School: St. Joseph's Episcopal School
    Boynton Beach, Florida, USA

18 students, ages 11-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 27, 2003. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2001, 2002

Classes and Teachers: 6th Grade Science/Technology Class; Judy Somers

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.sjsonline.org

1. Description of Our Community

Our local community is defined in several ways: Our school is certainly our primary community. It is here that we develop our sense of community as well as respect for our fellow citizens. The cities surrounding our school provide the hub of our feelings of civic pride. Our focus for this project includes these as well as our county; Palm Beach, our state; Florida, our country; the United States of America and the World. As responsible citizens of the world we wanted to research the impact of Space Exploration throughout all these areas

2. Summary of Our Project

The Columbia accident occurred as we were in the midst of making a decision about our Cyberfair project. As we grieved over the loss we realized that everyone is impacted by space exploration in one way or another. We were moved to research the influence of space exploration on our lives. Our project is a compilation of research, interviews and personal opinions about the effects of space in all aspects of our lives. We are fortunate to have Kennedy Space Center close enough to visit but even those who aren’t able to visit there feel the presence of the Space Program in their lives. We wanted to share those feelings with all who visit this site.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:more than 6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:4-6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The primary challenge was the time element. It took us a while to fully grasp what all was involved with the task. We spent way too much time trying to decide on a topic for our project; then we were faced with trying to conduct the research and the challenge of putting it together into a web page. We were also concerned about being sure everyone in class was involved. We each had several tasks to do in order to get it all together. The other problem was inexperience with the details of creating a web page; we were learning while we were creating. As always with this type of project, we can look at it and see ways to improve it. We had to learn to trust our judgment and accept it as it is.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Participation in CyberFair has given us the opportunity to develop our ability to work together as a team to accomplish something that none of us could have done alone. We learned that each of us has something special to offer to the group; each is an important link to the creation of a project which will showcase our school and Space Exploration.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

Our school has adopted an emphasis on Emotional Intelligence and increasing our understanding of this powerful skill. The first part of EQ is understanding ourselves or emotional literacy. This project helped us develop that skill by examining our thoughts and feelings and putting them into words. The second part of EQ is evaluating our choices and motivation. We really had to put this into action as we worked together to create the project. The third part o the EQ circle is giving of ourselves to others. We grew tremendously in this skill as we thought about how we could share with others through this project. A number of our Technology standards were met through this project; • Becoming proficient in the use of technology • Practice responsible use of technology systems, information and software • Develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that promote lifelong learning, collaboration, and productivity. • Use technology tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, and produce other creative works. • Use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. • Use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively with multiple audiences. • Use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. • Use technology tools to process data and report results. • Use technology resources for problem solving and making informed decisions. • Employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

Obviously, our computers are a key element of the tools and technologies. We are constantly improving our understanding of this powerful tool. Tied in to the use of the computer is the use of the Internet as a resource for research. We also made use of digital cameras and scanners for the photos and other graphics. One of our units of study in Science class is our Brain; we consider this the most valuable tool and most advanced technology available, and we really put them to use for this project!

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

We needed to connect with people. We started with ourselves; we explored our own ideas and perceptions about Space exploration. Then we went into the community for ideas. We talked about our project with parents, teachers and anyone else who would listen. Our best connection was with our 3rd grade class who had been on a Field Trip to the space center the day before the Columbia accident. We shared our enthusiasm with everyone we talked with but we really learned about ambassadors when we interviewed the third graders and felt the strength & emotion in their responses. We are excited about being a part of the continuing story about Space and the way it touches each of us.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

We are excited to be able to share with the world something that we can claim as a neighbor; Kennedy Space Center in Titusville Florida. We expect this project to be a resource for students as they, like our own third grade class, prepare reports and projects on Space. We are especially proud to provide our third grade classes with the opportunity to share and show off their knowledge, skills and motivation. They are so excited and enthusiastic about their accomplishments; we are proud to use this project to showcase them.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

Our whole community; fellow students, teachers, families, friends; was so emotionally moved when we learned of the Columbia accident. We shared these emotions through our interviews; we also provided others with a chance to express their feelings, ideas and thoughts about Space Exploration. We also had the opportunity to get to know a lovely lady who gladly shared her knowledge about website development with us. Carol Moncreif showed patience and understanding as she guided us through the process. The real heroes of our project were our third graders and their teacher Mrs. Donna Banting. Their experience at the Space Center on January 31was such an emotional thrill that it spread throughout our campus. We truly wanted to share those feelings with all who see our project.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We all learned more about the Space program and from a different perspective than we had ever thought about before. We learned that we can accomplish a great deal under pressure. We really appreciate the effort of each member of the team. Our use of Emotional Intelligence skills was a key element in keeping us focused on what had to be accomplished and doing it in a way that honored each of us. The real discovery was in learning from classmates who are younger. Our third grade class became teachers for all of us. We learned ways to help cope with tragedies and disappointments in life. “A little child shall lead them” Isaiah 11:6