Organization

Vision
WSN is a future oriented learning environment which connects classrooms, their teachers, and local communities worldwide. While utilizing computer technology and the Internet, World School fosters an approach to environmental issues with a global perspective. Interaction via networking allows for diverse discussion of topics, while experience-based action plans lead to positive action for the design of our future.

Participating groups base their activities on themes concerning the surrounding environments of their respective communities, thus deepening children's interest in nature. By reporting group activities to participants from other groups, sharing comments concerning each others' activies, and interacting through telecommunications, children turn their eyes to the connections and diversity of the global environment.

In addition, classrooms are linked with adventure sites during World School's adventure projects. Adventurers place themselves in special parts of the world where they experience and accept the wonders of different cultures and send messages from those who live in harmony with nature. Children discover many diverse ways of life in the world and seek out answers for how their future society should be created.

Participants
In 2003 schools and groups from the UK, US, France, Kenya, Singapore, India, Israel, Mexico, Japan and other countries are participating. Applications for participation in 2003 are being accepted now.

Goals

• Heighten children's interest in the environment.
• Develop an outgoing attitude towards contributing to global society.
• Provide opportunities to children to learn via global communications that environmental issues throughout the world are interrelated.
• Help children take initiatives on environmental issues in their own communities.
• Develop an international educational program for current environmental issues.

Projects

• Project Circles
  Aside from structural rules for project circles, they are set up so students and teachers can take the initiative to learn about common topics of interest. Participant groups work to choose themes for Project Circles by interacting with one another. Once themes have been decided upon, groups worldwide share in debate and learning.
  In 2003, there are several project circles inluding, "Food and Farm," "Water and Land," Trash and Recycling," "Wildlife," "Discover my Town," etc.
  See WSN's online forums

• Adventure Project
  In addition to Project Circles, WSN carries out its Adventure Project. WSN adventurers' experience and acknowledge the wonders of different cultures worldwide and send messages from those who live in harmony with nature aiming to raise kids environmental awareness. To date, projects have taken place in the Arctic, Micronesia, Japan, the USA and Israel.

Platform for Communications

• Kids' Wisdom-Base
  The "Kids' Wisdom-Base" (http://chie.wschool.net/) is an online participative database. It is the platform for interaction between WSN participant groups worldwide. Interaction between groups concerning all project circles is compiled in "online forums" within the searchable database. Currently, children are holding active discussion in "Food and Farm," "Trash and Recyling," "Wildlife" and "Water and Land" forums.

• Website (www.wschool.net/home.html)
  Our homepage serves as a large information source. A comprehensive overview of our activities, information about the adventure project, symposium information, and comments from different groups are posted. Teaching materials, project information, and general information can also be found here. Links to participant groups are also made available.
  In addition, reports from adventure projects are posted in the "Kids' Wisdom-Base."

• Mailing List "connect@wschool.net"
  Connect is a mailing list for participating group navigators to interact and to discuss broader issues. Updates and information about WSN activities will be sent out over this mailing list. In addition, participants can offer advice amongst each other, invite other groups to join in studies, share success and failures.

  All platforms for discussion are made possible by the dedicated work of volunteers.

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