Global Pollution Needs a Local Solution Russian and American Middle School Students Participate in a Videoconference

This paper discusses how Russian and American social studies educators utilized a videoconference for engaging middle school students in the study of environmental issues. The preparation for the videoconference required Russian and American students to explore human-environmental interactions in their local areas and to evaluate the impact of these interactions on the local and global environment. Students shared findings of their exploration with their counterparts in Russia during a videoconference that culminated the project. The authors discussed the preparation, administration, and outcomes of the project and included the instructional materials. The authors believe their reflective ideas provide insights on the use of videoconferencing as a means of enhancing student learning in a social studies classroom.