School: Szkola Podstawowa nr 42 im. M.Kopernika w Zabrzu
    Zabrze, Silesia, Poland

10 students, ages 11-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 19, 2008. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2007

Classes and Teachers: Ewa Widera, VIs

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://sp42.zabrze.pl/

1. Description of Our Community

First official notes about Zabrze comes from XIII century, till XX centruy was the biggest willage in Europe. Therefore Zabrze is quite young town. Zabrze is situated in the south of Poland, Central Europe. By our local community we understand all citizens of our Copernicus quarter of Zabrze. Nevertheless we live, learn in youngest quarter of town, we want to deeply and precisely get to know its tradicions and history.

2. Summary of Our Project

The students that work on project have discovered history of coal mining in our town. Thanks to theirs work the project have arise. Places, buildings, objects and citizens connected with coal industry was described. It’s made up from work, memories and legends which we want to close up with coal mining industry.

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:2-3

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:2-3

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

During work with project, we need to across several problems. These were as follows: initially we met only two times a week, on early time 7:20. The category chose was very time consuming. Each of us has another idea how to create project. Too long we wait with materials gathering, because first time that we have had to cope with such a task. Hardly anyone of us (it means pupils) had even a basic command of language HTML. It seems to us that the most serious problem was that our English skill is not good enough. Thanks to our teacher, parents and friends help we have solve general problems. Finding necessary materials was not a problem; however we had to contact many people to get their permission for using all of the materials and photographs on our web page

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Project fulfills assumptions of local attractions category. All skill and information that was achieved during project definitely overcome coursework and curriculum standards of elementary school. The pupils have to used and overcome a set of computer programs required to create a presentation. They learned intermediate level of HTML document description language. Pupils also additionally learned: how to work on text, document resources and sources, how to effective seek on Internet, students also improved their language skills and they have also found out a lot about the town's history. Using of the Internet has been very helpful because enables to obtain information quickly and easily. It also made possible to communicate with other people and verify received sources of information. Internet also enables work at home. All skills which pupils achieved during work on project will result in their future. Each of them will be able to distinguish the above standards skills required in elementary school.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

The Coal Mines - Treasure of Our Town in Past, Nowadays and in Future.

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

Project fulfills assumptions of local attractions category. All skill and information that was achieved during project definitely overcome coursework and curriculum standards of elementary school. The pupils have to used and overcome a set of computer programs required to create a presentation. They learned intermediate level of HTML document description language. Pupils also additionally learned: how to work on text, document resources and sources, how to effective seek on Internet, students also improved their language skills and they have also found out a lot about the town's history. Using of the Internet has been very helpful because enables to obtain information quickly and easily. It also made possible to communicate with other people and verify received sources of information. Internet also enables work at home. All skills which pupils achieved during work on project will result in their future. Each of them will be able to distinguish the above standards skills required in elementary school.

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

To complete our Cyber Fair Project we used: 10PC in students homes, 10PC in school, PC at teachers' home, printers, digital camera, scanner, telephones, libraries, books, the Internet, museum as well as oral interviews. Most of the tools were available to us here at school. It's important to mention that our school has won fully equipped computer classroom in the all-Polish competition, therefore we had no problems in finding the needed tools.

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

Our students personally visited the Town Office, Coal Mine Museum in Zabrze. They talked to the town's authorities and people who know the town's history. Many of the adults were also interviewed by our pupils. Parents appeared to be very helpful as well. Some of them helped us by working with their children at home. All engaged people were amazed that our students are researching and creating their own web page.

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

This project enables people to see our coal mines in our Town. Many people have visited our project page. Lots of them have contacted with us by email providing testimonial about our work.

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

Mrs Dorota Kluwa from school library for searching needed materials. We thank Ryszard Kipias and Andrzej Dutkiewicz for allowing materials about historical industrial monuments in Zabrze. Here we present our teachers responsible for the project: Mrs Ewa Widera - an information technology teacher and the initiator of the project. She was responsible for the whole CyberFair project and the contacts with various institutions through electronic mail. She worked with the groups of students, checked their works and helped with all necessary problems.