Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Published purpose

This project twins Summit Alternative School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with Antigua Grammar School in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Using Summit Alternative School’s technological capacity, students create an online forum with Antigua Grammar School. Together, the students explore the differences and similarities between life in Canada and life in Antigua and Barbuda. They focus on factors such as food, nutrition, healthy lifestyles (including sports and culture), and media. Drawing upon their experiences, students share what they learned using tools such as blogs, podcasts, and social media in order to develop international connections and a sense of community. This project is part of a two-year pilot initiative designed to engage Canadian and developing-country teachers and students in joint learning projects. The International School Twinning Initiative (ISTI) aims to provide an enriched interactive learning environment to benefit both Canadian and developing-country classrooms. Through the ISTI, Canadian students and teachers gain greater insight into international development, a greater appreciation of their role as global citizens, and an enhanced ability to communicate international development issues. The ISTI is part of the Global Citizens Program, which seeks to raise awareness and increase knowledge of international development and provide opportunities for youth to participate in international development.