Students benefit in many ways when engaged in solving complex and ill-structured problems. The problems faced in the world are not predictable and there are no simple formulas which can be used to solve these problems. The Internet's interactive nature provides students with the opportunity to go beyond their textbooks. Students can use hyperlinks to investigate more fully a topic or issue. Through their investigations, students may find that there is another side to an issue than what was displayed in their text.

Example

A group of SCCS students could develop a project which would determine whether or not a nuclear power plant should be built in their town. The students could conducted research on the Internet. They would be able to develop an understanding of the impact of building the power plant from more jobs, the environmental issues, public safety, costs and taxes, and public opinion. Then, they could compiled the information and developed a multimedia presentation which they could delivered as a presentation within the presentation forum built into SCCS. They could also have an open discussion on the topic in the chat, e-mail and bulletin areas. This project would promoted complex understanding.