Sandy Creek Links to "The Scotland Connection"

Ed Tech News Monthly

A Publication of AIS Computers

(September, 1995) During the 1995-96 school year, students from Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia will be riding the information highway to Scotland. The year long project "Achievers International," will involve schools and business partnerships linking together to incorporate real-life challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities for students.

During the first part of the year students from both countries will communicate daily through e-mail on the Internet, exchanging information about life activities, history, culture and education in Georgia and Scotland. Later in the semester the schools will become business partners to participate in an enterprise activity.

The students will be faced with challenges such as coming up with a marketable product, advertising, importing/exporting, and selling. The Scottish students’ product will be sold in Belk Department Stores while the American product will be sold in Marks and Spencer Retail Stores in Scotland. Profits may be used to incorporate a student/teacher exchange between the two groups.

Attainable student-focused goals:

• Student proficiency in establishing communication via e-mail, fax, televideo (thus also enhancing vocabulary, written and verbal communication skills).
• Gaining knowledge of foreign exchanges.
• Acquiring skills for actually marketing a product.
• Further developing cooperative interpersonal relationships.
• Enhancing leadership abilities.
• Better understanding of domestic and international banking procedures.

Teacher-focused goals:

• Becoming proficient in the use of e-mail and Internet.
• Becoming updated in international trade/business law.
• Enhancing cultural knowledge of Scotland.
• Developing two-teacher directed pilot models incorporating economics students during the school day and members of the International Club and possibly involving students from Burch Elementary School.
• Developing a trade link between the USA and Scotland.

"Achievers International" is an initiative devised and produced by Tom Kennedy of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Kilmarnock, Colin Duncan of Marks and Spencer, Ayr and John Curran of Ayrshire Education Business Partnerships. The Georgia partners include the Georgia Council for Economic Education, Georgia Power, Peachtree National Bank and Belk.

Sandy Creek teachers, Mrs. Amor Kok and Mrs. Marlene Holland, will coordinate the program through AP Economics and the International Club. In September a video conference hook-up will take place with the partner school in Scotland.