specialists for longer time periods.
• Question and Answer Services:
  short-lived communication where students ask an expert.
• Impersonations:
  a type of electronic appearance distinguished by the presence of an individual who plays the role of a literary or historical character.

• Information Exchanges:
  students share information such as book reviews, favorite quotations, local weather conditions, recipes, etc.
• Database Creations:
  students construct a database of information, which is to be shared with students in other local or international schools.
• Electronic Publishing:
  students create an online publication, such as a newspaper, literary magazine, electronic journal or ethnic cookbook.
• Tele-fieldtrips:
  students electronically "tag along" with other individuals from other places. Students participate in the activity by asking expedition members questions, and by taking part in activities or experiments related to the project.
• Pooled Data Analysis:
  students receive information from classes around the world, then analyze it, looking for patterns, similarities, or differences, and then report their findings.

• Information Searches:
  students are presented with a problem and resources [clues] to help solve it.
• Peer Feedback Activities:
  students publish work online, and other students or subject area experts provide constructive criticism.
• Parallel Problem-Solving:
  students in several locations are presented with a similar problem, which they solve separately and then together, electronically.
• Sequential Creations:
  students share in the creation of a new document, such as an electronic composition, or item, by passing it from location to location.
• Virtual Gatherings:
  participants are brought together from different locations and time zones for a computer-mediated meeting.
• Social Action Projects:
  students around the world work together for change, a collaboration that can lead toward social action.
• [Simulations:
  either person-to-person or through using software, participants explore a virtual world.]