Grade 8 computer science students have been discussing global issues online with students at the World Foreign Language Middle School (WFLMS) in Shanghai. They have explored topics including the effects of human consumption on local environments, the influence of the media on society, and issues surrounding youth and technology. Those discussions have yielded viewpoints on how digital photo alterations can negatively affect one’s self-image and social problems caused by the media.

“With this technology, we are able to discuss real-world topics from the perspectives of two different countries – realizing that some are the same, and some are different, giving us the ability to empathize with different perspectives from around the world,” said Devanshi Mehta, grade 8.

Classmate Allison Cartee also enjoyed the variety of perspectives offered by the forum. “[The WFLMS students] offer interesting perspectives on ideas that Americans do not consider,” she said. “Sometimes, they bring up topics that we have never heard of, and I enjoy learning about their lifestyles through their posts.”