The aim of this on-line project environment is first and foremost to connect students to the community, to engage their interest in community affairs in their formative years, to encourage and help them to become active, caring citizens by practicing in the real world. The community where our school, East Pori Middle School, happens to be located is a small neighborhood complex of apartment buildings, shops and services. This community, Sampola, was selected by the Finnish government to be a special project area from 1996 - until the year 2000. The People-Friendly Neighborhood community project environment , or course, is one facet of East Pori Middle School's role in Sampola Project, but the course was designed to be adapted to any community anywhere. Exercises and suggestions are meant to take students out into the real world where learning will hopefully become a lifetime preoccupation.
Technology is one tool among many others.
Collaboration and problem-based learning are the foundations of this course. Project ideas range from some fairly specific directions to vague, ill-defined problems. The intention of the former is to provide a transition for students who might feel insecure using reflective learning means after years of non-reflective schooling. Students and educators can select and choose according to needs and time. The course for ninth graders, which is still in the planning stages, is premised upon students making a mark on the community by initiating real changes and improvements.