Liberty Elementary 1994-95 Action Plan

Liberty International Studies
Action Plan

                                 (Working Draft)


I.  Project Summary:

     Liberty will use the Internet to expand and refine our 
communication range and to facilitate the research aspect of our 
international studies program.   We will access human resources 
through e-mail lists, mailing lists, and newsgroups; expanding access  
which will allow students to obtain feedback to encourage  them to 
reflect on their work.  Liberty  International Studies projects (such as 
weather, rainforests, etc.) require up-to-date information easily 
accessible through the Internet.


II.  Curriculum Project:

     A.  Communication

     The  Common Knowledge:  Pittsburgh  team will enable students 
to create first a traditional wall bulletin board to ease the transition 
to an electronic bulletin board.  

     B.  Research

      The Common Knowledge:  Pittsburgh  team will use Internet 
resources to collect research data to support classroom activities.  A 
limited number of students will be trained to assist in obtaining the 
data.  Internet access  will be available beginning in September.  The 
librarian will supervise research activities during resource periods.  


III.  Implementation Scenario

       A.  Communication

         During the first semester each member will post classroom 
information to the traditional wall bulletin board at least once a 
week.  By June  there will be a school-wide electronic bulletin board 
in use.   What follows is a list of the responsibilities assigned to the 
different team members:

   Kindergarten (Gigliotti) - 
        morning news
        current themes

   Third Grade (Ayala; Hays) - 
       non-routine and traditional word problems created 
            by students to be solved by other students

   Fourth Grade (Brown, McCord; Johnson) - 
       discussions of stories read or heard.

   Fifth Grade (Brosnan, Kelso, Brown; Hicks) - 
       share what they are reading and writing about.
       current science news

   Library (Dubus) - 
       maintain  the bulletin boards, first on the wall and later on the
           computers.  
       maintain the school portfolio.

   Student Council (Ida Brown)-
       Student Government information

     B.  Research

      During the school year,  team members will begin researching in 
the following areas:

     Kindergarten (Gigliotti)- 
        Weather

     Third grade (Hays; Ayala)-
         Space science

      Fourth  grade (Johnson)-
         World cultures

      Science (Brosnan)-
          Butterflies

      Intermediate team (Ayala, Brosnan, Brown, Hays, Hicks, Johnson;
          McCord)
          
          World Wise Schools
           Rainforests

     Teachers and students will do research activities in their 
classrooms as well as in the library during resource periods.

III.  Evaluation:
        
       A.   Communication

        Bulletin  board postings will be collected in a hard copy school 
portfolio.   Frequency and the providers of contributions will be 
recorded.  We also record the type and quantity of messages.  We 
will use the portfolio to reflect on the duration and scope of our 
project.  Comparisons between the wall bulletin board and computer 
bulletin boards will be made once the electronic bulletin board is 
established

        B.  Research

        Teacher and student teams will use an individual notebook  to 
record their research processes.  In addition, a log will be kept at 
each computer station recording time in, time out, and subject 
researched.  


IV.  Support Plan

        We request the following from CKP staff:
 
         1.  Provide ongoing inservices about hardware and software.

         2.  Attend regular monthly meetings with the Liberty team.

         3.  Provide support at start-up points.