Site fosters interactions between scientists and students, between classrooms in different parts of the country, and between students in North America and Mexico. Extensive teacher materials assist in classroom implementation. Some units are interactive computer-based activities as well as collaborative activities between participants at different institutions. Background material, research challenges, online experts, etc. are available in private Web classrooms. Discussion is moderated, and all student work is published online.
Most offerings are interdisciplinary.
TFT's goals include establishment of Network Science as an effective educational technology, the development of organizational and technological infrastructure, and research in new methods of telecollaboration. Students in Network Science collaborative classrooms research and investigate a common question, pooling data online. Results are interpreted using provided software and conclusions shared among participants. The Why Files was established initially as a part of the National Institute for Science Education and was funded by the National Science Foundation. The program is now a part of the Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.