Teachers need to be active participants in online projects for the project to have successful outcomes for their students. Activities include:
- regularly checking the Rap site,
- checking and responding to your emails daily,
- ensuring your students complete the project tasks on time
(eg answering the Rap point each week)
- sharing your students' work with other participants,
- engaging your students in discussions and activities, and
- taking part in online chats and forums.
Students become very 'passionate' in a Rap and usually take a strong position on particular questions. These are wonderful 'teaching moments'. Online chats with experts (eg authors) also increase their understandings and challenge them to think outside their comfort zone.
Steps
- When you receive your Rap approval (you have a password), visit the site with your students and ensure your details are up to date. Those details are seen by other participants and people who visit the site.
- Ensure you and your students understand the Rap process. Raps are quite short in time duration (usually 4-6 weeks) so missing a week's activities can result in poor learning outcomes.
- Use each week's Rap point as a focus for learning in other curricuulum areas. Display and discuss the Rap points with your students. It is important that all students have a say in the Rap points so use different communication and collaboration strategies.
- You may need to use a decision making process for your final Rap response as only one class response is required - a good life lesson!
- Check your Curriculum planning and timetable to book Internet access.
- Ensure your students have the skills and logins to use the site. If you require more student logins contact the Rap Owner Teacher (although it's easier if students share a login - even in groups).
- Have a timetable of activities during the Rap.
- Make sure you value add to the learning program where ever possible. Your students will enjoy the Rap and will have many ideas to improve their learnings.
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