Posted September 2004 Adopt a Country (Athens Olympic project)
		Cathy Mangan Learning Place Mentor South Burnett District Students in 10 schools made the 2004 Athens Olympic Games a part of their lives by contacting athletes, overseas embassies and other students online.

Cathy Mangan, Learning Place Mentor, South Burnett District, is constantly on the lookout for projects that will give students in rural areas a purpose for contacting other students.

"Students benefit greatly from contact with people in other parts of the world as well as their own country," Cathy says. "The Olympics offered a great opportunity to learn about other countries and their cultures."

The Learning Place promoted the project and provided resources and communication tools. "The Learning Place also put us in contact with experts like a nutritionist and several former Australian Olympic athletes," Cathy says. "They agreed to take part in chats and forums."

Students chose a participating country and researched its culture and resources and its athletes, making connections between the sizes and strengths of teams and the wealth of a country. Students used the Internet, and contacted embassies abroad for information.

"Then they followed their country's fortunes throughout the Olympics," Cathy says. "They got very involved in the events and medal counts!"

Cathy says that the students benefited from contact with people and organisations overseas and in Australia. "Especially for rural students, it opened up whole new dimensions for them," she says.

Teachers learned to use communication tools, improving their ICTs skills. "In isolated schools, that's very important," Cathy says.Cathy plans to run a similar project during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.

"It's all about making connections," Cathy says. "Kids love that! And it makes them aware of possibilities – gives them more options. There's just nothing like that!"