The resource offers communications opportunities which tap into popular net culture and encourage co-operative relationships between young people of different backgrounds and life experiences. Pupils participate through a secure learning environment. They are able to upload image and text directly to the internet and gain immediate visual feedback, though all materials are moderated by teachers before going live.

The recommended age for participants is 8 – 13 years (Key Stages 2 and 3 in UK schools) with a range of abilities from gifted and talented to special needs. Different styles of learning are supported so that visual and physical as well as auditory learners can engage with the working process.

VOLCO also offers models of creative and cross-curricular use of ICT for teachers. No specialist skills beyond a basic understanding of software and hardware are needed and the resources required reflect those commonly held by schools. Teaching notes and schemes of work are accessible through the site while a CD is available with an introductory animation for group introduction to the project.

The first stage of the VOLCO process follows a narrative through which evacuees from earth land on a fictitious planet and develop an alien identity. For this pupils are encouraged to use scanners, digital photography, word processing, search and download from the internet, manipulate imagery, file and organise data and create a web page. Pupils also engage in character development through written and visual means, using digital and/or traditional media.

VOLCO offers pupils preparation for a world where they will need to make creative use of whatever technologies are at their disposal, through teamwork, in a multi-cultural society. Inventing VOLCO together, encourages young people to explore new, imaginative and co-operative ways of creating a future society for their own planet.