Taken from QCA ICT Unit 14 (Year 9)
Global communication - negotiating and transferring data

In this unit pupils work with a 'remote partner' in another school to collect common, agreed data for a specific topic. Once the data has been collected, it is transferred electronically and merged to form a complete data set. Pupils then produce a report on their joint findings.

A great deal of preparation is needed for this unit. Teachers will need to identify a suitable school (either locally, in another part of the UK or overseas). Teachers from both schools will need to:

• agree on a broad project focus,
  eg geographical information, the local area, cultural themes, hobbies, interests,
  but not the specifics of what data will be exchanged - this must be left for the class to negotiate

• identify the parameters for the project,
  eg type of software used, the timing

• agree expected outcomes,
  eg what does each school expect to get out of the project

• identify periods of peak activity and how these are to be resolved,
  eg when pupils will correspond by e-mail

• agree protocol,
  eg replies to e-mail should be made within two days

The whole class will work together to gather data, in three or four groups to allow for differentiation.

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