In 1995 students and teachers from over 35 schools attended the first PLANET I*EARN STUDENT FORUM held at the University of Melbourne on December 15th.
At the forum, students presented their findings resulting from the work they had completed over the course of the year in collaborative theme based projects which aim to make a meaningful difference to the health and welfare of the planet and its peoples. Student work was concentrated on four main areas which included: Water Quality Monitoring, Student Writing, studies of Air and the Atmosphere and Human Genocide. Students utilised the vast resources of the Internet incorporating the I*EARN Network and its methodology to work on joint projects, all with the purpose of making a meaningful difference to the health and welfare of the planet and its peoples.
The Student Charter from 1995 states...
- The PLANET I*EARN Student Forum will continue to be an opportunity for students to communicate their experiences, findings and concerns to their peers and especially to those individuals who hold positions of responsibility in our communities.
- The Forum will provide a focus for students to highlight and discuss meaningful projects which aim to make a real difference.
- The Forum will provide an opportunity for students to formulate the next years Student Charter.
A Parents Perspective of the Forum
Last Friday I felt proud and indeed privileged to share in what was a unique educational experience for five of our Blackburn Lake Primary School students.
We attended a State of the Planet Forum at Melbourne University. The conference was held in the magnificent "state of the art" Copland Theatre which houses brilliant computerised audio and video facilities.
Over 250 students and teachers as well as DSE representatives from organisations such as Water Watch Victoria and Greening Australia participated in the conference. It was the task of our students to present the results of the work they had been doing through the year on the health and welfare of our planet.
The children had worked together via the Internet, gathering and comparing information of various issues. The results then had to be presented to the audience by way of oral presentation, slides and folio work.
Our grade five children, working together with Mulluana Secondary College, have been involved in the I*EARN Aqua Project. They have been studying the water quality of the Blackburn Lake and comparing their environment with other involved schools. Our four grade five students delivered their results to the Forum with the confidence and exposure that one would perhaps expect from much older children. I am sure this was the first time any of them had addressed such a large crowd in what was rather a formal atmosphere. Emma Boem charmed the audience as she spoke about the letters she had written to Yitzhak Rabin's widow.
The conference was a great experience for the children, a tremedous confidence booster. Not only did the children gain a lot from the Conference, I know I certainly did. I now have a better understanding of the term "Global Classroom," and I can appreciate how the Internet will add a new and worthwhile dimension to our children's education. I am now more aware of the astounding pace at which technology is developing in relation to learning. I have no doubt that the children will keep up- but what about the parents?
Student Reading
This poem was developed and composed on the Internet on the iearn.youth conference by students of Grovedale West PS, Essex Heights PS, Blackburn Lake PS and Wodonga PS, and then presented together by them at the PLANET I*EARN Student Forum.
Planet of Problems
The nuclear bombs are killing our oceans
They're using very poisonous potions
The beautiful creatures great and small
Are finding it hard to avoid them all
Our wonderful sunlight, energy, heat and power
At its best or at its worst, every hour
Burning gases all the time
Even to the midnight chime
The hole in the ozone layer is larger than me
So the pollution better stop, as quick as can be
We have a chance to protect ourselves
By getting sunscreen on our shelves
The UV rays are coming through fast
So help mend the damage and rectify the past
Rainforests are disappearing I have a right to be fearing
The trees and the forests are being cut down
The animals will all get scared of the sound
The rubbish in the creeks is building up fast
It's a thoughtless act that will always last
BUT, if we all could do a little bit of recycling
Our trees and forests will be rejoicing
The world can't cope but we can still have hope....
If we recycle and use a bicycle
If you plant a tree and protect an endangered bee
We shall be able to live a long time
As long as we can stop this ecological crime
Our life we could enjoy
Every girl and every boy
The Greenhouse problem has to be addressed
Or planet Earth's temperature will be at its best
We need to be more cautious about the things we use
Or planet Earth, we will lose