Global History and Social Studies Department Chair Kader Adjout has been using technology in his Middle East senior elective to connect his class with students from Afghanistan. He uses a private social network (a Ning) to work with teachers and students in Afghanistan, and his students post to a blog which receives responses from the Afghan students.
But the most meaningful connection between the two groups was an online video conference via Skype. At 8:00 a.m. on November 5, Beaver students — who were just beginning their school day — talked with a group of high school boys who are part of the Global Collaboration and Exchange Programs in Afghanistan. They were finishing their day at 5:30 p.m.The Afghan students were interested in learning about the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas, what school is like for Beaver students, and whether or not students have after-school jobs. Beaver students asked about the interaction between boys and girls in Afghanistan, what kind of activities they like to engage in outside of school, and how their Islamic religion affects their everyday life.
Below is a a short video of the students’ interaction as Beaver students asked what Afghan culture is like (runs 1:34).
More Skype conversations between the two schools are planned in the future.
UPDATE: See the second comment on this post for a report of the video conference from the perspective of the Afghanistan teachers and students. Also, here is a photo of the Afghanistan side of the Skype call.
