Date: Monday, September 17, 2007

Time: 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. EST

Target Grade Levels: 9-12; Higher Education

How to Participate:

Description:

On September 17, 2007, the National Constitution Center will install another American hero's courageous acts on the National American Tree - - and they invite you and your students to partake in this historic event!

Elizabeth Eckford is one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who risked their lives to integrate Little Rock's Central High School in 1957. On Constitution Day, Eckford's acts will be remembered and celebrated as part of American History during the National American Tree installation ceremony. Following the ceremony, you and your students can join Eckford and 12th grader Kathryn Lewellan (the winner of Scholastic Inc's 2007 Arts and Writing Contest for high school students who penned Eckford's story) for an engaging 45-minute question and answer session discussing the enduring legacy Eckford has left for a half century. Not only will this exciting program commemorate National Constitution Day, but it will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine. How far have we come in 50 years?

  


Elizabeth Eckord, 1957
(Picture from www.nps.gov)

  
 

The National Constitution Center invites high school students from local Philadelphia-area high schools to participate in an on-site audience, and students from around region to participate via interactive videoconference over the MAGPI and Internet2 networks. For those outside the MAGPI network (or those who cannot participate as videoconference sites because the event is at capacity), we invite you to view the live webstream via Real Player or MPEG2!

Each interactive videoconference site will have an opportunity to ask Ms. Eckford and Ms. Lewellan questions that help explore Eckford's pursuit of justice during the Civil Rights era. The National Constitution Center encourages a wide range of student voices to participate and help make the student program as rich as possible.

Interactive videoconference site spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Educators can access the online curriculum developed by the National Constitution Center. Please direct questions about event content to , Director of National Student Program at the National Constitution Center.

Please join us for this exciting - - and historic - - event!


Resources:


Pre-Videoconference Activities:

Familiarize students with Eckford's story. Students should have an introduction to Eckford and her biography. The National Constitution Center has put together curriculum materials on their Constitution Day website to help teachers with this process. Click on the Constitution Day Resources link above!

Prepare Questions. Have students come up with questions for Eckford and Lewellan. As a class, choose the top 5 questions. Make sure students are prepared to ask these questions as part of the videoconference event. Each school will have a chance to ask at least 2 questions - - but by preparing 5, we can make sure that questions aren't repeated. It is the responsibilities of schools to make sure to listen closely and not ask repeat questions. Please be sure that students introduce themselves by first name before asking their question. For example, students should say, "Hi Ms. Eckford. My name is Sarah and I'd like to know..."


Watch the LIVE Webstream via Real Player or the Live MPEG2 Stream via Videolan
Please note that the live webstream and multicast MPEG2 stream will be available beginning at 1:45 p.m. on September 17, 2007, with content beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT. For technical assistance during the streaming video event, send email to webcast-feedback@isc.upenn.edu, or call 215-573-4006.

Accessing the Live Webstream via Real Player
Webstream URL: http://beansidhe.isc-net.upenn.edu:8080/ramgen/encoder/constitution2007.rm

To view the live webstream via Real Player, simply click on the link above.

Technical Requirements for getting the RealPlayer stream:

To view the Internet webcast, your computer must have RealPlayer (version 8 or higher). RealPlayer is available for free from http://www.real.com/.  Visit this site and follow the instructions to download and install the "RealPlayer - Free" option.

To test RealPlayer on your computer prior to the September 17 event, click on the link below (or copy and paste it into your web browser) to watch an archived video of commencement exercises from the University of Pennsylvania:

http://beansidhe.isc-net.upenn.edu:8080/ramgen/president/commencement07.rm

Accessing the MPEG2 Stream via Videolan Media Player on MAC OS X and Window's Systems:

About Videolan Media Player (MPEG-2 player)

To view a DVD quality video stream on multicast high bandwidth networks such as those found at universities and institutions on Internet 2, your computer must have Videolan Media Player and your internet connection must be 4.0 mbps or higher on a multicast enabled network.

VideoLan Media Player Setup

Download and install the free VLC media player from www.videolan.org/vlc

Launch the client and then:

  • Choose File > Open Network Stream
  • Select UDP/RTP Multicast
  • For "Address" enter IP number: 233.0.55.9
  • For "Port" enter 1234
  • Select "OK"
  
     
© MAGPI 2007