'Global Teenager' launches virtual classrooms

The International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) supported Global Teenager Project (GTP) has launched a new virtual learning environment to support online classroom discussion on social issues with peers from all over the world.

Image credits: IICD/ The new GTP website

Founded in 1998, GTP offers collaborative global learning to over 10,000 students in 34 countries based on themes, or Learning Circles.

The new website offers an online platform with tools and content in six different languages for cross-border classroom discussion. Using Internet, email and chat, students can connect with peers from other countries to discuss issues and work on assignments related to a particular Learning Circle.

Circles include Politics in my Country, Teen life and Gender Equality. Twice a year, schools can participate in more than 60 different Learning Circles that bring together 8 to 12 classes from various parts of the world.

New in the website is the Learning Circle selection tool. This selection tool allows students and teachers to easily find the Learning Circles that best match their needs.

Each Learning Circle is illustrated in an interactive page. Also all participating countries share their GTP background in text and photos, from Argentina to Yemen.

In the last 10 years, GTP has built an extensive network of more than 300 schools worldwide. GTP helps make learning fun and enables youths to meet their peers online no matter where they are located.

The website was officially launched at IICD by Caroline Figueres, managing director of IICD and Bob Hofman, Global Teenager coordinator. In his presentation Bob Hofman showed some of the websites' many features such as the possibility to view the website in six different languages.