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For the last six months, TG Magazine and Students Commission have been building the Asia Connects website containing lesson plans, instructions and modules for issues ranging from 'Asian and Western Values,' to 'Your Future in the Global Economy'. The information and activities showcased on our website are designed to offer schools and individuals the flexibility to participate in the Virtual Conference for one lesson, one-day, or even one week. We are very excited to have so many schools, students, and teachers from across Canada and around the world participate in this unique, long-distance learning event.All throughout the Asia Connects virtual conference site, there are places and people to answer any questions, direct you to the next task, and to assist you in navigating around the website. Here are a few things you can quickly browse before exploring the content of each module.
Registration - Please make sure that you register for our virtual conference. If you would like to register, simply CLICK HERE to fill out the registration form.
Guest Book - Once that's done, please sign our guest book. Just CLICK HERE and you will enter a Guest Book "Discussion Forum" where you will be able to write your name (and school name), city and country and a few quick sentences (or long ones if you prefer) about yourself, why you are here, and where you are participating from. This is the place for all of us to introduce ourselves.
Now you are ready to jump into the first topic area. From the list of conference modules, please select 'Overview of Asia' and follow the continue buttons.
Navigational Bars - On almost all the screens in the Asia Connects virtual conference, there are navigational bars at the top and bottom of the page. Each bar contains words like 'Speakers' 'Recommendations' 'Asia Connects' and 'The Players'. To get to any of the places listed on these bars, simply point your mouse on top of the appropriate word and click. These navigational bars allow you the option of going in a totally new direction at any time, from any place on the site.
Here are a few more helpful hints. Generally, the site is divided into three main sections: (1) the Ministerial section featuring the reports, comments and recommendations from the youth components of each APEC Ministerial Meeting during Canada's Year of Asia Pacific; (2) The Players section which includes sponsor lists, biographies and e-mail addresses for the huge national team that organized Asia Connects and the profiles and programs for the nine virtual conferences occurring across Canada; (3) and of course, the Asia Connects conference itself, where you will find numerous issue areas, speakers, discussion questions and forums.
When you are ready to begin exploring the issues, simply select the Asia Connects Conference icon, and then select the appropriate issue module to begin, for example, Overview of Asia. Just follow the continue links at the bottom of each screen to move on to the next step. Feel free to jump around the site using the navigational bar.
Recommendations and Learning Activities: What We are Producing:
As you will see, there are many things happening during the Asia Connects virtual conference. However, there are two product outcomes that all participants will be building together: RECOMMENDATIONS and LEARNING ACTIVITIES.
A Recommendation is your idea or suggestion on how to change or improve one or some of the things you will learn about and discuss in the module. For example, if you learn about the diversity in Asia and Canada from the module, Overview of Asia and you feel that your education has not taught you about this diversity, one recommendation could be that 'Schools should incorporate more emphasis on Asia-Canadian relations and interactions in geography and history classes.' There are other examples in each module.
A Learning Activity is your suggestion on how to help other students learn some of the things you are learning. For example, if you learned about the diversity of cultures in Asia Pacific and Canada, perhaps you could develop a learning activity with maps that helps students learn about geographical diversity. There are other examples in each module.
Highlights! - Some of the Great Things You Can Find on the Website:
We have structured the Asia Connects virtual conference to assist you and your school or group to have the benefits of a full conference program (speakers, discussions, interactions, a final report, etc.) without leaving the comfort of your classroom. Basically everything you need to participate in a 'live' conference is included on the website:
1. A wide range of SPEAKERS and their speeches on each of the six module topics
2. Instructions and suggestions on how to begin DISCUSSION of these issues and to ensure communication and learning.
3. DISCUSSION FORUMS where you can post your recommendations, learning activities, comments and questions, and carry on discussions with other conference participants at any time, day or night.
4. Live WEBCHATS where you can discuss issues with a speaker/expert and other participants, live and simultaneous.
5. TECHNICAL support including instructions and on-line technical experts to give advice on any technical problems that may arise.
6. DEFINITIONS of terms related to Asian-Canadian relations and the various issues being explored on the topic.
7. Links and research tips to Asia-Related WEBSITES.
8. A MEDIA KIT, instructions, sample press releases and other information to assist you in getting media attention for your participation in Asia Connects virtual conference.
9. An ABORIGINAL module to spark discussion on issues related to Aboriginal and Indigenous peoples in the Asia-Pacific region.
10. An ART and CULTURE module including poetry, activities and other cultural material related to the Asia regions.
11. A SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES for each module topic that you can do in a classroom, in a small group or by yourself.
Plus there is a whole lot more. Enjoy and explore!
CBC WebchatDuring the course of the Conference we will be using a webchat, hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). This is an exciting feature for it allows all of us, from anywhere in the world, at any time of the day or night to carry on live, synchronous (at the same time) discussions on each and every issue.
These interactive discussions will feature different speakers, experts, and resource people on a wide range of topics to assist every participant in understanding the issues, learning, and contributing back to others. There will be scheduled discussions happening throughout the day and night, as well as numerous spontaneous conversations and debates. As your host, TG Magazine and The Students Commission have committed themselves to ensuring that 24 hours a day, for 7 days, speakers, resource experts and participants will be there to engage in conversations with you. Time zones will not be a barrier.
Here are a few things to help you along in the webchats:
1. To participate in the CBC webchat, you need a password. We suggest that you get your password first before you begin the modules because it takes a few minutes. The process is quite simple.
2. Click on the following link to the CBC webchat and scroll down to the bottom of the screen until you see a form. It will ask you for a nickname - this can be your real name (for example: Lin Lee, Japan) or a made-up name. You can decide, but please include your country so we can all know where you are writing from.
3. You also need to include your email address. Please type it into the form. When you are finished entering the information, press submit.
4. When you have finished filling in the form, you will need to check your email account as CBC will send your password to you immediately. Write down your password so that when you are ready to get on the webchat, your password will be handy for you to type in and gain access.
5. Please consult our schedule to find out who is on the webchat, at what times, and what is being discussed. If you want to schedule a discussion on a topic that is not already scheduled, please email us at asia@tgmag.ca
6. If you have any problems or questions, please email us at asia@tgmag.ca
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CBC WEBCHAT AND REGISTER FOR A PASSWORD!
The Discussion Forums serve two main purpose:
1. The Discussions Forums are places where all Asia Connect virtual conference participants can write comments, questions, and your views about what you are reading, learning and experiencing. What are the things you agree with? What are the things you disagree with?
You can also read and comment on what others are saying and carry on an asynchronous (at different times) discussion with other participants from different parts of the world at different times, day and night.
2. The Discussion Forums are places to post your recommendations and learning activities on each module topic. Each site across Canada and around the world will be writing recommendations for change and learning activities. They will post them in the discussion forums so that you can read and comment on them. You can even add your own after going through each module topic. Some of these recommendations will be included in the final report.
You can also find 'Speaker Notes and Highlights', a section to meet and learn about international participants, and a Guest Book for everyone to introduce themselves.
Using the electronic Discussion Forums is fairly simple.
1. Just follow the link to the Discussion Forums from the 'Recommendation' section of each module. Or select Recommendation from the navigational bar at the top of each screen and click on the link after the questions.
2. A frame screen (a screen divided into two) will appear. Select the language of your choice, then choose 'Conference'.
3. Inside you will have a list of various discussions you can enter. For example, click on 'Speaker Notes and Highlights' if you want to read and comment on additional speakers, or click on the appropriate panel topic to add or comment on recommendations.
4. Once you select the one you want, enjoy reading the comments of others, and then adding your own comment in the text box at the bottom of your screen along with your name.
5. When you are finished writing your comment, simply click on the 'Submit' button to post your comments in the forum for others to read.
© 1997 - TG Magazine / The Students Commission
© 1997 le magazine TG / la Commission des
Ètudiants