The forum was accessible from any Internet connection via the World Wide Web, allowing students to participate even when they were sick or traveling. One of the great strengths of the online science education forum was the connection it gave to the students studying to teach at different levels. In a College of Education as large as the University of South Florida, there tends to be little mixing of students in the elementary and secondary education programs. Professors work to include information in their classes about K-12 levels, but it is sustained personal interaction with others that best contributes to an understanding of education at all levels. While the course forum focused only on science education, it offered a unique opportunity for students to develop a relationship with current and future teachers outside their own specialization.
Students learn about the content from another perspective.
Elementary education majors found an accessible resource in the secondary science education majors. Before this course, many of the elementary students got science information from the media or science instructors. Because of the forum, they communicated comfortably with peers who had strong interest and ability in science. At the same time, the secondary students gained insight into science understanding when they read and responded to the elementary students' questions and comments. Students learn about children s concepts of the content at the other level.