Yorkregion.com - Aurora - Students connect with high-tech conference
Students connect with high-tech conference
Hartman Public School student Nick Chethuan interacts with students in Africa during an international teleconference where students come together online to discuss their vision of peace.
Aurora
May 08, 2008 09:49 PM
By: Teresa Latchford
Get an education abroad from the comforts of your classroom.
It began with a picture book, Machinto, and turned into an international project that has brought students around the world, including a Grade 6 class at Aurora’s Hartman Public School, together online to share their response to the book.
Through the project, students learn about “a little bird still crying somewhere in the world” because of ongoing wars.
The school linked up to an online live teleconference using a laptop, webcam and projector, where they were introduced to students from Japan, Africa, Alberta and others in Ontario.
“It was really cool meeting other students from around the world and hearing what they had to say about the book,” student Hasanika Mediwike said.
As part of the project, students created a PowerPoint presentation about their school and the history of their town. The next component was creating a picture book reflecting each student’s vision of peace.
“It was much better than doing a boring book report,” classmate Mustafa Haiderbhai admitted. “Seeing their faces and hearing what they had to say gave us a lot of variety of views.”
The use of technology in the classroom is likely to continue, according to York Region District School Board’s Steve Smallwood, who finds new ways to enhance curriculum.
“It is really something to see the different technologies in their classrooms,” he said. “You can tell by seeing the quality of the picture coming through and the microphones they were using.”
“This kind of opportunity gives the students a chance to realize they are a part of something larger than their school,” Hartman principal Lisa Walsh said. “It also makes their studies of war and peace come to life.”
Visit www.manchinto.org to view the picture books and stories created by local and international students.