1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
We used a variety of information tools and technologies to produce our CyberFair '01 project. We used cameras, scanning equipment, digital cameras and various computers to produce our web pages.
We gathered information by: 1.visiting the community leaders and organizations with our parents 2.telephoning and emailing people to get information about places and/or people 3.using the Internet to locate information about volunteer organizations 4.using guides produced by some of the local volunteer organizations 5.interviewing people associated with a non-profit organization 6.using library books and the Yellow Pages/phone books in our area.
Software we used: 1.Windows 95, Windows 98 and at school MacOS 2.Netscape Navigator (various versions) and Netscape Editor 3.Epson Scanning Software 4.Graphic Converter 5.Web Painter 6.Photoshop 7.GIF Builder
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
As students with their parents visited volunteer organizations, participated in serving the community and interviewed local leaders, more and more people became interested in our project and our growing knowledge of technology and community involvement. Many of the people interviewed and places that were visited requested to be listed on our site. Students volunteered their time at soup kitchens, helped in tutoring programs, visited the elderly and taught them various arts and craft projects. Some students offered their services to local families who's loved ones were stricken with Alzheimers disease and needed a break to go to the grocery store or get medication, and needed someone to watch them. Parents got involved by signing up to help the Parent-Teacher Organization at our school. Some parents worked alongside their students at nursery schools or building homes for former Pres. Jimmy Carter's project, Habitat for Humanity. Other people in the community got involved through our students interest in helping others. While designing their webpages, and during the process of interviewing, visiters to our school became interested in helping our Green School club that is working with local officials to save a major tributary area nearby, known as ARCH (Active Riparian Commensal Habitat). Students contacted local newspapers, radio stations, magazines and televisions stations to make them aware of the International CyberFair Project and to promote our web site. Our parents and community members who assisted us in our project will be invited to a CyberFair reception in which we will share our project and our contest outcome. We have also invited the Governor of Georgia, our principal and assistant principals as well as local newspapers and television stations to be a part of our reception on May 2001.
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
The project was sucessful because it not only made students aware of the needs in their community but the avenues in which they could respond to those needs. Many students became more involved in performing community service work such as Project Elbow Grease which is a student group committed to helping others. Habitat for Humanity; a building project to help those who could not necessarily afford a home on their own. Students were too young to actually help build homes, so they instead rallied other people in their area to get involved by handing out fliers about how to volunteer, and putting this information on their webpage.
Students who designed this webpage instilled a sense of community within their school by supporting a canned food drive in November to help the local food pantry stock their shelves for those in need. Students took it a step further by volunteering to hand out food at the shelter during the holidays at a time that is traditionally very busy for them. Other students have pledged to work for local organizations during the summer. To date, our students have logged in over 2, 400 hours of community service.
Students learned of many ways they and their families could share in helping in the community and at the same time build close family ties. Many students got their families involved through the volunteers they met and interviewed. The experience, they found, is an enriching one that Community members became actively involved as students began to spread the word that they had designed a webpage that others could access either to get help or to volunteer. Local suburbs added a link to this site for interested parties to use.
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
Students would like to thank the many individuals who helped them make this a successful learning experience. Among these are the many volunteers who support our community through their commitment and work to help others...you know who you are and some of you are mentioned on this website! You instill in us a sense of community through your ability to share your talents and unite our community toward one goal.
Students would also like to thank the several people who helped make this webpage possible through their technical expertise (and sense of humor which saved us all!) They are: Jill Tucker (our webmaster), Nancy Keber (our teacher)and Joyce Hallman (resident webpage expert).
Last but not least, our families who support us through thick and thin. They drive us everywhere we need to go, and show us undue patience during the maddening rush to finish our projects. They are a HUGE help and we could not accomplish much without them. THANK YOU!
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