School: School
    Focsani, , Romania

10 students, ages 11-15 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 14, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2010, 2011

Classes and Teachers: Mereuta Elena Camelia

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.cnaic.ro

1. Description of Our Community

Focsani city known traces of habitation since the Neolithic.From the sixteenth century he is mentioned in the context of military confrontation between the two monarchs:Ioan Voda the Brave in Moldova and Alexandru Voda in the Romanian Country. Focsani city lived tragedy wars of lesser or greater extent,in the eighteenth century during the confrontation between Russia,Austria and the Ottoman Empire.The city suffered from the transit of Russian troops to the Balkans in the years 1877-1878,the human sacrifice of Regiment 10 Dorobanti in battles from Bulgaria,at Plevna.He became,without the pleasure of its people,a theater of military confrontation and in the twentieth century,it suffered from German occupation between 1916-1918 and in World War II. Wars have brought trouble,human and material damage, have caused panic and fear among people. An important moment in history of Focsani,is the year 1859, city linking his name forever by this national act.It was made the unification of Moldova with Romanian Country. After 1950, during communism, is recorded a rapid industrialization process with direct implications in the economic growth, population migration to urban areas and thus in the urban structure of the city. After the fall of Communism,1989,a part of the active population in Focsani migrated to Western countries and created problems for local economic development.

2. Summary of Our Project

The project 'Focsani in Wartime' (1916-1918) aims to describe the history of this city during the First World War, the city suffered from German occupation, because it was at few miles from the front line. In this project, partners of National College 'Al.I. Cuza' were at Museum of History of Vrancea county, State Archives, branch Vrancea County, High School Teacher 'Spiru Haret'in Focsani. The activities were designed using as educational mean field research and the theater. Students, throught methods they used,can better understand local, national and global history, a responses to the consequences of wars (need help to people suffering because of armed conflicts, the role of the Red Cross), and the meaning and importance of local cultural heritage and nationally. The development of civic responsibility and ownership to local and national community, an active behavior towards human rights, a presentation of alternative leisure activities for students were objectives of this project. The tragedy caused by war and suffering throughout the procession unites people in a community, in our case, the city Focsani. Describing the city we can learnmany things. In concordance with the proposed theme by CyberFair, our project aims a sustainable developing for sensitivity and respect of students for local and national history, local and national heritage values ??as a means of knowledge and conservation of our own identity. By knowledge of local history, sacrifice of local heroes, and by the protection of indigenous cultural heritage, by encouraging the mobility and intercultural dialogue among young people, this project opens a crucial perspective of civic development, of responsible membership in the community, the development of tolerant behavior, avoidance of war as a means of dispute resolution. Values ??and attitudes promoted by the project completed cognitive dimension of learning with the emotional, attitudinal and moral.

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:not sure

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The project was evolved over a long period of time, 12 months and involved work of research because there is no book or website that captures all the testimonials about the city during 1916-1918. Many materials found in original. They were either at the History Museum or Archives State, Vrancea county branch, and for which was need special advice to consult them, because our age under 18. Thus, we appeale to teachers or other adults. In the case of documents to playback the history of city during World War I, they are few, being destroyed under the German occupation at 1916-1918.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

The project contributes to develop students' sensitivity and respect for local and national history, for local heritage values ??as knowledge and preserving mean for their own identity. By knowledge of local history, sacrifice of local heroes, but also by the protection of indigenous cultural heritage, students, as future active members of the community, show civic responsibility, develop a tolerant behavior, campaigning to prevent aggression as a means of dispute resolution.

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

The development of research , communication (verbal, nonverbal-theater, visual) activity, meant to develop skills and competencies. Were formed attitudes and values ??such as: critical and flexible thinking, positive relations, respect for fundamental human’s rights , forward thinking training by understanding the role of history in the present life as a predictor of change,a non-violent handle of conflict, assuming tolerance. The project has developed skills and civic skills, interpersonal and social: the ability to demonstrate solidarity in solving tasks, to relate effectively with partner institutions, to communicate constructively in different social situations (to tolerate other points of view, to acknowledge individual and collective responsibility), to awareness and understanding the local and national identity in interaction with other identities, the ability to use technological tools.

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

We use computers to make websites,telephones to comunicate, digital cameras to make movies, scanner to make digital imagine from picture, libraries to read books, oral interviews to understand what important are our project, and software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Dreamwaver, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint. The documentation for the project was done by consulting city monographs, general works about World War I from the school library and the museum of history. Original documents, photographs of that period, we studied from the State Archives and from the History Museum. We documented using also literature, the book 'Dragon' by the writer Hortense Papadat-Bengescu, work that describe the atmosphere in the city during the war.

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

The development of project meant a work team, students, teachers, researchers from the museum and archives. Project activities were publicized through the school site. With the support of the museum and local archives, the project was known by local councilors. Permanently was a communication with the media, in local press, at the local radio and theatrical presentation moments in local TV station broadcasts. Using various media, phone, invitations at activities, email, the project was known in the county. At national level, we participated in a contest with this project 'Culture and civilization in Romania', at the section sensibilities and mentalities of the community.

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

•The project has proved uniqueness by the theme approached- an indedited approach to history of a city during the war. Professionalism was manifested by the discovery and study of some documents and when were encountered obstacles, were consulted experts from the museum and archives. •The values ??and attitudes promoted by the project makes it different from other projects. They complete the cognitive dimension of learning with the emotional, attitudinal and moral dimension, highlighted also by making sketches, respecting the truth of the sources consulted. •Humanitarian issues, civic responsible, both in peacetime and during armed conflict was popularized by students involved in the project,in activities participating also teachers, parents, local councilors, representatives of the media. •There has been a chain of volunteers and enthusiasts among students that represented a valuable source of research development and promotion history of local heritage.

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

Students volunteers searched the documents of the local museum and archive and studied the monographs’ city. Conclusions and a series of unpublished documents were presented in the activities. Other students have inventoried buildings and sites of historical significance related to World War I, have done some scenarios presenting drama of the city, the mentalities and sensibilities of the inhabitants of the city in the time of war. Our co-partners, students of the high school 'Spiru Haret' helped us to achieve artistic moments and at inventory of assemblies art in the city. For setting the objectives and activities, both schools being at some distance away, communicated by phone and email. Project partners, local History Museum and local archives, have asure access to documents and expertise.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

The project supported personal and professional development of young people so that they become active and responsible participants in community life where they live,they have acquired a broad set of values, including: respect for diversity, respect for historical truth, fairness, tolerance, human dignity and freedom of expression. Activities have helped to develop a sense of interconnection, by rights and responsibilities shared between students and the local community, trying to make up for deficiency in the educational system - the relationship between school and local community - by involving students in performance and development projects. Reconstruction of the past through the theater was a way of attracting young people in volunteering project.It represented a way of leisure in a constructive manner.