They all learned more about child development across the range of ages. The forum refocused the students' attention on what can be expected of children at elementary through secondary school. Students appreciate the concerns and conditions in schooling at the other level. The elementary students have witnessed firsthand through the forum how a child's excitement about science can build into an important career. They communicated with a group of preservice and inservice teachers who wrote very passionately about the importance of science.
Students experience a professional communication process.
All of the forum participants have experienced personal and academic gains as result of their communication with their peers. Students communicate about science across disciplines. Students at both levels wrote about a variety of science areas without concentrating on their specialization area, favorite area, or strongest area. Elementary students find a content resource. Elementary teachers have limited contact with content area experts.