The Global Awareness Program is a joint venture between the Global Link Program and the Linking International Trade Education Program(LITE.) The mission of the Global Awareness Program is to broaden the perspectives of Rhode Island students to include diverse cultures and the global community. Videoconferencing and the Internet are used to facilitate educational collaborative projects between Rhode Island students and students in other countries. Student projects include environmental science, physical sciences, economics, history, cultural awareness, entrepreneurship, design, and popular challenges faced by teens around the world. Students from Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Ireland, and South Korea have participated in these projects. Additionally, students contribute ideas and help build web sites to represent findings from these projects with the direction of the Verizon Telecommunication Center at Bryant College.

Following are two examples of student projects created by the Golbal Awareness Program.

Family and friends were able to buy shares in a virtual company created by Barrington High School Students.

Students from King Edward VII and Cranston Career and Technical School collaborated on a playground design.

Dividends to students participating in video projects include presentation skills, communications skills, team building skills, and they learn to master technology. Teachers who employ this novel delivery method help students to relate lessons of the classroom to the real world and build self-esteem.

Virtual Field Trips

These field trips enable students to visit cultural and educational sites around the world without leaving their classroom. Examples of virtual field trips include the Cinncinatti Zoo, the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Aquatic Research Institute and the National Museum of American Art. Each month we will feature the Virtual Field Trip of the Month and a list of other trips. The cost of Virtual Field Trips vary from zero to $150 per hour not including telecommunication charges.

Educational Web Sites

The following list of web sites is designed to steer educators to resources that may help with lesson plan development and professional development. Authors of these sites have focused on the use of various technologies in the classroom. They represent both not-for- profit and commercial entities. Please email your thoughts and anecdotes regarding the utility of these sites to .

Videoconferencing Resources and Tips

Satellite Content Providers

Georgia Institute of Technology http://www.vide.gatech.edu/cookbook2.0/ Red Hill Technology www.redhill.net.au/main.html Videoconferencing Atlas http://www.savie.com/ KCET Education http://www.kcet.org/education/ SouthwestNet Distance Learning http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/policies.htm Nassau Boces http://www.nassauboces.org/dln/videoconferencing/ Pacific Bell http://www.kn.pacbell.com/

Ball State's Project INSITE http://www.bsu.edu/teachers/academy/insite/eft.html SERC - Satellite Educational Resources Consortium http://www.serc.org Digital Bridges www.netc.org/digitalbridges/index.html VC for Educators www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow6/nov98/videomain.html Education World www.education-world.com Mass Interaction (formerly MCET) http://www.massinteraction.org/ StarNet http://www.starnet.org