The TCOE  Virtual Campus provides a private and password-protected space for discussion among students (teachers) and faculty, as well as offering direct interaction with BBSR scientists. It affords a self-contained environment for sharing ideas and materials, and serves as an additional resource for the study of oceanography. It gives students and teachers controlled and limited access to scientists and other experts in an asynchronous way, thus not placing a burden on scientists' time. All participants can scroll through the conversation and see everything that has been said by the rest of the group and all comments are listed chronologically. Teachers find this medium helps support collegiality.