The communication lets students and teachers collaborate and actively participate in common projects. Properly used, employers and parents can communicate with the schools. In addition to lowering the barriers created by distance, networks also free learning from the constraints of time. Participants need not be confined to the traditional school-day hours. They can take time to review information presented on the network before responding.
Students can access large central databases.
Several computers can share a single printer, laser disk player, and CD ROM tower. Teachers are beginning to use the Internet, a system originally developed by the National Science Foundation to connect universities, government, and research centers. The projects are inherently multi-disciplinary. The computations done in the math class may reflect data obtained in a social studies class and be written about in an English or science class. Networking will enable students to continue the project work as they move form class to class.