Glenwood students learn via online chat

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Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman Glenwood Middle School seventh-grader Cliff Phillips participated in the classes global online learning event by watching “Orangutans in the Wilds of Borneo,” a live streaming video event during their STAR period to learn about deforestation of the tropical rainforests in Borneo and the impacts on the wildlife..During the live chat, Phillips asked a question and the Dr. Smits addressed the question live.

Boardman Glenweood’s seventh-grade students participated in a global online learning event March 3.

Forty-two students watched “Orangutans in the Wilds of Borneo,” a live streaming video event during their STAR period to learn about deforestation of the tropical rainforests in Borneo and the impacts on the wildlife, namely orangutans.

Glenwood students were part of the 11,000 other students from 27 countries who listened to Dr. Willie Smits, a leading environmental biologist.

The event was part of the DeforestACTION initiative, established in order to empower young people worldwide to become inspired by youth working to fight deforestation, become informed about the issues and politics surrounding deforestation and become actively involved in finding a solution.

Glenwood students also learned about different parts of the DeforestACTION Global project taking place to restore natural habitats and protect the biodiversity of the rainforest.

One project that interested the students was the plan to develop a new orangutan sanctuary in Indonesia.

The centerpiece will be the ‘Orangudome,’ which will sit in the largest tree in the world, “The Dome Tree.”

The tree will be 120 meters wide, 70 meters high and will mimic the natural habitat of orangutans, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology that will allow millions of people around the world to actively engage orangutans with online games and status updates.

While the students listened to the scientists and researchers, they had the opportunity to post questions on a live chat.

Cliff, a seventh-grader in Eric Diefenderfer’s science class, asked if any other endangered species will be protected by the ‘tree’ habitat. Not only did the intrigued students at Glenwood get a response via chat, the project coordinator had Smits address the question live.

The students were extremely proud because their question was the only question addressed from the chat by Smits.

The brief answer was: “many thousands (of species) will be able to live free.”