CyberFair Project ID: 5352

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Alexandria Erosion
Category: 7. Environmental Awareness
URL: http://www.alexandriaerosion.com/
Bibliography: http://www.alexandriaerosion.com/reference.htm

School: Bibliotheca Alexandrina - Young People's Library
    Alexandria, 21526, Egypt

5 students, ages 12-17 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 18, 2008. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 0

Classes and Teachers: Sherine Said

E-Mail contact:

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

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

We consider our community to consist of the local population of Alexandria. Alexandra is the second-largest city in Egypt and also its largest seaport, with a population of 3.5 to 5 million. Alexandria’s shores are one of the most important sources of tourism within Egypt and thus, one of the main sources of national income within Egypt.

2. Summary of Our Project

Our project is about climate change and its effect on the world in general, and in particular, on Alexandria. We have created this website to ask the world to cooperate and rescue Alexandria. Thus, our mission is to raise environmental awareness. The site includes our vision and access to important information such as global warming and the harmful effects of beach erosion within Alexandria. The site also contains our proposed solutions to such issues and how it concerns the people of Alexandria. Global warming is threatening Alexandria's beaches and livelihood, and Alexandria, with all its history and cultural heritage is about to drown.

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:not sure

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

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

Team members worked online through Google group discussion

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The main problem that the team faced was a lack of time as we started the project 20th February and the students were busy with school exams and not enough time for meetings in the library. We overcame this problem by creating an online discussion group through Google for support, exchanging information and experiences. We organized meetings to finalize our project in the library. Also, we faced a technical problem in uploading the website onto the server but it was quickly resolved.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Participating in an International competition highlighted the importance of information exchange, communication, concern for the future of our community and teamwork.

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

Only recently have people become aware of how badly they have treated the environment. Only now are we trying to understand how to safeguard our future and rescue our society from pollution, erosion and other such dangers. The library’s mission is to complement the school curriculums with additional resources; introduce young adults to information technology; develop their reading and research skills; and develop young adults' awareness and knowledge. We discovered new methods and habits that may help in protecting our environment. We learned more about erosion and global warming and its effect on our future. Participants developed their reading, research and communication skills. The Internet plays a big role in information exchange and yet much of our population still lack access to the internet and many people are unfamiliar with using such technology.

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Project Elements

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

To complete our project we used: library resources such as computers, books, internet, online databases, newspaper and periodicals, digital cameras, scanners, recorders and telephones. Participants used computer software such as: Flash, Photoshop, Word and Internet explorer. All tools were very helpful and efficient in complementing and completing our project. All the above tools were provided at the library. Students had home computers with Internet access and use of the Google discussion group saved time. Computers were the most valuable tool and lacking such a tool would have meant non-participation in the competition. Internet access was the most useful technology that the group utilized, as it facilitated team communication.

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

As the team consisted of students from different schools, they started to discuss the idea of the project with fellow class mates who joined in the search for information which further encouraged others to search and find solutions for beach erosion in Alexandria. Parents also showed enthusiasm, as they tried to help their kids in gathering information from specialists in the field. Most of the people that saw the project were impressed with the idea and with how our team organized the work with a deadline of 3 weeks only. It was a great challenge to finish on time.

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

We hope that our project will help in saving the environment not only in Alexandria, but the world over. Our mission is to raise environmental awareness, protect our society and discover how we can make better use of our environment. In our project, some information about our community is given, allowing others to understand and thus, help us save the world from erosion and global warming.

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

As there was not enough time for asking others for assistance, we tried as a team with the guide of our librarians to understand what each member could do. Information was obtained through self-learning and team organization enabled tasks to be readied on time. Our gratitude lies with the library that gave us a great deal of support and also with Dr. Mamdouh Hamza, who provided us with wonderful photos about beach erosion in Alexandria.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

As Egypt is considered a developing country, we found that the students tried to educate themselves through reading and self-learning, without depending on the government for support or subsidiaries. Such dedication indicates the love they have for their country and the understanding needed to improve their environment for the better.

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