Art & Science Combine in Hands-On Learning

On March 17, Mike Gibson's New Haven, Indiana (EACS) 6th grade science class participated in an interactive videoconference with the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. ACELINK supported the program with funds from our Foellinger Grant, and we helped Mr. Gibson schedule the program.

The Center for Puppetry Arts provides hands-on puppet building workshops via videoconferencing and tailors them to specific classroom topics and curriculum. The arts are infused with science, social studies, language arts and other disciplines to create a dynamic, interactive virtual classroom for a virtual field trip experience.

In this program, students build a Spider Marionette while participating in learning activities about how spiders and insects differ, web vs. wandering spiders, and the lifecycle of a spider.

According to Mr. Gibson, "The program went very well. The students enjoyed it very much. The science content was also good. Thanks for the opportunity to use this new technology."

ACELINK Connects Lugar to Schools

On Friday, March 10, five Fort Wayne, Indiana area high schools participated in the IPFW Virtual Town Hall Meeting with Senator Richard Lugar. The Senator--connected through the US Senate Studios-- joined students from Bishop Dwenger, Carroll, Elmhurst, Leo and Paul Harding to discuss his views on energy and the Nunn-Lugar legislation. Lisa Grier, IPFW's first Lugar Scholar, moderated the discussion from IPFW's Kettler Hall. Students from each location were able to interact with the Senator in the live two-way video meeting supported by ACELINK and a multipoint control bridge at East Allen County Schools.

The next Town Hall Meeting will be April 12, and our guest will be State Representative Jeff Espich. For information on signing up for this free program, contact Sandy Schaufelberger at 260-481-0747 or schaufes@ipfw.edu.