General Information Program Goals Resource Connections Curriculum Connections Intended Participants

  General Information

Learner's Project is a project to develop a Network of students from across the island, the country and internationally that will enable special needs students in our small community to widen their horizons.

In our school, students with special needs are those students who need assistance to cope with the regular program. With assistance like extra time to do exams or help interpreting questions, they can successfully complete the program. Students with special needs also includes students who need a modified program within the regular program.

Within the school system today, students with special needs are successfully integrated into the regular classes and being exposed to writing skills, social studies skills and science skills as never before. Many of these students come from situations where their experiences are limited by their native communities. Living in a community of 4000 has its advantages, but it does not offer exposure to varied experiences when job and money restrains requires that the family stay full time within that community. Access to the Internet will allow the students to e-mail, and thus converse with, children from other communities and cultures who could share their experiences. This will as well give the students practical experiences in writing skills. It will also open up avenues to research that the library resources in a small community do not allow.

Students at the Junior High level are curious about the world around them and anxious to experience it. The school, with an Internet connection, is the best forum for exposure to a wide variety of experiences that will enrich them academically as well as socially.

  Program Goals

The goals of the project are:

1. To broaden student horizons about their community.
2. To develop writing and spelling skills.
3. To develop research skills.
4. To develop an interest in researching diverse topics.
5. To establish a diverse resource of information.
6. To develop communication skills.

This project can be integrated into other subject areas, including mathematics, language arts and social studies. It will also provide students with exposure to the skills required for the Canadian work force including academics skills, personal management skills, and teamwork.

  Resource Connections

• Internet connection.

• Internet Server to place WWW pages on.

• Computer Systems capable of running WWW software.

  Curriculum Connections

This project meets course objectives in various areas, including Language Arts, Social Studies and Science.

  Intended Participants

• All junior high schools in Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond
  
• Students with special needs in St. Francis Xavier School
  
• World Wide Web