The US-Brazil Learning Technologies Network (cont')

LTNET Website

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Though the LTNet web site is the most visible part of LTNet's activities, LTNet also works face-to-face linking Brazilian educators, many of whom are involved in the ProInfo program, with their counterparts in the US. In this way, both US and Brazilian educators can participate in parallel activities to improve their use of technologies in education and to develop their own creative strategies and methods. During trips to Brazil, LTNet and ProInfo staff collaborate to make presentations at conferences and participate in teachers' meetings.

The integration of a strong web site that is responsive to the needs of ProInfo and Brazilian educators, with ongoing formal and informal relationships among LTNet staff and a spectrum of Brazilian educators, has resulted in a mix of innovative activities. These range from enhancing conventional exchange programs funded by other partnership agencies for US and Brazilian educators to LTNet's School Links program that enables Brazilian teachers and students in different cities to use the web site to carry out online collaborative activities. Future growth possibilities emerge as word of this facility spreads, and the potential for piloting this model throughout the hemisphere is enormous.

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Enhancing Teacher Exchanges
To achieve the greatest possible impact on helping Brazilian and US educators improve teaching and learning, LTNet focuses on supporting teachers. A key part of this effort is directed toward enhancing conventional exchange activities involving US and Brazilian educators. For example, in early 2000, LTNet contributed to an exchange program organized by the Fulbright Commission at the US State Department for 24 teachers of English as a second and foreign language (ESL/EFL), 12 each from Brazil and the US. At the orientation session for the Brazilian participants, LTNet staff introduced the Virtual Exchange Environment (VEE), a part of LTNet’s web site that enables participants to communicate among themselves and share information.