This section explains the project elements found in the CyberFair Project Assignment.
The project fit nicely into our language and social study guidelines in the areas of interviewing, writing and local history. Our Board of Trustees is keen on our students doing community service projects and this project was perfect in that regard. Listening and interpreting skills were improved as well as writing. For some students, visiting with the elders was their first ever meeting with senior members of the community. Deciding on the form of the final pages and interview questions meant that we were required to practice cooperative study and work. Questioning elders about living conditions and "old times" has given us a good concept of modernization and an appreciation for our community. In language arts, we are required to do interviewing and writing. In social studies, we pursue local history and the growth of California. In computer skills, we had a chance to learn scanning and using the Internet. We learned that many people we do not know have always been concerned about our small school and its students. Our school and its students have been an important part of this rural community. The Internet has allowed us to look at educational projects and students that we would never have a chance to know. We had a chance to publish our material in a new way. By putting our work on the Internet, more people can see our work and enjoy it.
We used recorders, video cameras, 35mm cameras, telephones, computers, digital camera, scanners, and printers. The cameras, recorders, and scanners help us to gather information and images for the compiling of the project. Computers helped us write our information and the modem and telephone helped us to arrange for interviews and finally to see our project in a completed state. Tools were located in the classrooms and computer lab of Vista de Las Cruces School. All of the tools were acquired by the school or belonged to teachers. Video and audio recording and computers were most valuable to us as we went to the ranches to visit the elders. These tools allowed us to concentrate on our hosts and later we could write down the information. Computers, scanners, and HTML editors were very helpful to us. Without these, we could not have put together the project.
When we visited the ranches we told our hosts that our work would be on the Internet. Some students live on the ranches and we contacted our elders directly. We traveled to the ranches and interviewed our hosts. Sometimes, we would hike around the ranch. Some ranchers let us visit their orchards. They simply told us or the teachers that they were happy about what we were doing.
Some parents have seen our pages. We have looked at them in class. The project is the first of its kind in this community and our senior citizens are the featured people in the project. One Trustee wrote us an email note telling us how much he liked the pages. So far, everyone who has seen the pages has enjoyed them and is glad to see them.
The teachers in the school helped us as well as the good ranchers in the community. Each of the teachers helped in certain parts of the project.