UniServity cLc empowers Schools to be the first to respond to Obama's Global Learning Vision

Published 3rd July 2009

The UniServity cLc Learning Platform empowers School Leaders in Harrisburg, the State Capitol of Pennsylvania, USA, to become the first School District in the USA to respond to President Obama’s 21st Century learning challenge by developing an online web 2.0 collaborative learning partnership with students in Egypt.

Harrisburg School District (HSD), is at the forefront of using technology to innovate and enrich the learning experience by providing learners with new 21st Century global collaborative learning opportunities. Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed has announced the new initiative connecting Harrisburg students with students in Cairo, Egypt, using the powerful social learning tools of the UniServity cLc (connected Learning communities) Learning Platform. Mayor Reed shared his announcement and educational vision to an audience of leading international educationalists and thought-leaders at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington D.C.; the largest Educational Event in the USA.

Mayor Reed’s announcement is a dynamic response to U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent address at the UniServity of Cairo, when President Obama articulated his vision to connect American learners with foreign learners, stating, “I want students in Kansas working with students in Cairo.”

“Students today must be prepared to become part of a global community,” said Reed. “As Thomas Friedman has written, ‘the world is flat.’ It is no longer enough for our students to learn basic skills such as reading and writing. They also need to be able to apply them in new ways through new technological options, and more importantly, they need to be able to use 21st Century higher learning skills to work with others worldwide.”

“Harrisburg is the first city in the United States to implement the UniServity cLc city-wide,” said Reed. “Through the support of private and corporate donors and philanthropic foundations working with the Harrisburg Public School Foundation (HPSF), the implementation of this 21st Century learning platform has become possible, and will radically alter the way many of our City’s youth are learning.”

The first phase of the partnership will involve Harrisburg Schools developing an online arts, cultural, and social learning project facilitated by UniServity and Dr. Gerald W. Kohn, Superintendent of Harrisburg Schools, who commented, “This is only the beginning of the phenomenal learning opportunities that will be made available to our students through the implementation of the outcome-proven cLc.”

Dr. Lisa Paige, Executive Director of the HPSF added, “When we became aware of President Obama’s call to action, UniServity moved quickly to connect us with educational leaders in Cairo.” In just a couple of weeks the initial ideas for collaboration between US and Egyptian Schools have become a reality. Dr. Nermien Ismail, Administrator, The American International American School in Cairo has confirmed the School’s participation in the partnership and has flown to Washington DC to meet Harrisburg School leaders and members of the UniServity Educational team during the NECC event.

Alan Wood, CEO, UniServity, added, “UniServity is very proud to welcome both Harrisburg and Cairo schools into the growing cLc social learning community of circa. 1.5 million learners and teachers in 21 countries around the world. Harrisburg and Cairo School Leaders share our vision of transforming the learning experience and extending learning opportunities for all learners. In addition, I’d like to pay tribute to the Harrisburg Public Schools Foundation and the generosity and support of their donors and philanthropic foundations who have given learners in their community a new world of authentic and enriching learning opportunities beyond the traditional walls of the classroom.”