How can I keep the world-wide day in science simple?

Use of the worldwide web enables international collaborative learning among university students and staff in ways that have yet to be realised. However, new technologies, such as the web, have historically held much promise that has been confounded by factors such as technological complexity, a lack of insight into learning processes by technologically orientated proponents, and increasing workloads for lecturers, which are sometimes brought about by the very information technology that shows such promise.

We are attempting to address these constraints in use of the web in the World-Wide Day in Science project. On 15 April, university science students around the world are to fan out into laboratories, museums, parks, etc. in a 'shadowing' program to capture a day in the life of science, inspired by the coffee table books on Africa, India, and Australia. The students then produce short reports and photo essays that are mounted on the web on 1 June. Their multi-media representation of science helps the students to put their studies and future careers into global context. The production process encompasses key aspects of problem-based learning and authentic assessment. The local pilot in 2003 at the University of New South Wales led to a global pilot in 2004 with participation by university students in Edinburgh, Barcelona, and Montevideo.

This conference activity session is meant to employ delegates' insights to simplify the process of participation. One aim is to reveal capabilities of the web that can heighten global collaboration and communication among university students and staff.