My daughter is in  the 7th grade, and her class is part of a special studying project called KATOM (orange in Hebrew). This project started few years ago by the Weizmann Institute of Science – if you can read Hebrew you can follow this link for more information.

Students in the KATOM project receive a laptop (in my daughter’s case it’s a 13” HP Laptop). The laptops are partly subsidized by Weizmann Institute of Science, in part by the local municipality and in part by the parents. Annual cost per student for the parents is around USD 200. Aside laptops for students, the school perimeters are equipped with a wire-less network, each class as a projector device and teachers carry laptops as well. Instead of writing on the blackboard, teachers step into class with a well prepared presentation. Students submit their homework via the net, and become proficient with MS Office tools, Wiki, blogging, IM and more.  ‘Goggling’ during class turns students into net-citizens instead of memorizing things by heart.

As part of science studies, a group of students (including my daughter) had to do science project on Israel’s Water Problem, as Internet Savvy users they created an amazing video clip to explain the problem and their suggested solution.

You can watch the link to the video here, and are most than welcome to put in your vote.

Just watch what 12 year olds who care can do, boy am I proud!

Amichay