- 
- 
-
-
GEMS is Launched in first six countries!
During February and March 2001, a number of Internet Learning Centers (ILCs) were installed in the kilo GEMS countries. Teachers and students have been trained and GEMS schools' web sites are now underway. Most importantly, students are already actively involved in collaborative project work with their peers around the world--only one month after the installation of the ILCs!
As Elena Dolotova writes from School #1200 in Moscow, Russia:
| When I began my work in I*EARN, I couldn't ever imagine that 6 years later we could receive a special Internet-center for our contribution in the development of this international network. It gave us an opportunity to communicate through net better and more effectively and to avoid some difficulties in doing it as well. It was not so easy for us to be active participants of I*EARN in 1996 because of the lack of outfit but the younger generation, thanks to new Internet center, will be able to impress the world with their creative works and ideas. |
The GEMS Program was created on the idea that schools which have been actively involved in collaborative project work on the Internet despite lacking more than minimal equipment and antiquated connectivity, will be able to dramatically increase the number of students engaged in Project-Based Learning if Internet Learning Centers, effective connectivity and teacher training could be provided.
The GEMS Program is already having a dramatic impact.
Although only working with an initial six schools in each country, after only 1-2 months the number of students engaged in project work in the entire country has increased by an average of 200%. GEMS is having an exponential impact:
| Country | # of teachers trained | # of more students now able to access Internet | % Increase in the number of students working on projects | % Increase in the number of messages sent daily |
| India | 350 | 2,000 | 1200% | 1200% |
| China | 700 | 12,000 | 167% | 850% |
| Spain | 200 | 1,400 | 200% | 500% |
| Macedonia | 80 | 1,000 | 200% | 600% |
| Argentina | 87 | 2400 | 1000% | 1,300% |
| Russia | 210 | 4,000 | 150% | 1,100% |
| South Africa | Starting July 2001 |
Some key highlights from the first GEMS experiences around the world:
India
GEMS sites in India are all in poor, marginalized communities, often lacking technological infrastructure. In addition to training teachers at the new ILCs, the GEMS Coordinator and Team in India have leveraged the Schools Online resources to obtain equipment and funds for staffing for 50 additional schools, working through the Indian community in the United States, Parent-Teacher Associations and with local businesses. In some rural communities, solar cell technologies are required for GEMS ILCs to insure electrical supply. A Report (in PDF format) on the installation of these units is available. This is despite the devastating earthquake that hit Gujarat, one of the GEMS communities, GEMS Coordinator Peter Patrao writes:
| The earthquake in Gujarat has caused the focus of our support center there to change. After initial relief work, it meant going into the field to quickly (and accurately) assess the needs through survey teams. A control room was set up in the only thatched structure that was not flattened, computers transported |
- 
- .-
Carpenters
working on the GEMS ILC at Bhojwani School in Pune
GEMS students in India are working on following projects:
At the iEARN-GEMS Bhose village school and the support center at Redstone, Panchgani students are actively participating in the iEARN project "Medicine in our backyard." Click here for a look an in-depth look at their pictures, reseach, stories and contributions to the project.
Recently the Governor of Maharashtra visited the Bhose Village School GEMS Lab where youth and community members illustrated how computers and collborative projects were making a difference in their lives.
China
The ILC's at the six GEMS schools have all be installed. Teachers are now trained and students are working on collaborative projects. The GEMS Program received significant press coverage in China when the ILCs were opened. An official ceremony was held at each school. In attendance at GEMS schools in Sichuan Province, were representatives of CPAFFC (China Peoples' Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries) who stated their commitment to raise additional funds to send college students to GEMS schools to help with skills development. This was made possible by an exchange program that iEARN is implementing for the U.S. Department of State. Information on this project acknowledges the role of Schools Online.
For example, at the Shude School in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Principal Mr. Zuo was formally presented with a GEMS Plaque when the ILC became operational. Students and teachers were all smiles.
- 
At least one school will produce a CD Rom in May 2001 on the projects in which they are working to share with other GEMS schools in China. GEMS students in China are working on the following Projects:
The GEMS China website has pictures of each schools ILC and photos of students and teachers enthusiastically documenting their project work.
Spain
ILCs have been installed in all schools (the last one in early March). School community members have decided on the names for the ILCs. At CEIP Collbaix in Bages community members placed a voting box at the school entrance where students, parents, classroom groups, teachers and other staff could vote for the name of the ILC. At CEIP El Castellot the students decided to name the ILC after a teacher who is retiring this year and so it will be named "Aula Oberta GEMS Fernando Garcia" .
GEMS schools in Spain are in low-income communities in which technology is not available. Teachers at each school have undergone 25 hours of training. In addition, over 30 parents and 20 other members of the communities have been trained.
|
Marisa Barco, a parent attending a computer workshop at the recently named ILC 'Connect @' held at the center CEIP La Renaixenca said, " I am a student of almost 40 years old, and I have not missed even a class day. Before having the ILC, I had no idea of what the internet was. From the first day I have learnt and understood very very interesting things. I hope that people like me can go on learning and enjoying the opportunities that this computer classroom give us a lot." |
Below, computers are being installed in the Drassanes School in Barcelona.
- 
GEMS student project work in Spain has focused on the following projects:
What difference is the ILC making?
Annex, the school guardian who attended the training course with parents said, "It is a such a big difference between the first course I made at the school and this one! At the moment we can all enjoy one computer for each and profit from all the time we are at the ILC. We are learning much more and at a higher speed!"
|
A 6th year student at a GEMS school expressed: " From a couple of months we have new computers because we have entered a project called GEMS. This project gives us more possibilities to work and get connected to other schools in Catalonia and other countries. Meriame, also in the 6th year said, "I think it is important to learn how to use computers in order to work when I become older" |
GEMS School webpages (coming soon in English)
Macedonia
Schools in Macedonia are working under constant threat of violence and warfare. Nonetheless, ILCs have been installed and operational since January 2001. GEMS training sessions were held in February and teachers are enthusiastic about the student projects currently underway.
After installation of the ILCs, school administrators made the following observations:
| There has been a notable rise in the students' self-esteem when they saw that the work they've been doing for years is acknowledged both inside and outside the country. This helps them to reaffirm their identity and look inside their school and community. This is especially important at this school, which has a population of students with many social and economic problems. |
| Parents are getting acquainted with the GEMS Programme goals and are getting very supportive to the whole idea. We expect that they will be very helpful and will contribute to its development and promotion. |
|
We've noticed the willingness of teachers at GEMS schools to participate and teachers and local "partner" schools are keen to being part of future activities as the Programme expands. |
A GEMS ILC in Macedonia:
 |
iEARN projects running in the GEMS Macedonian schools include:
GEMS School webpages
Public Electro Mechanical School "Gorgi Naumov" Bitola, Macedonia
Argentina
Using its regional management structure, iEARN-Argentina (Telar) is creating GEMS ILCs throughout different rural provinces in their country. The GEMS initiative has received so much visibility and acceptance by teachers and the Ministry of Education, that iEARN-Argentina was awarded a contract by the Ministry to train 1,000 teachers in an additional Province (Jujuy) at a seventh GEMS ILC. The new school year started in March 2001 and teachers have been trained in Neuquen and Chaco. Because the GEMS Program is recognized by the education authorities, teachers have been awarded time away from their classrooms and additional credit for the training. Spanish-language training materials (100 page handbook) have been developed for the GEMS Program and are now available for use throughout Central and South America. Information on GEMS in Spanish is available. Some quotes from newly-trained teachers and administrators:
|
... it's a very hot day today (about 50ºC) but our willingness to learn makes us overcome all obstacles. ... we are very excited about having all this equipment at the GEMS Center, the workshop is very interesting, we're not only learning but having fun too. .. hello dear friends! we are trying to respond to your messages, it's so nice to open our mailboxes and find your messages! It feels very nice to see that this works, and every time better and better. |
|
Students come during the breaks and ask when they will be able to use the ILC. Also, the school staff ask if their family and friends will have access to the center. The fact is that we are still organizing the Center, learning how to use the network and the equipment. We will be opening up to others gradually, for the time being we are focusing on the development of collaborative projects. We are planning to have an official inauguration with the presence of the Ministries of Education. GEMS has mobilized governmental institutions as well as private companies who have committed to support the program. |
Projects currently underway by Argentinean students:
As of April 2001 trainings have been held at each of the six schools. GEMS Argentina website has information on Phase 1 of GEMS in Argentina. Below are links on training activities in schools and pictures of the opening ceremony:
GEMS School IPEM Nº 84 "Jorge Vocos Lescano" ,Tanti - Cordoba
GEMS School No-016 "Ing. Marcelo ARBOIT Belgrano 261, Junín-Mendoza with pictures from the opening ceremony
Spanish link to GEMS Centro Educativo Nivel Secundario No1, Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz
Russia
GEMS ILCs are being installed the week of March 12, 2001. However, Russian students and teachers in GEMS schools started their training and project work even before the ILCs were installed. 80-pages of Teacher Training Materials have been produced in Russian, which are available for use in other Russian-speaking communities. As a result of the training and school enthusiasm, each school has created WWW pages for its GEMS program, in which they introduce their schools, the GEMS Team and the projects in which they are working. These WWW pages, which, although they are still "works in progress," are amazing accomplishments for so little time since installation of the ILCs:
 |
Russian students are working on the following on-line global projects:
In April 2001, iEARN-Russia held her national meeting in Moscow. Thirty-five schools, 250 students, attended from nine different cities/towns in Russia, Armenia and Belarus. Students and teachers gathered to attend workshops and find out more about the GEMS Program. Here's a snapshot of a festive part of the event:
Visit the GEMS Russia webpage at http://openedu.h1.ru/gems