NSW HSC Online Professional Development Node
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Building local and global communities
The information and communication tools that are a part of the Internet gives students a chance to easily share what they learn with others and encourages the collaborative construction of meaning through different perspectives on shared experiences. A number of educational websites bring students and researchers from geographically dispersed sites together through the Internet. Students collect data that are used to understand global issues and the collaborative efforts between all participants help them to understand complex systems and concepts, such as multiple causes and interactions among different variables. Working on authentic projects with working scientists and researchers and distant peers is motivating and students produce impressive results (Bransford et al. 2000, p. 212).
The Internet supports the collaborative nature of these sorts of activities by allowing information-sharing and easy communication between classes all around the world (or in the next town). Collaborative and cooperative learning methods have been used extensively in schools during the past decade (e.g. Johnson and Johnson (1987); Slavin (1987;1988)) as they are seen to promote problem-solving and a deeper understanding of issues.
School communities also include of those outside the school or research community: they include parents and members of the town or suburb in which the school is located. Family provides a key environment for learning and the Internet can help make the connections between family and school by posting school calendars, assignments and other information on a school website. The school websites can also be used to let the community know what the school is doing and how they can help.
Examples:
Further reading
References:
Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (eds). 2000. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition. The National Academy Press. Washington, D.C. (Available online) http://www.nap.edu/catalog/9853.html 
[19 October 2001]
Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, R.T. (1987) Learning together and alone (2nd edn). Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Slavin, R.E. (1987) Small group methods. In M.J. Dunkin (ed.) The international encyclopedia of teaching and teacher education. Oxford: Pergamon, 237-243.
Slavin, R.E. (1988) Co-operative learning and student achievement. Educational Leadership, 46, 2, 31-33.
Slavin, R.E. (1988) Educational psychology: Theory into practice (2nd edn) Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
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