During October and November of 2015, elementary students in Australia and Taiwan came to learn how development impacts the school/community. For 6 weeks, the digital exchange focusing on the impact of development on the local community members. Students in Taiwan focused on how urban development nearby their school is affecting the inhabitants of the forest,and its impact on the school. Students in Australia focused on how development has played a role in the disappearance of their school logo: the koala.
Focus: Impact of development in our local/ school community
| Week | Poowong Critical Question (What tasks will the students be completing?) |
Taiwan Critical Question
(What tasks will the students be completing?) |
Technology Platform |
| Week 1 | Who are we?
Where do we live? |
Who are we?
Where do we live? |
Edmodo / Kidblog
Adobe Connect Video Conferencing |
| Week 2 | What is the issue?
Why do we have the Koala as our school logo? |
What is the issue?
Clearing trees on the mountain |
Edmodo / Kidblog
Adobe Connect Video Conferencing |
| Week 3 | What was the cause?
Why are there no Koala’s visible in our school/town? |
What was the cause?
Impact of development on the mountain |
Edmodo / Kidblog?
Adobe Connect Video Conferencing? |
| Week 4 | What is the human impact?
How has farming impacted on the koala? |
What is the human impact? | Edmodo / Kidblog?
Adobe Connect Video Conferencing? |
| Week 5 | What can we do?
Who is our audience? |
What can we do?
Who is our audience? |
Edmodo / Kidblog?
Adobe Connect Video Conferencing |
| Week 6 | What did we find out?
What did we do? |
What did we find out?
What did we do? |
Edmodo / Kidblog?
Adobe Connect Video Conferencing Storybird? |
Students from both countries formed critical and investigative questions each week with the guidance of their teachers and posed them in their weekly video meetings each Friday.
Questions from Students in Taiwan to Australia:
1. If your school mascot is the koala, why are there no koalas near you? Is it that you think it would be obvious that we would know that you would have koalas since it’s your mascot, or are there not any koalas near by?
2. We noticed that you said the number of koalas has dropped 95% and we were wondering why the number has dropped so much? Are the koalas being hunted?
3. Why are the Mountain Pygmy Opossums endangered?
4. We noticed that one reason the koalas are endangered is because trees are being cut down. Why are the trees being cut down? What are they being used for? Are new trees being planted to replace the ones being cut down?
5. How do the dogs get to the koalas if they’re in the tree? Why do the dogs attack the koalas?
6. How do the trees catch on fire? What is causing the fires? Are the fires natural or caused by people?
Questions from Students in Australia to Taiwan:
Through the comparison and contrast of how local cultures impact their environment, students were able to uncover similar pollutants that impact a variety of different inhabitants.
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At the end of the exchange, students formed a campaign which they shared with each other and presented them to their school and community members. According to the participants, this new insight both locally and globally, has made an impact in their school and community. They have decided to continue on with the campaign after the exchange to reduce trash and waste in their local and the global community.
View the students Power Point Presentations on how their power sources produce an impact on their communities and the world.
