We welcomed many students and teachers from Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Poland. The reason for meeting in these dimensions was the international students’ project entitled, The Secret Power Media.
The first day, the students viewed a survey of the city office where spokesman of the town, Jozef Petras, introduced every department and service provided by the town to its citizens. Foreign visitors, who were especially interested in this project, call the town ‘The Transparent City.’ The project was honed by OSN because it helped to change onerous contracts that were signed in the past. Through this project, students could project, see and think about possibilities for media and it’s influence on our society.
Students visited web portal, Azet, in Zilina where they could see journalism on the Internet. They saw how to create a web page, how the management of social media works, and how the internet can (or can’t) protect it’s users.
The next visit was to the radio station called Zariecie. This station is the opposite of the social network Azet in that it is alternative space, not mainstream. Radio station Zariecie provides historical and political documents, and alternative theater and music. It’s main interest in animation. Therefore, students recorded different rhymes and tongue twisters that the radio station, Zariecie, will use for animations. “It is so great when students can not only know theoretical information, but also try media on their own skin,” said project teacher, Martin Pilat, said about the benefits of the project. “These days are affected by media. Media gives us much information and through this information also some view of the world. Realizing their positive and negative influences is very important!” said the director from the elementary school in Poland.
Students from the five countries also visited Strecno castle and went bowling, where they compared their perseverance and skills. The programs of the international students meeting finished in the Museum of Slovak village where the students saw the old version of Slovak homes, handicrafts and handmade projects.
The great benefit of this meeting is the many friendships that can continue through Skype. Next year, students will meet again. It does not matter where; the students are pretty excited to meet!
