We could call it "a telescopic wiki"

or something like that: teachers who leverage geography for increased learning in collaborative pairs: teachers in widely separated classrooms are studying the same subject, though separated by many time zones, bio zones, cultures, etc.. Each class uses the proximity of the other to deepen its inquiry and understanding of the subject. One end of the telescopic class wiki strengthens understanding on the other end, and vice-versa, it goes back and forth, with and so forth process, ad wikinitum...

Biology class example: freshmen Bio students in Los Angeles e-twin with sub-saharan African Biology students. The same biological processes are studied, but in widely divergent ecosystems. Through their e-pal learning partners, students in LA are able to better understand drought cyles, while the Senegalese students are able to gain a more sophisticated and accurate understanding of pollution problems affecting the LA region.

MY PLAN; My 10th graders in suburban Chicago, reading The Whale Rider, set in exotic Maori culture work collaboratively with some kiwis (new zealanders) studying American literature. Well, Australians might be ok, too.
Through effective wiki-ing, my Americans ask intelligent questions of their kiwi counterparts, who on their side are studying Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. In asking and answering, students deepen research, communication skills.

Care to discuss telescoping wikis with me?