The International Students Initiative for Peace
- Classroom-to-Classroom Portal Project-
    
   
Description:
For a more detailed project description please see the CtCP project description
http://eev2.liu.edu/westburyII/JG/admin/CTCP.HTM

Two classrooms (initially) in different parts of the world will be linked via an audio/video internet connection, so that each group will be able to see and hear and interact with the other group.

These classrooms (groups) will be "twinned" in a similar manor that cities and villages around the world are twinned. That is a "relationship" between the two classrooms, more precisely, the students and teachers (and parents and guests?) in those classrooms, will be established and maintained (nurtured, exploited, managed).

Cooperative projects between the two classrooms can be initiated. These projects can be anything that the educators think may be appropriate (all ages, all subjects).
These classroom projects may (or may not) incorporate the technology of the collaborative web site.

How many students will be involved, their age and grade In either of the two initial portals to be created, the number of students on each side of the portal connection is envisioned to be a "class size" or "club size." This could mean anywhere from 10 students to as many as 30 students at each end of the portal connection
Description of the project goals and activities The goal of the CtCP project is to expose students to other points of view around the world. By bringing students from very different cultural backgrounds together in a shared collaborative (and cooperative) experience - via an interactive audio/video portal connection will increase tolerance in the world. Sensitivity to others' perspectives is sorely needed in our educational system and just about every educational system around the world.
How will using technology in this project empower students to engage in authentic and relevant learning? It is the application of modern technology -interactive audio/video, computer application sharing, instant communication, internet access - that makes this concept even possible. Years ago, I tried a similar "twinning" of two classrooms: a pre-K class in Port Washington NY and a prescholari (pre-k to 6) orphanage in Bucharest Romania. It was the early 1990's and the internet had not become sophisticated enough by that time to support the exchanges between the two classrooms. Instead, the children on each side of this "classroom-to-classroom portal" told stories about their lives through the only medium they knew - crayons and construction paper. I (and a dear friend) supplied the Romanian children with school supplies (and other necessities). The exchange between the children (via US and Romanian Postal systems) was astonishing.
Taking this successful model and now adding modern technology - the internet, audio/video communications, shared applications, collaborative white boards, handheld computers - opens the door to endless possibilities. It will take the imagination of educators to exploit this powerful yet relatively simple CtCP technology.
What problems will they be solving?

Connecting children in a Muslim classroom with children in a Christian classroom,
Connecting children in an Alaskan (Aleut) classroom with children in an Argentinean classroom
Connecting children in the Bronx who may never have seen a cow or sheep, with children in Scotland who may never have seen a building taller than 4 stories (a silo perhaps).
This list, of course can go on and on. The problem that this project addresses is the ignorance and insensitivity much of the human race has for others' religions, nationalities, political beliefs, social beliefs, customs, etc.

How and with whom will they share their understanding and their solutions? The hope is that from this initial CtCP experimental connection, there will emerge a supportive organization as outlined in the CtCP project description. This supportive group (see the Curricula Collaboration functions) will coordinate the development and deployment of lesson plans that exploit the unique opportunities of these classroom portals. This Curricula Collaboration will maintain a repository of lessons so future teachers will have the advantage of previous experiences - both what works and what doesn't work
The implementation plan and timeline The implementation plan is dependent on and is being developed in collaboration with others. A project timeline is not ready to present at this time.
How will this grant support the project?

The grant money MAY be used to purchase equipment for a portal school.
It may be used to pay for broadband service if a school cannot afford it.
It may be used to purchase Handheld computers to unteather students on either side of the portal.

Eventually these and other questions will be addressed by the Coordination Collaboration (see the Coordination Collaboration functions),
How do you plan to evaluate the effect of the project on student learning? Not sure yet. Still developing assessment criteria
Letter of Support from your Technology Director or Superintendent, on letterhead. From Dr. Schneiderman, I hope

a project proposal submitted by Jerome Garfunkel
9 Terrace Circle (#3D)
Great Neck, NY 11021
www.jeromegarfunkel.com
jerry@jeromegarfunkel.com
A description of the proposed program and evaluation criteria. Descriptions should be typed (twelve-point type or larger), double-spaced, and no more than 5 pages in length. Handwritten descriptions will not be accepted. Please include the following information:

Aug 16, 2004