Netd@ys is an annual celebration of the use of new media (Internet, multimedia, videoconference or new audio-visual facilities) in the areas of education and culture. It encourages linking and partnerships between educational and cultural organisations and companies in both the public and private sectors. Andreea Silter from Romania reports on two Web-based classroom projects of her school that were showcased by the Netd@ys initiative.
In 2004 Netd@ys 2004 took place from the 22nd to 27th November and was a great opportunity for schools, colleges, universities, youth groups and other organisations to showcase their work in the field of ICT. Thanks to its generous and interesting theme "Dialogue between Cultures and Image" (with a special emphasis on the accession to the European Union of ten new countries) the Netd@ys 2004 initiative brought together people of all backgrounds and origins providing them with opportunities to create projects based on cultural heritage and traditions.
The Department of English from our school and all our pupils who study English as a foreign language organised and participated in special activities by and during the Netd@ys 2004 week, 22 to 27 November 2004. Here are some of them.
Using the online application form for the Netd@ys 2004 Label, we registered two of our web-based collaborative projects "Discover Bucharest" and "Knowing Me Is Knowing You" (or KMIKY) and were very glad to hear that our application was successful and our projects were awarded the Netd@ys 2004 Label as they had met the Netd@ys selection criteria.
Moreover, our Web-based collaborative projects were included on the Netd@ys website, too. Click here to visit the Netd@ys project database and see more than 625 projects that received the Netd@ys 2004 Label, a brand name for quality.
We also created a PowerPoint presentation about not-to-be-missed places in Bucharest and Athens together with our Greek friends from Intered Kallitheas Computer School, Athens, Greece.
Apart from the above-mentioned activities we also organised a contest of drawings "The Best European Painter" and a quiz " Are you a well-informed global citizen?".
I was really surprised to see how much of their own time our pupils devoted to participating in the Netd@ys 2004 activities as they found Netd@ys a rich and rewarding experience! Thanks to the Netd@ys 2004 initiative we all learned together by sharing and discovered many interesting facts about our national culture as well as the one of other countries worldwide.
Learning about cultural diversity via the Internet as part of the Netd@ys 2004 initiative provided our pupils with skills for more effective communication in intercultural situations. All in all, the Netd@ys 2004 initiative encouraged and motivated our pupils and their teachers not only to learn about each other using the opportunities offered by the new technologies, but also to develop their sense of awareness of being part of a dynamic, global community.
