| SCHOLA-21 assists students and teachers with planning, coordinating, organising, and documenting their projects and with presenting the results. Project work does not only take place at the computer, but first and foremost in the real world. SCHOLA-21 helps to make project work goal-oriented, guiding students step by step through their project with a diverse range of supportive tools. |
 Preparing the project
In the beginning, it takes a strong team. Project members register for the project and set up their virtual project room. From each others’ personal profiles, they learn about the skills each individual is going to contribute and the skills they all share as a group. Next, they determine rules and objectives to guide their collaboration. This is crucial because common objectives facilitate cooperative learning and commonly established rules provide for a good learning atmosphere.
 Planning the project
No project is going to succeed without careful planning. First, the group needs to identify the project question. What do we want to investigate? What is the goal of the project? How much time do we have, and which rooms, materials, or partners are available? What is still needed, and who can help? If a project is complex, separate work groups should be formed. Learning agreements define individual learning objectives and make explorative learning successful.
 Implementing the project
Once individual to-do items and a timeline have been determined, the real project is ready to kick off. There is a diverse range of tools available to help in the search for answers, e.g. card sets, votes, polls, and many more. Separate rooms for each work group provide for a clear structure and offer ample space for documenting all processes and results. Pictures, films, and language recordings may also be saved and utilised.
 Presenting the project
The time has come, and the project is almost complete: The project question has been answered, and interesting results are ready to be shared. With only a few clicks of the mouse, SCHOLA-21 creates a homepage for the project and helps to prepare a presentation for a large audience. Maybe an exhibit can be arranged in the school or in the town hall?
 Evaluating the project
Now it’s time to be honest. Learning agreements and work group collaboration need to be discussed and assessed. Have we achieved the project goal? What have we learned? Which factors have contributed to the project’s success? Which tips on project work do we have to pass on to others? What do we have to do better next time? And, finally, who is going to register the next project room?
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