Classroom collaboration checklist: 9 steps for teachers

A shared plan gives both teachers a clear place to begin. Use the three stages below to decide what needs to happen before students meet, while they exchange work and when the project closes.

Your classroom collaboration checklist

• Before: choose a topic and task, find a partner and agree the timeline, and prepare students.
• During: start with a short introduction, give students roles and exchange work, and check in with both classes.
• After: reflect and share the final work, thank one another and record useful notes, and choose what to practise next.

Before the project: agree the plan

Begin with a task that fits the time, materials and language support available in both schools. Planning together helps you decide what is realistic before the first exchange.

1. Choose a shared question and a manageable task

Choose a topic that interests both classes and one thing students will make or discuss together. A cultural exchange can focus on daily life or traditions; a shared challenge can explore an issue such as water use or food. Decide what a useful student contribution would look like before adding activities.

Use the Project Creation Assistant to develop ideas and activities. Review and edit its suggestions so the learning goal, language, materials and timing fit your students.

2. Find a partner and agree the timeline

Find a partner teacher in Connect. Send a short introduction with your topic, class age range and availability, and ask whether the proposed task fits their class.

• Agree when each class will introduce itself, exchange work and respond.
• Choose the collaboration language and a format both classes can use.
• Allow for school calendars and decide what to do if a response is delayed.

3. Prepare students for the first exchange

Tell students who the partner class is, where they are from and what the two classes will do together. Practise asking a clear question and replying respectfully. Use the First International Project Guide for preparation ideas, and agree with your school what students may share.

During the project: keep the exchange moving

Give students a clear way to contribute and a reason to respond to the partner class. Check progress together and adjust the plan when one class needs more time.

4. Begin with a short introduction

Start with a simple icebreaker: a class introduction, questions about daily life or a short exchange about local food or music. Choose a format both classes can manage. A live meeting is optional; recorded introductions or written questions can also start the conversation.

5. Give students roles and exchange work

Give each student a useful role, such as researcher, writer, designer or coordinator. Explain how the roles contribute to the shared task and make space for students to change roles as the work develops.

Share a draft, video, document or set of images with the partner class. Ask for a response that students can use: a question, a comparison or feedback on an idea. Allow time for each class to respond and improve the work, rather than only posting a finished product.

Optional shared-topic example: the Class2Class video Voices for Peace.

6. Check in with students and the partner teacher

Send a brief update to your partner teacher at agreed points. Share progress, changes to the timeline and any questions that need a reply. If a live meeting is difficult to arrange, agree a response window so each class can work during its own school day.

Pause with your class to ask which groups need support. Check whether students understand the task, have the materials they need and have received a response from the partner class. Adjust a role or activity when it helps a student take part.

After the project: reflect and close well

Leave time to look back on the experience. The final exchange and reflection help students discuss what they tried and give both teachers useful notes for another project.

7. Reflect and share the final work

Ask students what they learned about the topic, what surprised them about the partner class and what they would try differently. Invite them to refer to a question, contribution or piece of work from the exchange.

Agree an audience for the final work. Students might share with the partner class or present at a school event. Follow your school's sharing arrangements before using images or work beyond the project.

8. Thank one another and record useful notes

Thank the partner teacher and give students a way to close the exchange: a final message, a favourite moment or a question they would like to explore later.

Write a few notes for yourself or with the partner teacher: what worked, what needed support and one adjustment to keep. The after-project reflection guide gives you prompts for that conversation.

9. Choose what to practise next

Use student work and reflections to name a skill the class practised and one useful next step. The current competency guide can help you choose the focus. Describe what you observed rather than treating a completed project as proof of a fixed student level.