Young Scientists Tsunami Collaboration

The project is being conducted in two parts. In the first, iEARN is creating a new, specific online professional development course to provide expertise and support for science teachers involved in this initiative. The course explores how to use different types of technologies to enable students to interact. After completing the course, educators in the four countries are able to involve their students in direct interaction online with peers in the other participating countries. The teachers then work together online developing activities related to the science of tsunami on which to work collaboratively with their students across the globe.

In early 2006, US, Thai, and Indonesian participants collaborated in an online Learning Circle to explore the different topics surrounding the theme of the role of science and technology in disaster relief and preparedness efforts, as well as the effects of tsunamis on the environment. Beginning in early September 2006, another Learning Circle will begin involving Malaysian and US teachers exploring the same issues. The project will be facilitated by one of the teachers participating in the project. Learning Circles are designed to be highly interactive, project-based partnerships among a small number of schools located throughout the world. Each iEARN Learning Circle session is 14 weeks.

Through the iEARN website, participants are able to join others in this project's interactive dialogue via an online forum, or via an offline newsreader.

Th project has been designed so that it may be factored into science and geography classes or be implemented as an after school and community programme. The results of the project will be presented by teachers at the July 2006 iEARN International Conference in the Netherlands.

Technology, Disaster