Teachers are finding more and more applications for computers in the classroom, from Internet resources to educational software, and beyond. The Internet has the potential to revolutionize the classroom. With an Internet connection, students can use e-mail to communicate with students at distant schools or visit sites on the World Wide Web. Teachers can join discussion groups and other forums for teachers, access and contribute to archives of lesson plans and curricula, and much more. Teachers can contact one another through a number of means, provided they have e-mail access.
Many sites have contact information for teachers to ask questions or provide input.
Other organizations run discussion groups, or publish directories to teachers and schools on-line. Through electronic mail, the possibilities for collaboration and long-distance communication are limited only by a school's access to network technology. For the most part, this software is graphics-rich, lively, and fun, with the idea that a child who's enjoying the experience will learn more from it. These programs are far from the flashcard and drill software of a few years ago, and tend to target youngsters age 12 and under. For older kids, there is plenty of commercial software and courseware specifically designed for classroom use.