Collaborative Learning through ICTs

This educational project uses ICT to enable UK students to communicate in real time with peers in Japanese schools. This "eTwinning" initiative is designed to offer schools the opportunity to enhance their curriculum offerings while stimulating interest in modern foreign languages and increasing students' ability to use ICT. Pupils will learn through dialogue exchanged with their peers via videoconferencing, online collaborative learning, and email. Schools in London and Japan will video conference using Hitachi's interactive whiteboards and LGfL's Click2Meet, a free videoconferencing solution.

Creating strong national curriculum tie-ins is a key strategy, which will involve supporting the Geography Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) Schemes of work, Contrasting Localities (Unit 14), Connecting Ourselves to the World (Unit 18) and encouraging use of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL). The idea is that, combining the Geography schemes of work and MFLs, students can use geographical theory and real life experiences to gain insight into other countries and cultures. Tsuchido Primary School in Western Japan and Yasaka Junior High School in Tokyo will encourage pupils to use the dialogue with pupils in London to improve their English language skills.

Education, Technology, Intercultural Understanding.

LGfL is a consortium of the 33 Local Authorities which provides a filtered broadband connection, network services, a common learning platform, online content and support communities for all schools across London.

One of the participating Japanese schools, Yasaka, plans to establish an English language club to foster the students' progress.