Project 3: UPLOAD:98 - Hosting an
Online Science Fair

General Information Project Overview Curriculum Connections Resource Connections Evaluation

  General Information

  Project Overview

The UPLOAD:98 project is developed to offer an opportunity for science students from any Stellar school to participate in an online science fair that would be hosted by Templeton Collegiate. Students are given the chance to upload HTML files about their own science projects so others may view them online. Each science program at Templeton Collegiate requires its students to complete an independent science project.

The concept would be similar to that of the traditional science fair in that each participant would be required to investigate an issue of scientific concern which interests them.

However, the benefits of Internet technology will allow several neat twists and enhancements to the "standard" science fair:

1. All presentations will occur via access to the UPLOAD:98 homepage.
2. Participants may respond to questions via e-mail.
3. Not required:
   - a building/gymnasium for setting up displays
   - no long waiting periods in the fair
   - transportation to the fair
   - accommodations at the fair

Virtual travel through hyperspace allows students :

1. To participate at their own convenience.
2. To be environmentally friendly (less petro exhaust to the air, land, water since physical transport of participants and equipment is not necessary.
3. To be independent; no requirement for chaperones, billets.
4. To participate even in a blinding snow storm if communication lines are intact.

  Curriculum Connections

Allows the students to:

• appreciate that a general scientific method consists of 3 phases:
  1. a creative phase 2. an investigative phase 3. a recording and reporting phase
• choose a question to investigate a scientific issue
• identify possible sources where information on the chosen question/investigation can be gathered
• collect information related to the study
• decide on the level of difficulty, depth, complexity and completeness is necessary to investigate the question
• execute a scientific procedure to aid investigation
• organize the data collected from the investigation using a combination of charts, tables, graphs and photographs
• prepare a report
• communicate the methodology and the results of the investigation

Core Technology Outcomes:

Students will:

1. work effectively in several communications media
2. use communications technologies to build new knowledge from existing information
3. create and use HTML documents to access, evaluate, and use appropriate information
4. use communications tools to create , modify and disseminate information
5. demonstrate appropriate use of telecomputing technology including: log on/ log off, e-mail, download/upload, internet, world wide web, and homepage.

  Resource Connections

The core team of students on the project will consist of 5 students from each grade level (6).

This team will be responsible to:

• design the host homepage for the science fair
• design, package and distribute electronic info-blurbs to promote the idea of the fair, its registration and upload procedures, as well as the actual times of the fair
• contact and invite all Stellar Schools to participate
• integrate digital photographs into the homepage
• utilize the skills and talents from the school’s Art and Design students
• solicit help/coaching from their peers registered in the technology related courses at school
• link the page to the school’s homepage
• archive the web files after the fair is completed

  Evaluation

This project is intended to produce a forum to display science projects submitted by Newfoundland students

(Gr. 7 - Level III). Although the project will invite and encourage participation from all Stellar Schools, the core group of students who set up the project may be evaluated on their skills and knowledge of the following:

• basic understanding of the interactive design of the Internet
• appreciation for a provincial Stellar Schools Network
• compare and contrast the difference between WAN and LAN
• differentiate between e-mail software, graphical WWW browsers, and presentation software
• establish and maintain an electronic post office to receive submissions from participants and to exchange ideas and opinions between the design team and the participants
• participate in creating a province wide interactive forum
• provide their own evaluation of their utilization of the Internet as a resource and gallery.