For example, junior high eighth grade students can be paired with high school freshmen and e-mail questions about high school classes, activities, and expectations. The freshmen then respond with their own experiences, insights, and advice about making the transition. Students establish a reassuring bond, and teachers can ensure the success of the information transfer through school mail even if technology fails. Another e-mail exchange option is to use online experts. One of the main benefits of such an exchange is the opportunity to receive information about topics for which there are no easily available resources.
Reporters answer questions from students and then post the questions and responses on the Web site.
During the Mars Pathfinder landing, for example, a science reporter responded to student inquiries about mission objectives. One student wondered what type of food Mars colonists would eat. The science reporter quickly responded with information about NASA experiments involving potatoes and wheat as food staples. Normally, this type of information is circulated only among a select group of scientists. Responding to opinion polls or casting online votes can be another fun and educational assignment for students.