This Internet project will have the following characteristics

• Collaboration - to facilitate sharing amongst students and teachers from diverse locations and backgrounds.
• Mentorship/Simulation -- to provide "expert" guidance and specialized knowledge not traditionally available within the school setting.
• Research and Publishing -- to provide access to sources of information beyond what can be offered within the typical school settings and to share and publish student work.

• To create a meaningful, long-term dialogue between students and teachers in several parts of the world.
• To allow our students, both formally and informally, to communicate with other students around the planet Earth on topics of interest to them.
• To expand students' cultural, social, and environmental awareness.
• To help students develop proficiency in communication and to develop their interest in learning a second language.
• To involve students in a collaborative research and problem-solving while studyng scientific and social topics and cultural issues.
• To introduce students to the scientific process-- collecting data, finding patterns, and assessing results.
• To introduce students to the uses of technology and telecomunications while studying real-world issues.
• To help teachers to break the isolation of a four walls room.
• To help teachers to share experiences and enhance our own teaching.
• To help people to understand other cultures/languages.

The project will evolve through the year, through various stages, progressing according to participant teachers needs, each stage addressing one of more of the project objectives. These stages will be the result of cooperative effort among participants.
Once participants are familiarized with project a home page will be developed to publish on the WWW to communicate our results and to access better exchange of communication other than e-mail.
Nothing is enforced, the following are only possible suggestions to facilitate the engaged process. Some of the stages and activities might include:

Getting to know the risk takers teachers

• Teachers will have the opportunity (if desired) to know about participants, share ideas, concerns, technology capabilities, language and grade levels.
• Teachers will select best appropriate grade level among participants.
• Teachers will create a network to help each other to develop engaged learning in our classrooms.
• Teachers will get familiar with the project.
• Teachers will participate indeveloping the project to fit needs.
• Teachers will have the support of the network by using real time.

Getting to know the citizens of the 21st Century

• Teachers and students will plan and produce a introductory letter to e-mail to the other participant schools.
• A survey of students interests, favorite foods, family data, etc. will be developed and conducted around classrooms. The survey data will be share and analyzed by the students. Students will be asked to hypothesize explanations for the similarities and differences.
• Students will create a world map to be displayed of the different location of participants.

Our teacher

Students in each classroom will participate in the "Our Teacher" program. "Our teacher," is a writing project in which students will interview their teacher to find out hobbies, interest, etc. At the completion of this project, students will e-mail their results to be published on the WWW.

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This site was awarded a Times Pick by the Los Angeles Times on 1/12/98.

Given for Excellence in Educational Webpage Content

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Any new ideas please contact Bill Pedroni