The Global Schoolhouse Project

The GSH (Global Schoolhouse) Project connects classrooms around the world to demonstrate the use of the Internet and Mosaic in the K-through-12 school environment. The project is developing collaboration technologies, interfaces, and advanced information-retrieval tools.

The main objectives of the GSH include the following:

-- Demonstrate how people and information resources on the Internet can be used as a classroom tool for research and as a medium for interactive, collaborative learning with Mosaic.

-- Teach students how to become active learners and information managers.

-- Develop an ongoing, on-line system of training and support for teachers so that they can use Internet technology an d tools effectively in their classrooms.

-- Demonstrate the most current technologies in a classroom setting.

-- Encourage business, government, school, higher-education, and community partnerships for ongoing collaboration concerning the integration of technology into the classroom.

The GSH Project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, with support from AT&T, Cisco, Cornell University, Farallon, SuperMac, U.S. Sprint, the University of Illinois, Zenith Electronics, and other organizations. Curriculum and classroom activities coordination is provided by the Global SchoolNet Foundation (Oceanside, CA).

The GSH Project involves live videoconferencing among the students and teachers using Cornell University's CU-SeeMe software and telephone audio. The project has recently incorporated audio that is transported over the Internet using Mosaic and Ma-ven software, which was developed at the University of Illinois.

Current GSH Project schools in the U.S. are located in Calif ornia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Participants outside the U.S. are located in Australia, Canada, England, France, Finland, Germany, and New Zealand. Japan, Norway, the Philippines, and several other countries are planning to participate in the future.

In conjunction with the activities in their classrooms, students conduct at least one live videoconference with a government official in their area of study to discuss the results of their research and hold a question-and-answer session. The advantages of such an activity include demonstrating the accessibility of the government to the public via the Internet and promoting early involvement in the processes of government by students.