It's the next best thing to being there! Several Upper School classes are using videoconferencing as a way to get "up close and personal" with students in the country of Jordan and a well-known book illustrator living on the east coast.
In Mrs. Margo McAlear's AP World History class, students are taking part in a series of four videoconferences with students at the Jubilee School in Amman, Jordan, whose mission is to provide equitable educational opportunities for outstanding students. During the hour-long sessions, the students are engaging in a dialogue about their cultures, their political views, religion, education, women's rights, foreign policy, Iraqi refugees and more. The videoconferences are coordinated by Bridges of Understanding and Global Nomads Group.
Senior Alex Dodd says, "The most interesting thing about the videoconference is being able to experience the different points of view within the class. It's always interesting to actually talk to the people and really hear what they feel, without the interpretation of the news media."
Students also are continuing their discussions after the videoconferences using Park Tudor's Moodle board. Moodle is a software course management system that enables the creation of online learning communities.
Meanwhile, students in Mrs. Kim Pulfer's English III class recently chatted with illustrator Gareth Hinds via a Skype internet connection to his home studio in Boston. Hinds, who has published graphic-novel adaptations of "Beowulf," "The Merchant of Venice" and "King Lear," talked to the students about the creative process in developing his version of "Beowulf," which they are reading in class, as well as his other graphic novels.
Junior Lauren Math thought the opportunity to talk with Hinds added a new dimension to their study of the classic.
She said, "Overall it was a very good experience because we got to learn about the author, which gives you insight into how the book is made. Also, you are not left with unanswered questions about the book because you had the opportunity to ask the author."
The final two sessions of the AP World History class videoconferences are scheduled for November 17 and November 25.
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