This is our Time

THIS IS OUR TIME 2002

ACTIVITY BOOKLET

1. General information Time

2. Classroom twinning

3. Videoconference

4. Game "Unite the Nations"

5. Local activities

6. Contest "Design a clock"

7. Lesson on Time

8. Lesson on UN/UNESCO: world heritage in young hands

9. Time Quest

10. Time Line

11. Time gallery: world heritage

12. Library

13. For further information

GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction

"This is our time" is an annual global communications project for secondary schools, initiated for the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet). Organised since 1995, the Time Project celebrates its sixth anniversary on 8 November 2002.

Time seeks effective and innovative ways to enable young people from many different cultures and countries to communicate “face to face” on current issues such as tolerance, rights of the child, peace, sustainable development and related topics of global concern.

The concept of 'time' is the leading thread running through all activities. It relates to many fields, such as science, sports, computing, arts and humanities, business, medicine and religion. Within the framework of "This is our Time", Time has a twofold meaning:

1. This is our Time: the scientific phenomenon 'time' is universal and endless

2. This is our Time: personal perception of young people: annual Time-theme

The Time activities relate to either one or both meanings. The Time education kit offers long term and short term, online and offline, global and local activities. A description of the individual activities shows the learning objective, participation, practical information, technical requirements and time line.

Some activities Time offers are the online discussion-forum "Classroom twinning", interactive learning in "Unite the Nations", digital travel in "Time Line", creative thinking in "Design a clock", challenging quiz in "Time Quest" and face to face "Videoconferences".

Learning objective

The Time Project strives to offer students to:

· Learn about and practise the concept of “intercultural learning”;

· Develop the notion on time and contemporary issues such as human rights, peace, tolerance, solidarity and sustainable development;

· Expand the knowledge on the UN system and UNESCO;

· Share ideas and proposals on their role in contributing to a better world;

· Work together in a fun, innovative way;

· Communicate and co-operate with each other on current world issues by creating a global platform;

· Promote international solidarity by facilitating the participation of schools with few resources in the project.

At the dawn of a new century and millennium, this, indeed, is ‘our time’ for young people to stand up for their beliefs. By engaging in intercultural dialogue, debating on critical world issues and building partnerships through the Time Project, young people can improve not only their skills in critical thinking, communication and foreign languages but can also gain a heightened awareness of global interdependence.

Participation

The project is meant to be international - we would like to involve schools, community groups and organisations within all time zones and both hemispheres.

During its six-year history more than 750 schools, organisations, youth groups and communities from 80 countries have participated in Time.

The average age of the students is 12 -19.

Time Headquarters at e-linQ, the Netherlands, as well as the regional home bases, communicate with participating schools and organisations and develop activities.

Practical information

Step 1: Sign up

Participants sign up for the Time Project and receive the activity booklet.

Step 2: Prepare

Participants create their own set of activities and start preparing the activities.

Step 3: Participate

All Time activities come together on one annual project day. On 8 November 2002, the project day takes off at 00:00 UTC (Universal Time Code). At that time, or any other time during the next 24 hours, participants log into the Time website and are online. While carrying out Time activities the participants chat, discuss, interact, learn and teach.

Step 4: Evaluate

Participants receive an evaluation-sheet and write a short report on their Time Project.

Step 5: Final report 2002 and certificates

Time headquarters and UNESCO ASPnet send certificates of participation to all Time 2002 schools, community groups and organisations. The final report will be made available through the Time website www.timeproject.org

Technical information

“This is our Time” works with modern media such as the WWW Internet, electronic mail, videoconferencing, streaming video and fax. However, we would like to include schools and organisations from as many different countries as possible, both high-tech and low-tech. Therefore, many activities are available through snail mail as well.

Also, Time Headquarters invites schools to contact HQ about possible local networks that might enable schools to communicate through modern media. Some of our international partners might be able to link you to local NGO’s.

Time 2002

In 2002 the Time Project is scheduled on 8 November. 2002 is proclaimed "The International Year for Cultural Heritage”(UN/UNESCO). The Time theme for 2002 is "Respecting diversity".

Time line

July 2002 First call for participation

Start of subscription

July - August Development of Time materials

Development of Virtual Market Place

September 2002 Second call for participation

October 2002 Materials sent to participants

Participants start preparations

October 2002 Start classroom twinning

Early November 2002 Try out videoconferences

8 November 2002 Time Project Day

November - December 2002 Evaluation

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

CLASSROOM TWINNING

Introduction

The introduction of electronic mail and Internet has offered innovative ways to bring people from all corners of the world closer together. Time strives to create a digital discussion platform 'Classroom twinning', where young citizens of the world get together.

The classroom twinning goes beyond the "meet and greet" stage. While co-operating with their multicultural and multilingual partners, students become aware of current world issues. Furthermore, the dialogue between the students challenges them to develop their own view while understanding other perspectives and to look for possible solutions.

Classroom twinning is a global, long and short term, online and offline activity.

Learning objective
Through active co-operation and communication between multiple schools, the classroom twinning strives to raise appreciation of and curiosity for other people and cultures.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 - 19).

Practical information

The classroom twinning is an activity you can start at almost any day you want. It can either be short term or long term, depending on what you prefer. Here is the idea:

1. Schools send in a twinning-request to Time Headquarters at e-linQ.

2. All requests are put together by choice of topic. Twinning groups are created, representing a variety of countries, continents and time zones.

The twinning topics are to be decided (release: September 2002)

3. Every twinning group receives names and addresses of the partner-schools.

4. Students start introducing themselves. Name, hobbies, their school, their country etc.

5. Twinned schools start co-operating on their chosen topic.

6. Time HQ will offer some guide lines for co-operation, such as materials and questions on "International Year for World Heritage".

7. Every twinning group works on the questions and prepares a short statement.

8. Enter your statements on the online Time discussion forum “Classroom twinning”.

9. Statements are the base for twinning groups to start a discussion, exchange information and chat: the digital discussion platform.

Note: always SEND A COPY OF ALL MESSAGES to Time Head Quarters. We will be writing the final report and would like to include as much information as possible.

Technical information

This activity is open to all kinds of technology. Snail mail, e-mail, faxes the WWW Internet, videoconferences.

Time line

October 2002 Schools choose twinning topic

HQ creates twinning groups

Late October/ Early November Groups start introduction
Work on questions/ statement

8 November Digital platform Time website

Late November/early December Send short report to Time HQ

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

VIDEOCONFERENCE

Introduction

Books, the Internet and television teach and show us a lot about other countries and its peoples. But it is in meeting and interacting with the 'natives' a culture comes to live. Video conferencing offers students the unique opportunity to meet their partners 'face to face' through a live video-link between two or multiple schools. During the conference students not only get to know each other, they also discuss current world issues and their own experiences with and thoughts about these issues.

Videoconference is a global, short term and online activity.

Learning objective

- To stimulate critical thinking and commitment to the global community of the students by offering them a forum for discussion on items of global interest;

- To improve speaking skills: presentation and discussion in English.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

Practical information

I. Preparations for the video conference

- Participating schools create a team of students, headed by a teacher;

- Each team prepares their presentation on tolerance.

- Some questions you could work with: What is tolerance to me? Is there violence at school? Have I ever been discriminated or discriminate someone else because of nationality, language, colour of skin or religion?

- The teams prepare their chosen item by interviewing people in their local community, do research about the item, discuss, set up questions.

- The team gives a presentation to their peers at school: a short play or plea ( 3 minutes)

- The team receives feedback from classmates and the teacher and, if necessary, adapts their presentation to this feedback

II. The actual videoconference

- Technicians make the connection between two (or more) schools

- Welcome: a short introduction of both teams (5 minutes)

- Presentations by participants (total of 10 minutes)

- Questions and discussion on “What is tolerance to me?” (10 - 15 minutes)

- Conclusion (3 - 5 minutes)

- Closure

Technical information

- Software: Microsoft NetMeeting, Pro Share, Picture Tell, CUSeeMe or similar program

- ISDN lines or other telecommunicationlines

- Computer or camera-setting

- VCR

- Beamer or TV

- Camera

Timeline 2002
September - October 2002 Research and set up

Early November Try out sessions video conferences

8 November 2002 Multiple live video links between schools

December 2002 Reports to headquarters

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

Remarks

- Time Headquarters will sent you a list of names and electronic addresses of participating schools;

- Each participant is responsible to create its own videoconferencing schedule for 8 November, in co-operation with other participants. Time HQ will gladly support participants, if needed;

- Set up a try out session before the actual videoconference, to test your equipment and telecommunicationlines;

- Each team should have 1 spokesperson, either a teacher or a student;

- A technician should be in charge of the technical details of the videoconference;

- Speak slowly and clearly: English is not everyone's native language!

- The videoconference will last about 30 - 45 minutes;

- Write a short report on the videoconference and your impression;

- Send report to Time Headquarters;

- Time HQ will collect all reports and put a sample in the final report for Time 2002

Return-sheet schools

In order to prepare for the videoconference, we need to know from you:

· Where are you having the videoconference?

0 at school

0 other organisation

· Which software will you be using to set up the video link?

0 Microsoft NetMeeting

0 Pro Share

0 Picture Tell

0 CUSeeMe

0 Other: ....................

· Do you have the technical means to set up a multiple link

(=A link with several schools at the same time)?

0 Yes

0 No

· ISDN-number/other telecommunication-lines ……………………………

· Telephone-number of technical contact person at school ……………………………

· How many sessions would you like to set up?

0 1

0 2

0 more, ……

· Are you interested in participating in the video link with UNESCO Paris?

0 Yes

0 No

· Name of school: ..................................

name of contact-person: ....................................

Please return this sheet to:

Time Headquarters

E-mail: TimeProject@antenna.nl

Fax: 00.31.45.5713072

UNITE THE NATIONS

Introduction

Unite the Nations, an interactive game about and between countries, challenges students to take a closer look at their own culture as well as foreign cultures. Students create multiple choice questions on geography, history, social issues, arts and sports in their country. Within the time-span of 24 hours they race against each other and time in answering questions on other countries.

Unite the Nations is a global, short term, online and offline activity.

Learning objective

The game aims to increase awareness for the diverse cultures worldwide by inter-cultural exchange.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

Practical information
The idea of the game is to share your country with others and learn about their countries in a fun, creative and playful way. So, how can you do this? The game is split into two parts: making the questions and answering the questions.

Making the questions

1. Create a team of students in your class or school.

2. Research your country. Every team-member could take one item: sports, arts, history, geography or social issues.

3. Use all kinds of resources: school or public library, the WWW Internet, people in your local community etc.

4. Formulate about 6 questions on every item, with multiple choice answers (4 options).

5. Remember, the questions should not be too simple, challenge the other participants.

6. Send all the questions to Time Head Quarters at SMC Telematica by 9 November. NOTE: remember to send the accompanying answers as well! Only to Time HQ!

7. Time HQ will gather questions from all countries and compile blocks of questions, one block for every item. This will be the game “Unite the Nations”.

Answering the questions

1. On 16 November, the game will be put on the WWW Internet at 00:00 UTC.

2. Schools that do not have access to the Net will receive all questions by fax.

3. You have 24 hours to answer all questions with your team.

4. Use all available sources to find the answers.

5. You can also exchange information with other groups, co-operate to find as many correct answers as possible.

6. The group that answers all questions correctly and the fastest is the winner.

7. The winning group/school will receive official recognition.

Some examples of questions

1. Who do Bulgarians call the “Apostle of Freedom”?

a) Vassil Levski; b) The monk of Hilendar; c) Khan Asparuh

2. What is the name of the biggest lake in Macedonia?

a) Dojran lake; b) Kaspian lake; c) Ohrid lake

3. Who was the first American woman to win the ladies singles championship at Wimbledon?

a) May Sutton Brandy ; b) Marie Sandy; c) Sobluter Jorbin

4. When did Kalevala appear for the first time?

a) 1.792; b) 1.807; c) 1.835

Technical information
You either have to have access to fax, e-mail or the WWW Internet.

Time Line

October 2002 Research for making questions

1 November 2002 Deadline for sending questions to HQ

8 November 2002, 00:00 UTC Game put on the Time website

9 November 2002, 00:00 UTC Closure of game, announcing winner

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Introduction

The Time Project encourages participants to "Think global, act local".

Schools set up activities on world issues, e.g. human rights, our common future, peace, drug abuse or tolerance in their local community. The locals are invited to participate and interact with the students on these awareness-raising activities, such as a forum, cultural market, sports-event or environmental action.

Local activities is a local, long term and short term, online and offline activity.

Learning objective

To increase awareness for global aspects within the local community.

Participation
Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

Practical information

Setting up a local activity depends on your creativity and the special needs/wants of your school and/or community. It is a good idea to create a small ‘task force’, consisting of students and one or more teachers. They can evaluate the issues of special interest within the community and select one or more issues. These issues can be a good starting point to set up local activities. Try to involve people from all groups within the community, such as the local government, organisations on the chosen issue, local celebrities etc.

Of course, we are always willing to help you out with ideas/suggestions aimed at your school. Let us know what you are interested in and we will try to come up with some ideas or link you with another school that might have some interesting suggestions for you. Be creative with it! Have fun with it!

Remember to send us a short report. If possible with some pictures or other materials![1]

Some ideas from the past:

- Tunaskolan, Sweden, organised a non-violence day and placed a sundial on the school’s playground;

- Piikkiö Junior High School, Finland, invited the mayor to the school;

- English Language School ‘Geo Milev’, Bulgaria, organised an essay on “My Street” and later on a local UNESCO festival with music, poetry and dance;

- Yaroslavl Distance Learning Centre, Russia, send out students into their communities to research local time-artefacts and take pictures of them;

- Sintermeertencollege, the Netherlands, set up “Young and old: sporting together”. Elderly people from the community and students were involved in several sports;

- PPLH, Indonesia, set up many different environmental activities;

- Coleraine Girls Secondary School, Northern Ireland, organised activities on "the right to an ecologically balanced environment";

- Geodetska skola, Croatia, was visited by the minister of education as well as the National UNESCO Commission;

- I*EARN Youth Summit at Berze Nagy Janos Grammar School, Hungary, joined the Time Project and shared their activities with others;

- Environmental Society, Jordan, set up an online discussion with Time-participants on environmental issues;

- Students and teachers from Ashanti Goldfields developed a game called “50 years human rights: 1948 –1998” which was played within the local community;

- XVIII. Gimnazija, Croatia, made a video on children's rights, a questionnaire on women's rights and invited "The Blind People Theatre" to perform a play;

- Panabo National High School, Philippines, cleaned shore lines and set up a community outreach program to help less advantaged local people;

- IES Luis Velez de Guevera, Spain, organised a forum about drugs;

- Joensuun Normaalikoulu, Finland, collected 70,000 signatures on behalf of human rights;

- Masarykovo Gymnazium, Czech Republic, distributed hundreds of leaflets about human rights and set up a community debate on 'Christianity and human rights';

- Annandale School, Canada, and English Language School, Bulgaria, designed mutual lesson plans to foster understanding and co-operation;

- Kearny High School, USA, organised a multicultural fair;

- Liceo Patria Quinta Brigada, Colombia, set up a forum discussion on the right to have schools without violence, gave workshops about violence inside the family and at school and set up a disarmament activity within the local community;

- Valasske Mezirici, Czech Republic, helped to survive shells and crayfish in a local river. In the dam, after flood, they picked up more than 1,500 crayfish and 20,000 shells;

- CPLN, Switzerland, invited elderly people to their centre and young and old worked together on different time-related activities on the Internet;

- Students of Lycée Pasteur, Brazil, interviewed elderly people on their work and life.

Technical information

This activity is open to all kinds of technology. Snail mail, e-mail, faxes the WWW Internet

Time Line

September-October Start organising the activity

Early November Inform local media

8 November 2002 Local activity is performed

November/December Send report to HQ

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

DESIGN A CLOCK

Introduction

The concept of time has many dimensions. People from different countries may perceive time differently. Many high tech countries live fast, 'time is money', while other countries have a slower rhythm. "Design a clock" challenges students to be creative with their notion of time and design and maybe even build their own clock.

Design a clock is a global, long term, offline and online activity.

Learning objective
Stimulate creative/artistic expression of ‘the notion of time’ by young people worldwide.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

Practical information

1. Design a clock, either in a group of by yourself. You can use any kind of material. The design should express your notion of time so be creative with it. Since the Time theme for 2001 is "Intercultural learning: tolerance" this item should somehow be implemented in the design, e.g. 'tolerance in the family', 'no to violence’ or ‘an act of tolerance’.

2. Be realistic: do not design a clock made out of gold, or one that is huge. Keep in mind that it should be possible to build the clock.

3. Send your design to Time HQ at e-linQ. Send it by mail, fax or the Internet.

4. All designs are collected by Time HQ.

5. The designs are put on the Time web pages throughout the project.

Technical information

This activity is open to all kinds of technology.

You can send your design by snail mail, e-mail, and fax or through the WWW Internet. The best designs will be put on the Time WebPages.

Time Line
September - October Initial designs clocks

8 November Final version designs

Designs on Time website

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

LESSON ON TIME

Introduction

The phenomenon time is a complex and interesting matter. Different cultures have different notions on time. The phenomenon even developed throughout the ages. The lesson on time offers you a set of assignments on "Time on earth", on topics such as time zones, solar time, motion of the earth and the International Date Line.

Lesson on time is a global and local, short term, offline activity.

Learning objective

Increase the notion on time.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

We advice students to work in pairs.

Practical information
1. You can implement the lesson on time in regular classes, for example geography, physics or social studies on or prior to the Time day (15 November).

2. We suggest the students work in pairs.

3. Students send their results to Time headquarters by email or fill out the online lesson form.

4. All results are put on the Time website. Students can compare their answers to those of other students.

5. In the online discussion group on "the phenomenon time" students can further discuss their results and discuss possible impacts on the environment, daily life, the future etc.

6. We suggest students to combine the lesson on time with "Time Quest", a challenging quiz on time and related issues, such as time travel, mysteries of time, eclipses and the Millennium.

Technical information

You do not need any technology for the lesson plan.

Time Line

October Lesson send to participants

8 November 2002 Lesson carried out by participants

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

LESSON ON UN/UNESCO: World heritage in young hands

!!!UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!
TIME QUEST

Introduction

Time Quest takes students on a journey through a global library, the World Wide Web.

By asking the students questions on time and related issues - such as the Millennium, time zones, eclipses, time travel and mysteries of time - Time Quest provokes students to look at the phenomenon time from many different angles.

Get on this exciting journey through the Internet and visit times and places you have never before set eye upon!

Time Quest is a global, short term, online activity.

Learning objective

- By exploring the WWW Internet through a set of questions on time and related issues, students will gain a broader knowledge on the phenomenon time and its influence on their daily lives;

- Students will gain skills for working with information technology such as the internet;

- Browsing through international sites, students will work on and with foreign language(s);

- By working in pairs, students will enforce their skills of communication and co-operation.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

We advice students to work in pairs.

Practical information

- To start with the activity, visit the Time site: http://www.aspnet.org/time

- You will find Time Quest under the button 'activities'.

- Start with question 1 and take the quiz from there.

- After answering a question, the student learns whether the answer was true or false and gets an explanation.

- Suggested: split students up in pairs, every pair works on 1/2 questions.

- We suggest combining "Time Quest" with the "Lesson on Time".

Technical information

Since Time Quest takes place on the WWW Internet, schools will have to have access to a computer with Netscape Communicator or Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher.

Time Line

October 2002 Lesson put on Internet (new version)

8 November Lesson carried out by participants

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

TIME LINE

Introduction

Virtual Time Line on the phenomenon 'time', including:

- a rough history of time measurement, starting in the prehistoric ages and ending at the start of the 21st century;

- several milestones in the history of time as well as the inventors and mathematicians who played an eminent role in time measurement;

- the human perception of time, developing along the evolution of time and clocks;

- an expanding database of sites on time as well as local and global stories on time.

The Time Line is global, interactive and fun:

- It is global due because schools from all over the world participate;

- It is interactive because students and teachers contribute their own local time stories;

- It is fun because students use their creative writing, drawing, photographic and computer skills.

Time Line is a global, short term and long term, online activity.

Learning objective

- Stimulate awareness of time in a historical context especially through local time artefacts;

- Stimulate the use and skills of multimedia.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

Practical information
Time Line aims to set up a framework in which the activity can develop into a global Time Line set up by students all over the world. Time Line is interactive, participants contribute their own articles to the Time Line. These are the steps you have to take:

1. Form a group within your school;

2. Select a subject regarding time in your local environment (maybe somewhere in time your civilisation played an important role in time measurement);

3. Start a small historical investigation. Use all the necessary media and local sources to get your information;

4. Write an article about your Time-subject with a maximum of 150 words;

5. Collect, draw or make some nice illustrations or pictures on your subject;

6. Send the whole package to Time HQ;

7. Contributions will be put on the Time Line. Your name and school will be mentioned.

Technical information

Requires computer with access to WWW Internet and e-mail-account or fax-address.

Time Line

October Start investigation

Early November Write article; collect illustrations

8 November Send package to Time HQ

Contributions on Time website

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

TIME GALLERY

Introduction

The phenomenon time is a complex and interesting matter. Different cultures have different notions on time. The phenomenon even developed throughout the ages. Time Gallery strives to create a digital collection of time artefacts around the world.

Time Gallery is a global and local, long term, offline and online activity.

Learning objective

Increase awareness for the different global notions on time.

Participation

Target groups: secondary schools, youth and community groups (average age: 12 – 19).

Practical information

1. Form a group of students within your school. With this group, select a clock, watch or any other time artefact, which is typical for your country or culture. For example: a sundial, a water clock, a sand-glass, a cuckoo clock, a digital watch, an astronomical clock etc. Try to do some research on this. You might be surprised by the outcome!

2. Visit the artefact you have chosen.

3. Take pictures of it or make a painting of the artefact.

4. Briefly, describe the artefact and its history. What is its meaning, how does it work, when was it build etc.

5. Send the picture/painting and the information to Time HQ at e-linQ.

6. Time HQ will collect all the pictures/painting and create a special Time gallery on the WWW Internet.

Technical information

Open to all kinds of technology. You can send your picture/painting by mail, e-mail and fax or through WWW Internet. Designs will be put on the Timesite and final report Time 2002.

Time Line

October Research of time artefacts

Visit to chosen artefact

Early November Work on pictures, paintings

Write short report

8 November Send materials to Time HQ

Materials on Time website

February 2003 Final report Time 2002

LIBRARY