GVC | Global Junior Challenge

The School of Kindness shows an alliance of three schools, two from the USA and one from Israel that created a unique website together.

1. Sommario progetto

Sommario:

Ein Ganim School Israel-Teacher Marsha Goren Harrison Elementary School Indiana, USA- Teacher Rick Glass Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Illinois, USA -Teacher Matthew Kuntz Three schools from around the world collaborated in creating this special school with the helping focus in mind. Rick and his students came up with the idea for the School of Kindness. What a great idea- to spread kindness in our schools, community, and the world- through acts of kindness. This entire project has made the teachers and kids smile from start to finish- students reaching out to help others. The GVC - Give back something international had added a new category to encourage kids to help those in need at the schools and in the different communities . The kids at Harrsion and Lincoln organized The Peanut Butter Jelly Drive - the opportunity to help others in need that were part of another community (the residents of Warsaw, Indiana). The GVC08-01 students collected over 200 jars of peanut butter and jelly to give to the CCS (Combined Community Services) of Indiana. Rick and his wife came to pick up the donations from Matt and his kids! Then came the Hungry Minds Pasta Dinner that the 5th graders at Lincoln put on for various food related charities- from the baking of the bread to the serving of the pasta meals, the students were helping others in need. The students raised over raised over $3,000 to support the charities the fifth graders selected to help feed the hungry-WOW! The 6th graders from Israel decided to start a computer club and teach the fourth graders computer skills and software programs. The sharing of knowledge among the kids was both motivating and stimulating to everyone involved. The project can be used by students anywhere. As Rick Glass sums it up so beautifully in his feedback: Kindness has become embedded in these students. They are actively seeking ways to show kindness to each other, their families, their neighbors, their communities, and their world. I am glad these students will be our future. As they continue to spread their messages of kindness and good will, I believe our world will be in good hands.

2. Paese (Città / Regione)

Stato:

Israel

Città:

Petach Tikva

3. Nome dell'organizzazione che presenta il progetto

Organizzazione:

Ein Ganim School together with Harrison and Lincoln Elementary

4. Tipo di organizzazione

Scegli tipo:

Scuola

5. Coordinatore del progetto

Nome e Cognome:

Marsha Goren (representativie of the 3 schools)

E-Mail:

gorenmm@zahav.net.il

6. Website

Il sito web del progetto:

http://gvc0801.gvc08.virtualclassroom.org/

7. Selezionate la categoria di appartenenza del vostro progetto

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Fino a 15 anni

Inserimento dei giovani nel mondo del lavoro:

NOT Helping youth step in the job market

Creatività e Innovazione sociale:

Creatività e Innovazione sociale

8. Da quando è funzionante il vostro progetto?

Da:

01/09/2008

9. Obiettivi ed elementi di innovazione

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

The GVC Global Virutal Classroom vision is to empower, enable and connect students around the world using Internet technology. It aims to provide students the opportunity to develop three skills that are essential in the 21st century: * Cross-Cultural Communication * Collaboration * Computer Skills The major project of the GVC is a contest in which schools from around the world collaborate to build websites that are judged on the quality of their content and presentation, and on the collaboration. The contest runs from October through April, with winners announced in May. The targets and background of our project were to encourage the children to work as a team in Global collaboration, build a website by sharing ideas and creating materials together through the power of the Internet and Nicenet the classes exchanged and shared their ideas.

Come, e con quali mezzi cerca di raggiungere gli obiettivi prefissati:

The Kindness website has promoted kindness and has showed ways to help people all over the world through the stories, fables, and images created by the students of the three schools. Their combined effort has revealed a new way of living. It is the life of helping, giving, love, and peace. If everyone in the world understood how to live like that, there would be no more war or prejudice. The Library is a very important part of the website. The "How-To" section of the Library displays the rules of a kind world. It says not to judge someone because of how they look, to help others, and never leave anyone out of anything on purpose. The "Graphic Stories" section is an easier, more fun part of the library for kids who prefer plenty of pictures, nothing too complicated, and plenty of colors in what they read. The fable section of the library teaches people lessons, or morals, and widens their thinking and helps them to see new solutions to day-to-day problems with their friends, family, and people they run into on the street. The Team-Writing section helps kids interact with others their age through their stories, and develop creativity by continuing other kid's work. Through all the make-believe stories and drawings, the people in the project express how they think the world should be. One third of the Cafeteria is like the "How-To" section of the library with a food twist. The other two thirds are as important as the Library. They tell about food donations or food-related donations that have helped hungry families. Though not as big as the Library, the Cafeteria is one of the main wings of the website. We have learned a lot while working on this project, creating animations and pictures. It has opened my eyes to a better world- a world where we could all live in kindness and peace. By Gaya student from Ein Ganim Israel

Quali opportunità/problemi affronta:

It addresses the opportunities of encouraging children to work together with technology skills, it encourages creativity for everyone in the project, it encourages a dialogue of a sharing of ideas. It also has improved English skills and has opened a door to new friendships and an exchanging of knowledge with kids and educators from different areas of our world.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

The creativity and the unique work which the children implemented in creating this project. It includes beautiful animations made by the kids, graphic stories, movies, ipods and pictures. They have all come together and found this experience more than rewarding.

10. Risultati

Describe the results of your project as per today:

The School of Kindness was the grand prize winner of the Global Virtual Classroom this year in the elementary school category. According to the judges: The Welcome section provided an excellent over all description of the site. It helped me understand what to expect and where to find things. I appreciated how lessons were taught in different ways to accommodate how different people learn (i.e., Graphic Stories). The credit section was straight forward, informative, and made it easy to determine the level of cooperation. I liked the graphics and I loved the topic. The content had great depth. “Entertaining opening flash; most content; most multi-media; best website”

In che misura risponde ai bisogni degli utenti:

Since the site was entirely created by children it is rewarding and satisfying for them to contribute and take part with other kids. Some of the feedback by the kids- I think that the project has really important meaning, the meaning is that people from all around the world can work together and have fun. Ein Ganim ello. My name is Heidi and I want to talk to you about Podcasts in the Students and Staff section. Podcasts are a way that we can share the message of Kindness with other students, teachers, and students around the world. The Podcasts are a way to communicate the Kindness message through real life, like video taping. When we do Podcasts, we get to communicate real life experiences, and get thoughts on Kindness through a website, to show that Kindness through Podcasts is another way to show how Kindness has affected lives. And straight from the persons mouth, instead of typing it out on paper. Words through the mouth are better said then done on paper. Sometimes you can just pour your thoughts on video tape and show Kindness through words coming straight from your heart about things that you think of other people’s points or your own. It really helps me see that we can show Kindness through creative ways, and still get the message through. My favorite Podcast was the one when Lincoln Elementary shared the news about the package that arrived from Israel. Harrison Elementary My favorite part of GVC was making new friends from around the world and having fun together. Lincoln Elementary

11. Sostenibilità

Indicate la durata complessiva del progetto:

Da 3 a 6 anni

Is your project economically self sufficient now:

Insert date:

08/01/2008

12. Trasferibilità

Il progetto è stato replicato/adattato altrove:

Che cosa possono imparare altri soggetti dal vostro progetto:

Educators can find technology a tremendous way to motivate their students and improve their skills but the biggest benefit is seeing the motivation and determination the kids are willing to put into work like this.Sharing with an audience of peers from around the world is beneficial in more ways that can be written. This also improves creativity skills and has encouraged children to contribute to society and this helping focus has made an impact on their behavior.

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti:

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti.

13. Informazioni aggiuntive

Background:

The Global Virtual Classsroom give something back international has encouraged educators and children from around the world to work together globallly through the power of the Internet. It is an excellent program and has grown from year to year. The most important element is the learning process and everyone in the project from the three schools felt they all learned so much in so many beneficial areas.

Future plans and wish list:

I have sent the School of Kindness to all of our partners in Globaldreamers and the feedback we received has been phenomenal and children have been implementing the project and been inspired by us. I could only wish to work with educators like Rick Glass and Matthew Kuntz. They have shared their knowledge and their friendship with me and my students and for that I am eternally grateful.

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