GLOBAL CLASSROOM


Connecting With the World Through the Platt Global Classroom


By Marty Jones


A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP. —Lao Tzu


Residential students Andrew C. ’12 and


Kyle L. ’12 tested out the equipment in the


Platt Global Classroom by using Google Earth to show classmates their neighborhoods


in Taiwan and Korea, respectively. The


equipment will allow


parents of international students to participate in their conferences with teachers using


software that is similar to Skype but much


higher resolution and more dependable.


Technical Features: High-definition


video conferencing; remotely controlled camera; whole-room microphone; two large


LED screens; interactive SMART board;


document camera; DVD player


O


ES students will need to take only a few steps from any division to


connect with the world through the new Platt Global Classroom. Located off the foyer of the Upper School, this classroom is near one of the busiest areas of the school—only fitting for our new gateway to a world of discovery and connection. Thanks to the dedicated


supporters of the 2011 OES auction, this special initiative was put on the fast track. Before the paddle-raising began at the auction, Upper School Head Jordan Elliott ’97 presented a $21,000 gift from the parents of Asian boarding students, and then-PCL Chair Jan Massaro offered a check for


10 10 OES MAGAZINE WINTER 2012


$20,000 from PCL. In total, an astounding $135,000 was raised in less than 10 minutes. In just a few months, the concept of a global classroom has become a reality. Although the official opening will happen later this month, the high-tech wonders of the space are already connecting students to peers far beyond the United States. “When we


envisioned a global classroom last year, I don’t think we imagined that it would generate so much creativity and collaboration as we have already


seen, and new initiatives come up every week,” said Academic Dean Tom Wheelock. “The classroom and the concept of global connections are generative.” Before the end of the first week of school in September,


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