1. Please provide a brief description of the entry (100 word limit) The project we would like to enter is a website that describes how to build and use a waterfall demonstration platform in the classroom. This site includes construction directions, diagrams, classroom activity ideas, images of the construction process and video clips.
3. Describe the differences between student team members access to technology(250 word limit) Our team had access to two multi-media computers and the internet in our technology classroom. Team members varied in their technological skill, but we all improved during the course of the project. Three team members, including myself, took a video training course at MediaOne, our local cable provider. The training allowed us to videotape the construction of the waterfall. We created one minute video clips of several science teachers describing how they would incorporate the waterfall into their classrooms. Team members used the community studio at MediaOne to edit the video clips. Some team members used computers at home to help with the project.
4. How did your team members collaborate to create your entry. (250 words limit) Collaboration occurred throughout the waterfall project. Everyday our team met during first period to organize project tasks that would be completed that day. Tasks were given out to team members with different skills. Outside of school the team collaborated over the phone and through e-mail. Our team worked with a California student and his father, a science teacher. Their contribution included images of erosion and science activities that could be used with the waterfall.
5. What unique skills did you bring to the team and how did they contribute to the entry formation? The unique skills that I contributed were team leadership, computer and video knowledge.
6. Was this Entry submitted in the a previous ThinkQuest contest? No
7. How did the Team members cooperate to form the Team? Develop the idea? And develop the Web pages? The team was formed through volunteers from the eighth grade technology education class in response to a request. As the project developed the team changed. A social studies teacher had requested the technology class build a landscape that would compliment an activity. The project became interdisciplinary when we found that science teachers where interested in using the waterfall in their classrooms.
8. Were there any problems encountered in forming the Team, or creating and testing the Entry? Problems were encountered during the waterfall construction phase and entry development. Solutions were developed through the collaborative efforts of many people. A few problems slowed the platform construction down. Several construction designs were attempted that did not create desired results. We had to redesign and change materials several times. Once we started developing our entry we realized that we needed to recruit technical expertise. Assistance was needed in the areas pertaining to video application on the internet, and web page development. Several people contributed their knowledge and experience. Bringing these different entry pages together to a coherent whole was difficult.
9. What are the educational objectives of this Entry? (250 word limit There are more than one educational objective in this project. A few of the main ones are to teach students about sedimentation, erosion, and floodplain creation. This piece of equipment will make it easier to explain the concepts and help the students understand. Students will be physically able to touch and experiment with the waterfall. They will be able to create floodplains and see how floods can change a landscape. The waterfall can also demonstrate mud slides and show their devastating effects.
10. In what ways does your entry foster and encourage sharing and collaboration by users? Our entry encourages users to contribute and share through the “site-improvement button”. This button allows users to add suggestions and ask questions. Suggestions will be posted to the site. These can be located on the suggestion bulletin board.
11. In what ways are your Web pages designed to encourage students and teachers to use them as an educational resource? For any teacher or student that visits our web site they will find directions to create the waterfall, science teachers explaining potential uses of the model, and ideas for various activities.