School: John Muir School
    San Diego, California, USA

105 students, ages 5-18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2011. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Classes and Teachers: Kerry, Rainee, Laura, Hope, Marcia, Lindsay, Barbara W, Mike, Julia, Chet, Vince, Joan, Patti, Lusia, Barbara Wr., Jason, Richard, Monique, Caryn, John, Anne

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://sandi.net/muir

1. Description of Our Community

We have about 20-30 students in each grade K-12 and 400 students in our school. At our school we do Paideia (formal seminars and projects). We also have gardens, and we are global citizens.

There are 2 million people in San Diego, 2 million in Tijuana, Mexico, and millions more in Los Angeles. People like it here for the beaches, museums, resorts, and deserts. The attractions are Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. People work in the military, biotech, and at UCSD. We like the Chargers football team, Padres baseball, and we have the Del Mar Fair in June. We like to go to Boomers, Souplantation, Crispy Kreme donuts, In and Out Burger, and the mall. We shop at Target.

2. Summary of Our Project

Muir School's theme this year is civic duty. Muir students looked at what people can do to make a positive difference in the classroom, at school, in the community, and in the world. Muir's entry to GlobalSchoolnet this year is in Category 1, Local Leaders.

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:dedicated connection

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):

Educational software helps students to learn. Educational software also comes in many different ways. Sometimes we ask questions or see lessons displayed. We use games, videoconferences, blogs, and websites.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

We did not have problems.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

CyberFair brings our whole school together with the community. This year we met the volunteers of Balboa Park. They serve the city by working in the museums in our beautiful park. Our students met the volunteers, and many of our students decided to volunteer themselves.

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

I feel that using the Internet for teaching and learning has its benefits as well as it disadvantages. On the Internet there are also images that you can see that apply to what ever you are learning. But with a person when you can ask question, you see the body language that they chose to use. Through out our project we used both methods. We researched on the Internet for facts and information about the topics. During class I would work with my classmates asking questions through Paideia on the ideas of citizenship, volunteering and being global citizens. In Paideia we ask each other challenging question, and respect each other opinions. We use our leadership skills to help run each seminar.

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

database research, telephone, on-site interviews, movies, still photos, word processing, photo editing, Dreamweaver website creation

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

Students connected with Balboa Park wolunteers during our trip. Volunteers remarked on the interest students displayed. The Park is very happy to be featured in CyberFair. Both students and volunteers have sent letters and exchanged photos since the main visit, and groups from Muir have returned to the Park.

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

Students from Muir are currently interning and volunteering in conservation events, fundraisers for worthy causes, the office of the District Attorney, ACCESS services, and other places of service to citizens of San Diego.

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

Lusia M. contacted the many museums of Balboa Park, and all four hundred of our students visited and interviewed behing the scenes.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

The Muir community is now aware of many kinds of civic duty. The theme of civic duty connected us to government offices, to the military, and to local volunteers. Our collaboration with Balboa Park continues.