Telecollaboration

The Storylady Project I posted last Tuesday is a telecollaborative activity which I was able to do with the help of my Reading coteachers and department coordinators in the school year of 2002-2003.

At that time, I was only aware of the very obvious benefits of IT integration in our Information Literacy Skills Program. My perspective was limited to the attainment of the goals written in the program. Time has afforded me to reflect deeply on the many learning experiences that students may gain from this endeavor.

1. When well prepared and properly designed IT integration activities are done by teachers, students model a more responsible and critical use of ICT's.

2. For students to fully understand and appreciate such activities, they must have a strong foundation on literacy skills development. Other educators may view it as the other way around, that technology develops literacy skills. However, good communication skills and critical thinking are factors that lead to quality facilitation and utility of technology.

3. Students' self identity is further developed when they interact with others via ICT's.

4. Their self worth and motivation increase as they tweak and tinker with technology.

5. They are able to construct their own understanding of the world as they interact with others; becoming more tolerant of others culture; and respectful of others differences.