Intercultural understanding is a key strand of the
KS2 Framework, and a great way of building ICU is by making
links. Whether you are making links at a local, national or
international level, ICT enables immediacy and sustainability.
And it’s not just ICU that benefits from making
links with ICT - language skills are improved too. Pupils are
given a real purpose for learning another language when they are
linked to children that speak that language.
Email enables pupils to send messages to pupils and
classes elsewhere and receive a rapid response; video conferencing
allows classes to see one another without having to travel; virtual
tours and language performances are made possible with digital
video; presentation tools allow teachers and pupils to share
resources virtually.
Questions
-What is the value of online communication over
more 'traditional' links?
-With whom might you make
links?
-Would links be long term, or more short
term but with partners changing often?
Activity
In a collaborative project on traditions,
each partner might create an animation telling a traditional tale
from their country, in their own language. These could be exchanged
for comment and interest, with pupils responding with a
presentation of their thoughts. Perhaps the stories could be
re-dubbed in another language.