Move beyond the boundaries of your classroom walls with a program that celebrates the multicultural diversity of students across the United States and Canada. Connections is a year-long collaborative learning and exchange program for sixth-grade teachers and their students. The program offers a range of cross-cultural activities designed to foster respect and appreciation for similarities and differences among students in various geographic areas.

Through the Connections program, teachers and students from participating classrooms collaborate on curriculum-based projects with the goal of developing mutual respect and understanding for one another. The SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada supports this goal by equipping participating schools with education technology for easy, effective collaboration, and by providing professional development for participating teachers.

Once participants are selected, the Connections program runs as follows:

	Selected sixth-grade teachers participate in web-based professional development during the month of July
	Upon the commencement of the school year, teachers and their students embark on collaborative learning projects with other participating schools. These projects continue throughout the school year.
	A select number of sixth-grade students and their teachers participate in the Calgary student visit at the end of the school year

Donated product
The SMARTer Kids Foundation will donate the following products to schools selected to participate in the Connections program. All donated products remain with the schools at the completion of the program:

	A Senteo interactive response system
	A one-year subscription to the SMART Learning Marketplace
	SMART Ideas concept-mapping software
	AirLiner wireless slate
	A two-year subscription to Bridgit conferencing software

Participation agreement
Successful applicants are expected to participate fully in Connections activities. Because commitment on the part of teachers and administrators is crucial to the program's success, school administrators are required to sign a participation agreement, which clearly states the responsibilities of the Foundation and the commitments and obligations of participating schools.

Costs
Costs covered by the SMARTer Kids Foundation include airfare, accommodation, meals, local transportation and admission to Connections-sponsored activities during the Calgary student visit. Product installation, substitute teaching costs, souvenirs, personal photography, personal transportation, and meals and snacks not arranged by the Foundation are not covered.

Questions?
If you have questions or require further information, please contact the Connections program manager at info@smarterkids.org or 403.407.5109.