This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Shetland's global classroom
17/02/2003
A unique project which allows Shetland pupils to learn
from schools around the world has been given financial
support to continue for at least another year.
During a visit to Anderson High School in Lerwick, First
Minister Jack McConnell said:
"The Global Classroom project which began here at
Anderson High almost 10 years ago has gone from strength to
strength. It allows pupils here to learn from other
students around the world and now involves an annual pupil
exchange.
"This is a good example of the kind of project which
helps motivate students and drive up standards in
schools.
"The £47,000 funding which I am announcing today will
support a new IT pilot for the scheme which will see
learning experiences being shared with partner schools in
Germany, Sweden, Japan and South Africa."
Anderson High School Learning and Teaching in the Global
Classroom Project is being supported through the
Executive's Future Learning and Teaching programme with the
new pilot attracting £46,849 of funding plus evaluation
costs for the period until 2004.
The partner schools involved are Anderson and Brae High
School (Shetland), Graf Freidrich Schule (Diepholz,
Germany), Nara Women's University Secondary School (Nara,
Japan) and Langa and Wittebombe High Schools (Cape Town,
South Africa).
The project also aims to build on the increasingly
trans-national nature of education systems and curriculum
development through exploring collaborative learning and
teaching. Initially this will focus on German
Higher/Advanced Higher, History Advanced Higher and Maths
Advanced Higher.
Groups of 16 and 17 year-old students from partner
schools in each country meet annually to socialise and
discuss topical issues. The students stay with families of
pupils at the school and attend some classes. The first
Global Classroom convention was held in Shetland and will
be there again this June.