Childnet International has released the shortlist of 12 top education websites from which it will pick the winners of the 2003 Cable and Wireless Childnet Awards. The awards, in their sixth year, are designed to promote safe and positive internet use. There are four categories: individual; schools; not-for-profit; and new to the net.
Individual
Already an award-winning UK site, Bonjour is a French-language service for all secondary learners and teachers of French, created by Colchester teacher Stephane Derone.
www.bonjour.org.uk
Want to learn about cartoons and animation? Kidzdom, created by Andrew Fei in Australia, is a lively place to start.
www.kidzdom.com
Harry Potter is a highly motivating influence for young people, and there’s a wealth of information at the Daily Prophet site, run by Heather Lawver in the US.
www.dprophet.com
The environmental issues of climate change are explored at Sarah Bowler’s Cool Kids for a Cool Climate (UK).
http:uk.geocities.comcoolkidsforacoolclimate
Schools
If you are interested in inclusion and creativity, the Priory Woods School website (UK) is a must.
www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk
It may be an Italian site, but the vibrant Liceo Classico “Duni”, Matera, has plenty for the international visitor.
www.gdmland.itgiornalino_materagiornalinomatera.asp
Interested in home-school links? Canada’s Willougby Elementary School puts theory into practice.
www.schoolcentral.comwilloughby4
Not-for-profit
WebPlay is an opportunity for Year 4 pupils in London to collaborate with friends at El Sereno Elementary School, Los Angeles.
www.webplay.org
You don’t have to be in hospital to learn from the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital website. But if you are it would be a tremendous help.
www.gosh.nhs.ukkidsandteens
Young people can discuss almost any issue in their own space at Save the Children’s YouthNoise site (USA)
www.youthnoise.com
New to the net
Helping young people to connect to the international community is one way in which iEARN Sierra Leone is helping them overcome the traumas of war and violence.
http:peacereconcile.virtualactivism.org
Three teenagers in Egypt and the US have developed YoungBiznet.com to support others wanting to start their own businesses.
www.youngbiznet.com
The winners of the Cable and Wireless Childnet Awards 2003 will be announced at a presentation at the Science Museum, London, on April 24.
www.childnetawards.org
