KIDLINK: A place for children in the Internet

We present in this paper the experience that we have had with a group of "street children" using the Internet, in an international project for children called KIDLINK, a global net of communication for children between the ages of 10 and 15. In this project, children from all over the world are able to communicate with each other through four types of interchange: one on one communication, discussion forums of projects proposed by the students, discussion forums with previously planned themes by adult coordinators, and free forums of communication in IRC. In this paper we will talk about the three types of interchange in which we have participated. The work the children have done on this project has helped them to learn more about themselves and their culture and has provided a context for learning outside of the school. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.