University students are using 3-D virtual worlds combined with Web sources and moving representations of participants to create inhabited virtual learning spaces . Virtual universities and high schools are using these new communication and Web tools to provide for the range of experiences, both social and intellectual, that are a vital part of the learning. These virtual worlds can be seamlessly integrated with web pages extending the possibilities for interaction in many domains. Educational conferences have been held online in active worlds. The University of California, Santa Cruz team built a demo high school in Active World s as an example of how college preparatory courses could be offered online.
Teachers have access to materials to help augment any subject or concept they want to teach.
The California Learning Exchange is one of many sites that is taking advantage of video to demonstrate quality teaching and learning. One video , shared by the Orange County Department of Education, illustrates how to teach pre-algebraic concepts to an elementary ethnically diverse class of students. Knowledge-centered learning does not, as is clear from watching the video clips, mean drill and practice of math facts. Watching a master teacher work with a group of students provides for deep discussions about teaching and learning. When the network is viewed as curriculum resources, the issue shifts from finding enough information to understanding how to relate different sources of information.