The seniors at Webster Groves High School [11] in St Louis, Missouri begin every online project with students in Kyrgyzstan with pre-conceived notions that there is nothing in common between the two countries, but they always end with a strong mutual understanding built around more similarities than differences.
“It is an international world and technology brings us closer together by adding a level of comfort for different cultures and lifestyles,” says their teacher, Nicolas Kirschman, who has been implementing online exchange projects for the last three years through IREX’s Global Connections Exchange (GCE) [12] program.
Kirschman’s students collaborate online with students in Kyrgyzstan on a variety of projects such as mapping neighborhoods, sharing photos of American life, and discussing news events. The projects last three to five weeks and are multimedia focused and revolve around a discussion format using Skype and Ning.
One particular project, “Religion in your Community,” required the students to discuss different religions and customs found in their community. Each week, a set of questions were raised and the US students came together to present answers to their counterparts. In the end, they compiled pictures and recorded video clips of religious institutions in their community to post on the Ning [13] group site.
Kirschman says that by the end of every project, students gain a deeper understanding for other people and cultures. “It’s a good experience for my kids before they head to college,” Kirschman comments, “not only do they discover they share the same taste in music but more importantly, share the same expectations for a happy life – loving family and friends, and a fulfilling professional career.”
Kirschman continues to proactively advocate for online exchange projects in the classrooms. Recently, he presented at the National Association of Gifted Children on the benefits of using technology for cross cultural learning. He adds, “the program is effective, safe, and cost efficient. IREX has a vast pool of projects that teachers can easily take and adapt to their needs.” In addition to public talks, he hosts GCE teachers and students from Kyrgyzstan to experience American culture and education first hand. Just a few weeks ago, he hosted Zina Kabylbek kyzy [14], a Tech Age Girls [15] participant.
GCE is a program of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and implemented by IREX. To date, GCE partners with 22 schools and libraries in Kyrgyzstan and 21 schools in the US. This Fall, IREX launches the program in seven more locations in Viet Nam and the Philippines.