Meridian harnesses digital video technology for international exchange

With a generous grant from the Heisley Family Foundation, Meridian International Center is piloting a collaborative, international exchange between three pairs of classrooms in the District of Columbia and abroad, harnessing the power of digital technology to connect youth around the world. Each of the three pairs consists of a District of Columbia (D.C.) class and a class in another country.

From February to May 2009, each classroom pair will develop a better understanding of a specific social, political or environmental topic within their curriculum (i.e global warming, race relations, etc). Meridian has set up a web-based, communication platform through the Meridian website for students and teachers to communicate as they learn about their counterparts’ culture and share responses to the given topic-area. There is also an additional option for students to work on a supplemental project, creating a tangible outcome of their semester of learning and collaboration.

In June 2009, D.C. students will visit Meridian and participate in a digital videoconference where they will interface in ‘real time’ with their counterparts, asking questions about the issue they have studied over the course of the program. The Education Outreach department hopes that this initiative will serve as a catalyst for year-long, technology-based exchanges at Meridian between schools in Nation’s Capital and around the world, providing a source of further revenue and creating a large-scale impact for all students to access international exchange.

Wired World Fall 2009

• Wired World: Stuart-Hobson\Oxclose
• Wired World: Banneker\Sandhill View
• Wired World: Teachers’ Lounge

Wired World past blogs

• Wired World: Sunderland, UK-Washington DC, US
• Wired World: Ambato, Ecuador – Washington DC, US
• Wired World: Tshwane, RSA – Washington DC, US