A new course, Independent Study Research and Writing via Telecommunications, is being developed by the Division of Independent Study (DIS) of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction to teach telepublishing skills utilizing the NeXT telecommunicating (interpersonal computing) techniques, i.e., NeXT Mail. This multimedia electronic-mail application is capable of sending and receiving text, data files, sound, video, animations, images, facsimile, and graphics. The goals of this pilot project include: (1) providing students and teachers in participating schools with online support and assistance in developing educational resources; (2) using multimedia interpersonal computing to extend library services between school districts; (3) corresponding about classroom use of mathematics; (4) enhancing advanced writing and composition projects; (5) using the medium as a pilot project with the Talented and Gifted (TAG) resource center for distance education; and (6) developing an online career guidance service which utilizes state and national networks. This report discusses the technologies involved, the goals of the project and accomplishments to date, the various projects supporting and cooperating with TAG, and SENDIT, a computer-mediated communication network for North Dakota K-12 educators. Descriptions of cooperative activities between higher education and K-12 schools, projected uses of online systems through SENDIT, and the status of the project in its second year of development conclude the report. (Contains 13 references.) (ALF)