Westinghouse High School 1994-95 Action Plan

Project Summary

The Westinghouse SAM program is using the Internet to help facilitate the
research aspect of its program.  SAM students will use the Internet to
access human resources via email, mailing lists and newsgroups.  Accessing
human resources is necessary to obtain expert guidance pertaining to
issues raised in the laboratory research.  SAM students will also use the
Internet to access data resources in libraries, databases and archives. 


Curriculum Project


1) In 9th grade the students will investigate the following:
	Ethics policies pertaining to Internet use
	Email used as a communication tool on the Internet
	Newsgroups used to post queries pertaining to particular subjects
	Mailing Lists used to communicate with relevant professionals

Implementation: (Sparvero and Michaels) The 9th grade problem solving
class and their teachers will use 6th period to conduct this research. 
This will occur in Room 215 and in Room 216.  Half of the class will be
able to access the Internet at any given time and the other half will have
access to word processors to document their efforts. 

Evaluation: The students will keep a portfolio that consists of:
	�	email correspondences with a pen pal
	�	postings and responses on a newsgroup pertaining to a
		topic of the student's interest
	�	demonstrated participation in a mailing list
	�	a log that reflects on the experience of accessing human 
		resources on the Internet

2) In 10th grade the students will investigate the following:
		Using Gopher for research
		Using Mosaic for research
		Using Libraries for research
		Using WAIS for research
		Using keyword searches in veronica, PenPages, etc.
		Using FETCH to download files

Implementation: (???) The tenth grade classes will access the Internet during 
their 7th period problem solving class.  They will use the library computers 
for access throughout the year.  They will also have access to the lab in Room 
215 during the second semester.  

Evaluation: The students will conduct a research project on a subject of their 
own choosing.  The research should access all appropriate resources on the 
net.  The students will be evaluated on their final research project , the 
references used and the quality of the research.  Students will continue to use 
email to facilitate their research and keep their teacher informed of their 
efforts.  


3) In 11th grade, the SAM students will actively use the Internet to
facilitate their actual research project.  Specifically this will be used
to conduct the literature search and to communicate with mentors. 

Implementation:  (O'Donnell and Maccagnan) The students and teachers will 
use rooms 215 and 216 during the first semester.  Half will have access to the 
Internet and half will have access to word processors.  Second semester the 
students will be conducting their research in the labs.  They will move the 6 
machines from Room 216 into the two science labs.  They will continue to use 
the Internet as their research progresses. 

Evaluation:  There will be no direct evaluation.  The students are laying the 
ground work for their final projects during their senior year.  However, they 
should have a draft version of their literature search, and a working 
relationship with their mentors.

4) In 12th grade, the SAM students must complete their research project.  

Implementation: (O'Donnell and Maccagnan) During the first semester the
students will write up their report and complete all aspects of their
research.  The second semester will be spent producing a student WWW home
page that will show all aspects of their research activity including the
final report. 

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on the basis of the quality of
their final report and their presentation on the WWW.  This page will be
made available to the entire Internet community via the CK:P WWW server. 



SUPPORT:  Westinghouse will continue to get tech and ed support from the 
CK:P staff during TIP times (at their request), via email and via telephone.
They will also have the opportunity to attend workshops on server 
administration and using html to develop home pages.