Interactive videos educate

Through two-way screens, students from across the state will be able to interact live and learn about the heritages of the most prevalent immigrant peoples in Indiana. \nThe International Studies for Indiana Schools is bringing the cultures of the world to Indiana classrooms through interactive video learning programs.\nIn celebration of the nation's first International Education Week, set by Secretary of Education Richard Riley and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the IU Office of International Services received a Department of State grant. This grant enables them to broadcast six interactive videos from the School of Education to kindergarten through high school classrooms throughout the state.\nInteractive video is live programming where students and presenters are in separate locations but see one another through connected television screens. The videos, which will air Monday through Friday this week to prescheduled classrooms around Indiana, feature IU students from six countries. The students were chosen through the Area Studies Programs by the video's creator, the International Studies program coordinator Deborah Hutton. \n"Students need to learn about the world and because we live in the Midwest it's easy to feel isolated from the rest of the world," Hutton said. "But the truth is, the world has come to Indiana."\nHutton's idea won the grant in a national contest. Interactive video programs are the focus of the International Studies teaching foundation, which is offered free of charge to state schools that can request what kind of program they need. \nFour refugees will be host to one of the segments on the country of Burma. The students, who fled their country at the ages of 15 and 16, will teach students about the current political situation and violence in Burma. According to the Area Studies Programs, Fort Wayne is home to the largest Burmese population outside of the country itself.\nGraduate student Renne Traicova of Bulgaria will speak in Wednesday's video about family, schooling, work and recreation of her country and in Eastern Europe. Monday's video speaker was Oleg Volguine from the Russian and East European Institute, who spoke about the lifestyle in Russia and answered several questions from students in the three classrooms from different state cities. \nThe fourth video features Cuban and Puerto Rican students for a combined look at the schooling, work and lifestyles of residents in contemporary Cuba and Puerto Rico. Graduate students Johanna Moya, speaking for Cuba, and Hugo Viera, for Puerto Rico, will discuss the cultural similarities and differences between their countries. \nDoctoral students Monica Diaz and Angela Castaneda will speak for Thursday's video on Mexico, talking about Mexican history and culture from past to present. \n"Students need to be aware of the diversity within the state of Indiana," Castaneda said. "They need to have the tools and information about the countries from which many of the immigrants come in order to better understand each other."\nThe Daily Life and Culture of Korea video Friday will feature graduate student Mi Young Lee to educate students about family life, schooling and work in South Korea. \nThe countries featured in the videos were chosen on basis of the highest numbers of immigrant cultures in Indiana, said Hutton, who received the information from Area Studies Programs. According to the program, immigration in the United States has risen from 6 to 10 percent in the past decade and the numbers are more significant at IU. \n"I think this program is important because it gives them (the children) the opportunity to know other cultures, and historical facts," Diaz said. "And it's also a very rewarding experience for both presenter and student."\nThe funding for the programs was awarded by the Cooperative Grants Program through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Thirteen higher education institutes were awarded a total of $17,289. According to a press release, the program has provided partial funding for more than 780 creative programs implemented in communities and on campuses across the United States.\n"I think the videos are very valuable to those who may never travel," Hutton said. "We have wonderful resources here and the children can interact with the people from these other cultures"