The Arctic World Archive (AWA) is a special place in Svalbard, Norway, where important information is kept safe for the future. It's located in an old coal mine near a small town called Longyearbyen. People from over 30 countries store their data there on special film. This helps protect the information from things like computer hacking and natural disasters because Svalbard is very remote.
The AWA has been collecting data for eight years and has over 100 different deposits. These include things like 3D pictures of the Taj Mahal and old books from the Vatican Library. A company called Piql helps by putting this information on film that can last a long time in the cold Arctic. Even GitHub, a place where people share computer code, stores important software there to keep it safe.
Experts worry that as technology changes, we might lose access to old files. The AWA helps by keeping data safe and easy to get back. With more and more data being created every day, new ways to store it are being tried, like using special glass or crystals. The AWA keeps getting new deposits, like recordings of rare languages, to make sure these important things are saved for the future.
Original news source: Visit the Arctic vault holding back-ups of great works (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a word or phrase related to the article (e.g., "Arctic World Archive," "computer hacking," "rare languages"). One student from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking while their group guesses what it is.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a few opinion questions based on the article, such as "Do you think it's important to store old data?" or "Should we use new technology to keep information safe?" Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates these questions, recording their answers to discuss later.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: In pairs, give students a key term or concept from the article (like "Svalbard," "data storage," or "old books"). Students then have 3 minutes to draw a picture that represents the term. Afterward, they will show their drawings to the class and explain their choices.
– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as "What do you think could happen if we lose access to old files?" Students will think about their answers individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts before sharing with the whole class.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to come up with a catchy headline for the article that captures its main idea. Encourage creativity and clarity in their headlines. Students can share their headlines with the class, and the teacher can write them on the board for discussion.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The Arctic World Archive (AWA) is a place in Svalbard, Norway, where important information is kept safe for the future. It is in an old coal mine near a town called Longyearbyen.
People store their data at the AWA because it helps protect the information from computer hacking and natural disasters.
The AWA protects information by keeping it on special film that lasts a long time in the cold Arctic.
One thing stored at the AWA is 3D pictures of the Taj Mahal.
A company called Piql helps put the information on film for the AWA.
Experts worry that as technology changes, we might lose access to old files.
Some new ways to store data for the future include using special glass or crystals.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The Arctic World Archive (AWA) is a special place in Svalbard, Norway, where important information is safe for the future. It's in an old coal mine near a town called Longyearbyen. People from over 30 countries store their data there on special film. This helps protect the information from things like computer hacking and natural disasters because Svalbard is very remote. The AWA has been data for eight years and has over 100 different deposits. These include things like 3D pictures of the Taj Mahal and old from the Vatican . A company called Piql helps by this information on film that can last a long time in the cold . Even GitHub, a place where people share computer code, stores important software there to keep it safe. Experts worry that as technology , we might lose access to old files. The AWA helps by keeping data safe and easy to get back. With and more data being created every day, new to store it are being tried, like using special glass or crystals. The AWA keeps getting new deposits, like recordings of rare , to make sure these important things are saved for the future.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a special place where important information is kept safe for the future?
2. Do you think it is important to keep old books and pictures safe? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you lost something very important to you?
4. Do you like the idea of using film to store information? Why or why not?
5. What is a natural disaster? Can you name one?
6. Do you think it is good to store data in a cold place like Svalbard? Why?
7. Have you ever lost something that you wanted to keep forever? What was it?
8. What is a computer hack? Why do you think people do that?
9. Do you think it is important to save rare languages? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you could not access old files and information anymore?
11. Do you like learning about new technology? Why or why not?
12. What is something you would want to keep safe for the future? Why is it important to you?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!
