STUDENTS from Colchester due to form a vital part in a global live satellite link-up were heard but not seen because modern technology failed.Eight 11-15-year-olds from Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College are one of the few Essex schools pioneering the use of live video conferencing as a means to bringing new teaching techniques into the classroom, but they hit a slight glitch.

STUDENTS from Colchester due to form a vital part in a global live satellite link-up were heard but not seen because modern technology failed.

Eight 11-15-year-olds from Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College are one of the few Essex schools pioneering the use of live video conferencing as a means to bringing new teaching techniques into the classroom, but they hit a slight glitch.

American students at the Passaic Valley High School, New Jersey, had been sharing thoughts with fellow pupils from as far apart as Brazil and Japan, but when Colchester's turn came around they could but talk to each other in the dark.

Steven Richards, headteacher at Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College, said: "We had an audio conference rather than a video one this time, but we have plans for another with them.

"I don't know how old the American students were, but they sounded quite confident. We all had a good discussion for about half an hour about September 11, the Iraq situation and issues in education and it was very enjoyable.

"We've used this technology several times now and it really does make people concentrate on what's being said.

"We had one link-up with Holocaust survivors in New York State and students were bowled over by it all."

Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College was selected as a trial school in the Government driven Video Conferencing in the Classroom project.