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March 2006 saw another first for International Networking for Educational Transformation (iNet). iNet hosted its first student online conference, bringing students from around the world together so they could have their say about education in the 21st century. There were 27,000 student visits to the websiteduring the conference, proof enough of the need to engage students meaningfully in a dialogue about learning in the future. The conference has been archived for 12 months at: http://www.ssat-inet.net. Uniquely, this conference was followed by an adult review week in which educators could discuss the issues students had raised in the previous week and reflect upon the importance of student voice in the transformation of learning.
The event provided students with the opportunity to have their voices heard. It demonstrated how new technology can break down barriers and encourage conversation and learning with people from other countries. In participating, students learned new skills, such as engaging responsibly in a virtual world, as well as being global citizens.
Global citizenship is a theme that iNet is seeking to develop further. In order to help schools meet the new challenges brought about by globalisation and ICT, iNet is developing a concept called the iNet Global Village. This programme includes a series of activities and events aimed at preparing today’s school children to become competent and productive citizens in a world that is increasingly global and virtual. To live in this world, citizens need to be able to competently negotiate cultural differences and manage multiple identities, as well as comfortably interact with people from different cultures, face-to-face and through virtual means. Such ability can only be developed through guided immersive and intensive cross-cultural experiences, in both digital and physical ways.
The iNet Global Village is a bold design of an education environment that consists of opportunities for students to interact with others from different cultures, and challenge their own limited physical and local experiences and beliefs. Through this programme, it is hoped that they will acquire the skills and knowledge to participate in the global discourse and learn to differentiate fantasy from reality, hearsay from truth, and propaganda from information.
The iNet Global Village capitalises on the unique strength rooted in iNet’s close relationships with schools around the world, and their commitment to collaborating and sharing innovation. It builds on the many national and international activities and events of iNet, such as online conferences for educators and students, student voice, system leadership and personalising learning. An exciting agenda to look forward to!
Mr Tony Bloxham Head of iNet