Or they could be non-text files, such as graphics or a software program, which are transferred in binary format . Binary files could include Hypercard stacks, sound or video clips, graphics, video games, or files formatted for WordPerfect or ClarisWorks programs. Even if your school has only e-mail, staff and students can exchange photos, computer drawings, databases, shareware programs, scanned images, and just about anything that can be stored electronically with anyone in the world. You can exchange photographs of your students or school building with a class in Australia. Art students can send computerized works back and forth for critiques.
Teachers can share overhead slides and lesson plans.
The curriculum possibilities are truly endless. Anything you can store on your computer's hard drive can be attached to an e-mail message. But it's crucial to remember that the receiver of your e-mail attachment must have the same type of computer or program you have to be able to use the files you send. A Macintosh hard drive utility program won't do a friend any good if she runs a Windows computer. Above is a picture of the attachments window as seen in Netscape Navigator.