But relevance need not be preexisting for students. When connected to their Australian peers via the Internet, the American middle-school students can empathize and sense the relevance of peacekeeping in East Timor. The Australian students can e-mail the American students some of their writing. The teachers exchange digital photographs of their respective classes, and the children get to see their peers and their peers' surroundings. Relevance can emerge through teacher mediation.
Teachers can add elements to the learning situation that make the activity relevant to the students.
For instance, the Australian and American teachers can set up an interchange where the Australian youngsters write poetry and song lyrics about peace that the American students set to music. Both groups then post the results on a Web page. Structure learning around essential concepts. Encourage students to make meaning by breaking wholes into parts. These can include a class library of illustrated storybooks, a visit by a storyteller, and some Web activities sponsored by a book publisher.