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Japanese “Web” Pals!

March 2004 - Recently Grade 6 students at Staten Island Academy met new "classmates" from the Togitsu Higashi Elementary School in Japan during a series of innovative web based videoconferences as part of The International Communication Project.

The Staten Island students teamed up with students at the Togitsu Higashi Elementary School, which is located in Togitsu town near Nagasaki City.

Under the direction of teachers Eileen Corigliano and Jamie Savino, the Academy students used Leonardo's Multimedia Toolbox(r), an educational software product developed by NEC, to videoconference with their Japanese web pals. Using web-based information technology, the students discussed various informal topics designed to encourage an understanding of the cultural differences between Japan and the US.

Academy and Togitsu Higashi students discussed many topics ranging from school and favorite pastimes to select topics on cultural differences including popular extracurricular activities, television and movies, pets, and food. The students prepared for the videoconference by researching Japanese and American geography and culture.

According to Ms. Corigliano, the project "gives our students a glimpse into the daily lives of their counterparts in Japan while giving them hands-on experience working with communications technology." She went on to say that the project also enhanced students' information management and research skills.

Staten Island Academy was selected to participate in The International Communication Project by the NEC Corporation, a Japanese company with a significant global presence in all areas of information technology. The school has participated in the project for several years.

To learn more about how technology is seamlessly integrated into life at the Academy, click here….