1 Foreign Language and Cultural Exchanges: The Next High- Performance Killer App for K20? Greg Palmer, Director Jennifer MacDougall, Applications Coordinator Fall 2002 Internet2 Members Meeting- 10/28/02

2 Tomorrow’s Scientists are in grade school today The Int’l Community has a unique opportunity to leverage the existing infrastructure for the betterment of educating their young people The Int’l Community has a unique opportunity to leverage the existing infrastructure for the betterment of educating their young people Internet2 has shown a strong desire to support initiatives aimed at infusing technology in the education of children and young adults Internet2 has shown a strong desire to support initiatives aimed at infusing technology in the education of children and young adults

3 K20 Issues in the U.S. Introducing technology into a highly structured teaching environment Introducing technology into a highly structured teaching environment Declining budgets Declining budgets Faculty that have the ability to teach or the knowledge of the subject, but not necessarily both Faculty that have the ability to teach or the knowledge of the subject, but not necessarily both New ways to engage students, (and faculty!) New ways to engage students, (and faculty!) U.S. students are behind the rest of the world in multi-language skills U.S. students are behind the rest of the world in multi-language skills

4 A Shrinking World, with a growing need to understand Exposure to language and culture promotes global awareness Exposure to language and culture promotes global awareness Students learn by association with things they can relate to Students learn by association with things they can relate to Culture is better understood when discussed live and interactively Culture is better understood when discussed live and interactively Global awareness opens the door… Global awareness opens the door…

5 U.S. Trends in Education Large numbers of school districts connecting to I2 GigaPoPs Large numbers of school districts connecting to I2 GigaPoPs Growing interest in collaborative programs between K-12 and higher education Growing interest in collaborative programs between K-12 and higher education Strong desire to enhance the classroom experience with international involvement Strong desire to enhance the classroom experience with international involvement

6 CCIU/MAGPI Virtual Panel Discussion Example: Virtual Panel Discussion Example: Virtual Panel Discussion Coping With Stress and Education Coping With Stress and Education 4 Panelists, experts in their fields 4 Panelists, experts in their fields An audience of teachers, psychologists, and administrators An audience of teachers, psychologists, and administrators Interactive, H.323 Videoconferencing Interactive, H.323 Videoconferencing Digitally Captured, Streaming, DVD formats for review and distribution Digitally Captured, Streaming, DVD formats for review and distribution

7 CCIU/MAGPI Virtual Panel Discussion No Longer a “Once in a Lifetime Opportunity”

8 CCIU Language and Culture Exchanges Example: CCIU World Tour Example: CCIU World Tour Students in US talking and learning with students in Chile Students in US talking and learning with students in Chile Using IP Videoconferencing and H.323 Using IP Videoconferencing and H.323 Learning foreign language through cultural exchange and problem based experiential learning Learning foreign language through cultural exchange and problem based experiential learning Opens literally a “world” of opportunity Opens literally a “world” of opportunity

9 CCIU World Tour

10 EU – US FIPSE Program Example: Graduate Level Language and Global Business Curriculum Example: Graduate Level Language and Global Business Curriculum 3 countries in EU, 3 states in US 3 countries in EU, 3 states in US Advanced network infrastructure in support of language and business exchanges Advanced network infrastructure in support of language and business exchanges Includes student mobility – virtually and physically Includes student mobility – virtually and physically

11 Challenges and Opportunities Strong need for a database of interested institutions worldwide Strong need for a database of interested institutions worldwide A process for establishing programs that meet the educational needs of the participants A process for establishing programs that meet the educational needs of the participants Project sustainability – financially and pedagogically Project sustainability – financially and pedagogically

12 Thank You – Q&A Greg Palmer Greg Palmer Jennifer MacDougall Jennifer MacDougall