The audience should be changed, even in a small or subtle way, by the publication. In the future most new knowledge will be created on computers and shared over farflung lines of telecommunications. The publication format should be open-ended rather than closed. On the other hand, a student's open-ended publication must be designed structurally to require some sort of audience response, e.g., debate, dialogue, conversation, speculation, further inquiry, asking questions, etc. Phase One Teachers and students inventory existing equipment Inventory in the classroom, in the school building, and at the students' homes.
Students organize and prepare questions for one or more online talk shows with the content experts.
Students use the computer to incorporate the talk show transcripts into ongoing curriculum- based research projects assigned by the teacher. This year the project is moving into Phase Four. At the end of this final phase, teachers and students will attempt to combine all four phases into an ongoing, integrated process. This year our curricular focus is science with a particular emphasis on environmental science, ecosystems, and habitats. Students in our project will be doing field research during the year in Meridian Township's wetland areas which are currently endangered by rapid commercial and residential development.