The new working possibilities foster the capability to work in teams. They give the students the opportunity to work independently and to determine their pace of learning individually. At the same time the students are getting familiar now with technics which will substantially form their tomorrow's work-environment. So that they will learn not only to master and to assess the modern technics but also to use them effectively and creatively.

Easy to operate!
In the five schools participating in the Comenius project multimedia workstations were installed, which can be easily and intuitively operated by special software. On one uniform, three-dimensional surface the students move through a virtual communication space and can choose between various forms of communication and information exchange. Furthermore, they can directly use all standard programmes applicated at school.

Flexible connections throughout the whole world
There is a choice of several standardised methods for the data transmission between the Comenius-project applicated multimedia workstations. Between the schools and the central material provider and within school, where large amounts of data are to be transmitted within a short period, fast transmission methods (ATM, dedicated ethernet) come into action. Connections to workstations outside the schools can be provided via the less fast but generally available networks (ISDN, POTS). That provides the possibility for teachers, students and parents to work on the projects even from home. Moreover, Comenius-participants have access to various mailboxes and to Internet, the world wide Information Highway". And so they can move about in a communication space which is open on all sides.

Comenius put into the classes practice

• Common class-projects: The schools participating in Comenius will conceive and carry out interdisciplinary and school spanned projects. These projects will foster the students' capability for teamwork.
• Multimedia Documentation: The central material agency provides multimedia data stocks for the project. Students and teachers access these stocks, work on them, supplement them with their own productions and thus create their own data pool for the project work.

Project partners
Deutsche Telekom has been carrying out several projects withinthe BERKOM-programme as well as in international activities in differentapplication areas with its subsidiary PONTON European Media Art Lab. TheBerliner Senatsverwaltung für Schule, Berufsbildung und Sport (Council for Schools, Training andSports), the Landesbildstelle (Central Material Provider) and the teachersof the participating schools support the project.