The differences of formats of classrooms computers made it difficult to move beyond text. More recently, computer tools have created ways of transforming numerical data into visualization that can be shared over the Internet. These representations make relationships easier to understand. Let's look at some projects which illustrate this form of communication. The Globe Project has participants from all over the world involved in collecting, sharing and analyzing data in partnership with scientists.
Teachers select to work with curriculum materials in one of their selected topics.
Students make a core set of environmental observations near their school. This example displays a form for collecting air temperature. The tool box allows for many different ways to display student data. With controls and validation, students can collect data that helps monitor the health of the planet. Their work in science classes is extended to others and made more valuable by similar contributions from their peers from around the world.