CyberFair Project ID: 4723

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Our San Diego Zoo
Category: 5. Local Attractions (Natural and Man-Made)
URL: http://www.muircyberfair2007.net/index.html
Bibliography: http://www.muircyberfair2007.net/WorksCited.html

School: John Muir School
    San Diego, CA, USA

148 students, ages 5-18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 8, 2007. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2005, 2006, 2007

Classes and Teachers: All classes K-12 with Anne, Susan, Steve, Rainee, Lindsay, Eileen, Hope, Monica, Stacey, Joy, Monique, Chet, Simone, Joan, Luisa, Vince, Patti, Jason, Richard, John, Eric, Sheri, Earl, Margaret, Nancy F., Martha, Kim, Jett, and Nancy J.

E-Mail contact:

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

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

John Muir School, a magnet option of San Diego Unified School District, is located in San Diego in the extreme southwestern corner of the United States. Some of our families are counted among the 250,000 San Diego Zoological Society members.

2. Summary of Our Project

As a school we decided that Muir’s CyberFair 2007 entry would be the San Diego Zoological Society, which includes the Zoo, CRES, and the Wild Animal Park. Students did research to answer these questions: 1.What impact does the San Diego Zoological Society have on our local economy? 2.How does the zoo act locally and think globally? 3.How can we make the best use of zoo resources? 4.Which endangered animals are being bred at the San Diego Zoo? What is the outlook for zoos and captive breeding programs? 5.What plans does the zoo have for the future? What is the future of biodiversity in the world? Classes and individuals turned in photos, writing, graphs, and drawings to support our website. Our students visited the Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, and CRES. Our project had notable support from our art classes, where students did animal sculptures and drawings early in the fall to inspire us all.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

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):

Our parent group and Intuit have donated forty reconditioned computers to students so that more students may use computers at home.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

5. Our Project Sound Bite

During the past three years we have come to see ourselves as a 'CyberFair School'-- united in our yearly inquiry and collaboration. Some students this year gained special access to SD Zoo exhibits, and all students benefited from the programs of the San Diego Zoo Education Department.

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

Students met standards in language, fine arts, technology, science, and math with this year's project. We made a special effort to feature numeracy through charts this year. Students appreciate seeing their work on a website, and they are using online projects as part of a digital portfolio for college applications.

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Project Elements

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

We used twenty desktop IBM PC's, twenty laptop MACs, telephones, digital cameras, scanners, teleconferencing with Skype, Muir Library, Ebsco databases, interviews, and ten visits to the Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, and CRES.

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

We did an audioconference this year which was very successful. Our students were very attentive during the discussion. Also, our students were given special behind the scenes visits with endangered species. The zoo is very much an educational institution, and they were very supportive of our student's sincere effort to support conservation worldwide through the zoo.

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

The SD Zoo is a major resource for conservationists worldwide. Our students are the future of this intense effort to preserve biodiversity. The point of view of our children is a tremendous inspiration to all of our community; through them we see the future of the earth. Their original artwork and persuasive comments are a marker of where we stand in the work of conservation at this moment.

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

Thanks to Bill who taught us about editing photos, to the MUGGERS who fixed our computers, to the Zoo for inviting us into the Panda enclosure, to the parents who donated computers, and to all who support biodiversity.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

On the basis of our last year's CyberFair project, we earned a $2500 grant from Best Buy for equipment so we will be able to do podcasts and videos next year. This program has turned Muir into a school of photojournalists and roving reporters. We connect to the world through CyberFair and other online projects.

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