Materials 1998 Education Development Center, Inc. . Online Contact Back to Frameworks Collaborative, Interactive Projects Communication with Disciplinary Experts Published Student Work Online contact is one of the categories most unique to the Internet.
Electronic communication is fast and easy, and it is rapidly becoming fairly ubiquitous.
There are number of Web sites where classrooms can locate other classes with whom to exchange electronic pen-pals letters. There are all sorts of online projects that involve structured communication with classrooms around the globe regarding particular issues of mutual interest. Students can converse with people far away, learn from them, and make contributions of their own. Having a real audience tends to raise the stakes of any learning experience significantly, bringing a higher level of engagement and quality of work from everyone. When student voices carry to faraway places beyond the walls of the classroom, they can have access to opportunities for learning that might not be otherwise possible.