He told them to be as specific as possible. He wanted them to suggest the questions or issues to investigate and the type of information to gather from students in other locations. The proposals were turned in with the author's name on a separate page. A student vote limited the selection to five project proposals. After discussions and modifications, the students agreed on a single project.
Some teachers pose a question or a problem to the students and then collect their responses.
For example, you might ask what is the most important issue or problem facing your Learning Circle Special Community. Each student who volunteers an issue or problem is asked to explain why it is so important. When the list is complete, students consider the reactions of the students in other locations to each of the issues. When the brainstorming is complete, students vote on the best selection for their sponsored project. The final step is to discuss the type of information they will collect within their own community and what project information they will request from their peers in other places.