<<< Press Room Megaconference Jr. 2006 creates global classroom experience It’s being touted as the “School of the Future” — bridging learning among schools around the world. Southwestern Elementary School students got their first taste of that future at Megaconference Jr. 2006, an international cultural awareness project started three years ago and held for the first time at the Hanover school on Thursday. Approximately 200 students in the elementary grades watched children from China, Taiwan, India, Ireland and Spain demonstrate school projects or speak on different topics — from “space science” to “sustainable development in our area and school.” For some students, the accent and visible school environments were enough to pique their interest. “It was really neat to know how their school works,” said fifth-grader Camille Cline. “You could see some of the environmental problems they have just looking at the big trash piles in the background while they talked. Our classrooms are nice and neat.” The students learned about windfarms that collect energy, and that most children ride their bikes to school. “They don’t have many school buses,” she said. “I guess it is a good way to fight obesity.” Southwestern Elementary School principal Miriam Matthews looks forward to next year’s program designed to be highly interactive. “Several businesses have provided the technology to us for no charge which will allow our students to take regular ‘field trips’ to places like the Smithsonian Institute or to a zoo in China when the Pandas are being moved,” she said. “We are very excited to have the equipment that will allow us to go online and see other students in their educational formats.” The opportunity to travel to faraway places through the virtual classroom comes at a particularly good time as the cost of gas, field trip fees and food continue to rise, she said. “However, we still want our students to see, touch and feel in order to learn by going on field trips to places 50 or 60 miles away — like the zoo, the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis and the Science Center in Louisville,” she said. Each class at the school is allowed one field trip per year. The conference will allow many more educational trips without ever leaving the classroom. Megaconference Jr. is a project designed to give students in elementary and secondary schools around the world the opportunity to communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other’s learning in real time, using advance multi-point video conferencing technology. Presenters design and conduct videoconference-based presentation and activities focused on both academic and cultural issues. Participants are able to address questions to presenters and to collaborate with geographically diverse peers in collaborative learning activities, building international cultural awareness. The conference addresses local and national curriculum standards in multiple subject areas. It also helps students and teachers develop the capacity to effectively utilize high-speed networks, videoconferencing and other emerging technologies to enhance learning experiences. -Pat Whitney Courier Staff Writer Source: The Madison Courier www.madisoncourier.com <<< Press Room