Two biology students brought in a fungus they had found in the woods as part of a class project. Surprisingly, none of the fungus identification manuals had a picture which would allow the class to identify the specific name of the fungus. Someone suggested they try the Internet. A quick search revealed a "Fungus of the Month" web site. Using a digital camera, the students photographed the specimens, created an email message to a professor at the University of Wisconsin who was listed as an expert on the site and sent it off. Within an hour, the professor had responded with the identification of the fungus and other information for the students.

Consider these questions as you review your project.

• What online expert(s) have you identified as resources for you and your students for the project you have selected? 

• How will the expert(s) be used?

• Are there other educators within your school with whom you wish to work?  Consider subjects that are outside your domain of expertise that will be covered in your project.

• How can your students help with the implementation of the project?  Consider using students as technology assistances so that your time can be dedicated to instructional issues.

Student-to-Teacher Collaboration

• "Students to the Rescue" - Teacher article describing how to develop a team of student "Tech Reps" who can assist teachers with technical problems.  This can even work on the elementary school level!
• A Model for Effect Classroom Technology using Students Experts - Another good article from a teacher that discusses developing student teams to assist with technology instruction.
• Students Working to Advance Technology (SWAT) - Program that promotes the use of students as technology assistance in schools.
• Generation Yes Project - U.S. Dept. of Education project that trains students to work with teachers on the use of technology. Check out this article by a teacher on the project and the impact it had.
  

Subject-Matter Expert Collaboration

• Stevens' Ask-an-Expert - You may wish to return to this page and identify a specific expert to work with on your project.
• Yahoo!'s List of Colleges and Universities - Consider contacting a professor at a institution of higher education.  They often find it fun to work with students on long term projects.
• Telementoring - Consider getting involved in a telementoring project if you need an expert who can work closely with individual students.

Teacher-to-Teacher Collaboration

• The ABCDEs of Co-Teaching - Article deals specifically with learning disabled students but could be applied to more general co-teaching situations.