CyberFair Project ID: 5153

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Delaware and National Hurricane Information
Category: 7. Environmental Awareness
URL: http://www.christina.k12.de.us/bayard/Cyberfair%202008/cyberfair2008/delawarehurricanesindex.html
Bibliography: http://www.christina.k12.de.us/bayard/Cyberfair%202008/cyberfair2008/bibliography.html

School: Bayard School
    Wilmington, DE, U.S.A

25 students, ages 10-12 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: Mrs.Waugh, Ms. Frank's Class

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.christina.k12.de.us/bayard/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

We are located in Wilmington, Delaware. We are a small urban city 30 minutes south of Philadelphia, about 2 hours south of New York City, and 3 hours north of Washington D.C. (The Nation's Capital). Delaware is a small state, the second smallest in the United States, with one of the lowest populations. We are located on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Summary of Our Project

Students researched the destructive nature of Hurricanes to both Delaware and the United States. Students researched Hurricane Categories, Hurricane History (Including the most devastating Hurricanes), and the effects of Hurricanes on Delaware. Students also interviewed survivors of Hurricane Frederick and an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Students compiled important information regarding Hurricane Preparedness, and Delaware’s Emergency Plan for Hurricane Evacuation.

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

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

Students only mainly had access to computers in the computer lab. The students in room 207 only received one forty-five minute class period of computer instruction in which to work on the Cyberfair project. I was able to find additional time for them to come to the computer lab, therefore most weeks they were able to come for two forty-five minute class periods.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The largest obstacle we had to overcome was time to work on the project. We also had issues with the scheduling of our guest from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). We had our guest scheduled to come in the beginning of February, however, due to a snowstorm that closed school, we had to reschedule. Unfortunately, the only time our guest was able to come was March 18th the day before the projects were due. We also could not load video onto our web page directly due to our district server constraints. Therefore, we used MSN Video for our videos

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Participating in the Cyberfair has encouraged the students at Bayard to better their research skills. Students were also very excited to be part of a competition with students from other countries.

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

· State Standards and Curriculum: In doing the cyberfair project on “Delaware and National Hurricane Information” we met the following standards. State Standards: ELA (English Language Arts) Standard 1: Use written and oral English for various purposes and audiences Standard 2: Construct, examine, and extend the meaning of literary, informative, and technical texts through listening, reading, and viewing Standard 3: Access, Organize, and evaluate information gained through listening, reading, and viewing Standard 4: Use literary knowledge accessed through print and visual media to connect self to society and culture Science: 5.317-Identify changes to a particular ecosystem as resulting from either natural or human made events and explain whether the changes are beneficial or harmful.

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Project Elements

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

We used the following hardware in the creation of our Cyberfair Project: · JVC digital Camcorder · Nikon Digital Camera · Dell Computers We used the following software in the creation of our Cyberfair Project: · Dreamweaver for web site · Adobe Photoshop · MSN Video · Microsoft Office · Windows Movie Maker We interviewed the following people for our project: · Tonya Coates survivor of Hurricane Frederick · Peggy Derle survivor of Hurricane Frederick · James Poirier of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

This year we used a digital video camera instead of VHS that made transferring our interviews to computer format much easier. It was also very easy to copy what we wrote in word to Dreamweaver. This is the second year we have used Dreamweaver in our web site for Cyberfair, and we love the ease of use. It is also very fortunate that windows has Movie Maker available to its users, it was also very uncomplicated to use.

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

Through our interviews the students were able to act as ambassadors. We interviewed two teachers that survived Hurricane Frederick, and a representative of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The students were able to explain to them what it was we were doing and about our project.

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

Our Cyberfair project will be useful to residents of Delaware, because we believe it gives good information on preparedness and what to do if a Hurricane hits and the evacuation routes for the state. We will be including the link for our project in our school newsletter so parents can use it and pass it on to friends and neighbors. It is also a useful site for anyone looking to learn about Hurricanes

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

We did not have a great deal of help with our project. The people that worked on the project were the 25 students and myself. We do want to thank the people we interviewed Tonya Coates and Peggy Derle. We really appreciate our third interviewee that took time out of a very busy schedule to come and talk to us.

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 5153)

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