Journal Article 8
Learning Connections
Developing Global Citizens:
The Global Run Project

By: Jody H. Kennedy
And Jan Zanetis

After September 11, the teachers at Eastview Middle School decided that teaching culture awareness and tolerance was needed. By using Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC) the students were exposed to people and cultures from around the world. The teachers arranged collaborative projects, music presentations and many other unique experiences for their students.
Thru the IVC students are exposed to unique experiences that enhanced their learning and brought world issues into their comfort zone. Such as hearing the personal life story of an AIDS orphan in Africa, or hearing from survivors of the 2004 tsunami, child soldiers from Sudan. Having the students see these people and hear their stories taught them more about the world than any school text ever could.
Not only did the students learn about the world and different cultures, they became compassionate toward the people they “met”. This lead to wanting to take action, and make the world a better place. Wanting to develop a project that would have long term goals and a universal theme, the Global Run project was developed and launched. The goal of Global Run is to develop global service learning projects that raise funds to affect positive changes in the world.
Global Run partnered with schools in other countries to raise awareness and money to help those in need. The walk-a-thon was the chosen avenue for fund-raising. All schools agreed to be done by July.
Many of the schools used the information from the students walking to develop lessons in math, and science. Working together with the other schools had many benefits for the students, not only did they learn how to video conference, students studying foreign languages were able to talk to students from those countries and learn about their cultures. Many students and teachers developed friendships that will last for years.
The students not only learned about other countries, they were also able to see the world and what it needed and help meet those needs.

What long term effects will this project have on the students?
The students that were interviewed after the classes talked about having a wider view of the world. They felt more compassionate toward other cultures and people in need. Many said they enjoyed helping others so much they planned on continuing in the future.

How did the program effect teachers?
After working with teachers from other countries they became more than joint educators, they became friends. Many of the teachers traveled to other countries to learn more about the countries but also to meet the teachers in person. It was a very positive experience.