This book offers practical advice to teachers who wish to use classroom computers to harness the potential of telecommunications as a learning tool. Chapter 1 describes the Kids On-Line project, in which they established electronic mail interactions between a classroom in California and a classroom in Kentucky, as well as a list of key definitions. Issues like assimilating the vastness of the array of electronic resources, making telecommunications a partner in the curriculum, exploring funding options, and getting connected are discussed in chapter 2. Chapter 3 lists 27 learning themes, from pizza to astronomy, around which a teacher might choose to plan telecommunicating activities. Each entry (1) suggests grade-level parameters; (2) states the objective for the theme; (3) suggests how a teacher could relate computer activities to individual subject disciplines like literature or science; (4) suggests ways in which a teacher could prepare beforehand, like posting e-mail questions to a government official, an organization, or an electronic bulletin board; and (5) brainstorms about specific classroom activities. The final chapter presents more thematic ideas, for exercises with less structure and more student initiation, when both teacher and learner are ready. The book concludes with profiles of three students who were noteworthy successes in the Kids On-Line project and a list of sources for technical support. (BEW)