Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh

PPS Students Write About the Internet

From cm7i+@andrew.cmu.eduThu Nov 14 02:29:40 1996
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 20:20:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Colleen Mclaughlin 
Subject: newsletter

    my name is colleen mclaughlin and i am a full-ib student at
schenley.  i use the internet very much and if i didn't have the
opprotunity at school, i probably would not now have it at home. in my
german class we have used e-mail to write to german students studying
computers in germany.  i have had four or five german e-mail pals.  i
also use my e-mail to keep in touch with friends who i don't see much
of.  (contrary to popular belief, high school students do not spend ALL
of their time socializing.)   i have used the internet in several
classes outside of my german source to do research and simply find
interesting things.  i am really glad the the pittsburgh public schools'
teachers use the internet as a learning tool rather than just a toy.  
                thank you for your time.
                    -colleen mclaughlin
                     cm0008@sparta.schenley.pps.pgh.pa.us

---

From rydain@ix.netcom.comThu Nov 14 02:29:47 1996
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 13:48:26 -0800
From: Gillian Kinney 
Subject: How I use the Internet

Hi!  My German teacher forwarded this message to me.  I'm a Web 
enthusiast who loves to write e-mail, so here's my paragraph on how I 
use the Internet:

One of my favorite Internet features is the great availability of 
resources in foreign languages.  My class uses the Internet to explore 
websites written entirely in German.  Because these sites were designed 
for native speakers, reading them and taking notes greatly helps us to 
improve our language skills.  There are many such websites, and we can 
access them quickly thanks to Schenley High School's special high-speed 
Internet connection.  I also used the World Wide Web last year to 
research a biology term paper.  Not only is the Internet a terrific 
educational tool, it is lots of fun for me as well.  Anyone can find 
mailing lists and sites for his or her interests on the World Wide Web. 
For instance, I am a Nintendo fan who enjoys using the newsgroup 
rec.games.video.nintendo and a mailing list to trade tips and opinions 
with other game enthusiasts.  I have also bought used Nintendo games 
from newsgroup members.  Over the past year or so, I've discovered the 
Internet's amazing potential for both learning and leisure.

Hope this proves useful to your newsletter. :) Some of my classmates 
will be writing to you as well.

Gillian Kinney
(age 17, grade 12, Schenley High School)

---

From kb1001@sparta.schenley.pps.pgh.pa.usThu Nov 14 02:30:06 1996
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 07:28:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Katherine Beattie 
Subject: internet usage

to whom it may concern,
  my name is katherine beattie, and i am a senior at schenley high school
in the German I.B. program.  Without our access to the internet, our
german learning would be severely limited.  it allows us to contact other
german students living in germany and keep in touch with them. also, we
are able to experience authentic german writing through the newsgroups and
such.  we need our computers.  please let us keep them.
						sincerely,
					katherine beattie

---

From rp0010@sparta.schenley.pps.pgh.pa.usThu Nov 14 02:30:11 1996
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 07:32:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Rebecca Presser 
Subject: Re: Bitte lesen!

To whom it may concern:
My name is Rebecca Presser and I am a junior at Schenley High School. I
am in the International Baccalaureate German class and we use the Internet
and e-mail frequently for various projects. For instance, we have pen pals
in Germany who we e-mail every two weeks. Also, we use the Internet to
find material and information on various topics designated for research.
Although computers offer a wide variety of topics and a lot of detailed
information, I find them hard to use because I am not very
computer-literate, and it usually takes a long time for the computer to
find information.

---

From prakowsk@jedi.sh.pps.pgh.pa.usSun Nov 17 16:48:26 1996
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:04:20 -0500 (EST)
From: Pamela Rakowski 
Subject: Re: newsletter 

We are doing a study about ants in our third grade classroom at Spring 
Hill Elementary School. We read the story "Two Bad Ants" and we have a 
real ant factory. We feed and take care of our ants. Our class 
watches the ants make tunnels so that we can do observations. Using 
Netscape we visit http://www.timetrend.com/anthill/index.htm to learn 
interesting facts about ants, and do fun things like read stories and 
jokes. There is even a gift shop where we can order an ant farm of our 
very own. We send e-mail telling other people about our study. Our study 
of ants is very interesting!!!

By: LeVar Harris and Nikole Stevey 

---

From jd1006@hermia.woolslair.pps.pgh.pa.usSun Nov 17 16:48:35 1996
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 13:14:14 -0500 (EST)
From: Jocelyn Daller 
Subject: newsletter

Dear Mr. Wertheimer,
  My name is Jocelyn Daller.I go to the Woolslair Gifted Center.I use the 
internet in my studies when i need someone to talk to.I also use the 
internet to find information from different states and countries.
I have an e-mail account from my Computer Bytes class.
              I am interested in what other kids in different states
and countries in my grade are doing in thier schools.I had keypals from 
Holland and Wisconsin.
                     Sincerrely,
                     Jocelyn Daller 

---

From ebwhite@lisa.liberty.pps.pgh.pa.usSun Nov 17 16:48:42 1996
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 14:31:35 -0500 (EST)
From: "Liberty School, Room 103" 

This is Woody and Hao. Our homeroom number is 103 and our teachers name is
Ms.Figallo.  In the morning,we look up info on the internet about the
sunrise/sunset,and weather data for extra credit. We go to these sites: 
http://www.weather.com/weather/us/cities/PA_Pittsburgh.html and
http://riemann.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/docs/SunMoon.html We record the data
in our journals to see how long the day is,and how high the temperature
is.  It is hard,but fun. We do this every day,and it is sometimes
challenging(we sometimes miss a few days)!  :):):(:(:Hao Su and Woody
March-Steinman

---

From ochs@pps.pgh.pa.usSun Nov 17 16:48:57 1996
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 11:19:57 -0500 (EST)
From: Phyllis Ochs 
Subject: Re: newsletter 

Dear Mr. Wertheimer,
     My name is Nina Stevenson at Woolslair Elementry Gifted Center.  In
Mrs.Ochs' room we use the internet in many different ways.  We measured
ourselves with age and height and sent the results to an internet project.
we did a lesson on Sierpinski fractals from the internet.  We also use it
for a resource.  So, there you see the internet is used a lot in room 203.

                      sincerly,
                               Nina         

---

 
From dm1009@piebald.knoxville.pps.pgh.pa.usFri Nov 22 09:33:09 1996
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 14:07:29 -0500 (EST)
From: David Milliern 
Subject: Comparison of Reseach on the Internet and in the Library.

  When you use the Internet you have to go from document to document and
that is the same as in library going book to book.  An advantage on the
Internet is you don't need to run all over the library which makes a
library worse if you're lazy.  On both it's pretty much the same when
looking for information.  You still have to read.  An advantage to using
the library is you don't get a killer headache from reading books.  Also
books can go just about anywhere but a big computer can't.  Books are much
more durable than computers.  Yet a small computer chip the size of a
fingernail can hold a whole series of encyclopedias and then some.So it's
more space being saved.  you can talk to other people on the Internet and
I don't think you can do that with a book.  Another advantage with a book
is that when on the Internet someone could give false information, that
doesn't usually happen with a book.

As I was on the Internet I saw no specific URL locations that I liked.My
teacher, Mrs. Lewis had me find the religions of the Navajo Indians,
the temperature of other places and the origin of Halloween.I like this
project because there were no tests and very little homework which made the
fairly difficult assignments a little more enjoyable. The only tests of
course are questions asked to you to see if you have been paying
attention.  In my opinion it takes a lot more effort on a computer than in
the classroom.

---

 
From jg1009@piebald.knoxville.pps.pgh.pa.usFri Nov 22 09:33:18 1996
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 14:16:16 -0500 (EST)
From: Justin Galloway 
Cc: jlewis@oberon.pps.pgh.pa.us

The Internet is easier than going to the library and doing regular
research.  On the Internet you can go places and find things just by
clicking on an icon or letter on the key board.  You can write out your
stories on the computer without worring about it being all sloppy and you
can correct it with out having all these eraser marks all over the place.
Another thing I like about the computer is you con save your work you do not
have to worie about your dog getting it or it getting ripped up you know
things like that.  Last but not least the computer is more convenient I mean
with a computer every things right their you do not have to go out any ware
all the information is right in front of you.  Thats why I like the
computer better.     

The difference is with regular research it is harder and more tiring.
With regular research you have to go out to the library and find a book it
takes longer and its boring.  usually when you pick out a book theirs a
lot of reading and a lot more than you would have to read on a computer.
When you use a book their can be pages missing it could be scribbled all
over and you wont be able to read the whole story.  Also the hassle of
going to the library and then having to take it back .  Thats the
difference between research on the internet and research in the library.
I like the internet a lot better.  

Justin Galloway
grade 8
Knoxville Middle School 

---

From figallo@lisa.liberty.pps.pgh.pa.usFri Nov 22 11:19:39 1996
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 10:10:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Jessica Figallo 

Are names are Alex CHASE,Elizabeth Danko,Hao Su,and Alice Thompson.  We
work with Miss Daddino on the computer every Thursday. She comes from
Chatham College.  We send e-mail to ourselves,and to our parents.  Our
home room teacher is Ms.Figallo in room 1O3.  We have a lot of fun on the
computer.  WE learn alot of things from the computer. 

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 09:13:19 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 
Subject: How students use the internet#1

 The students here at Schiller use the internet in many ways. First we
learned how to use the computer. Mr. Check taught us with the help of Mrs.
Sbraccia. After that Dr. Gutkind and Mr. Fagan recamended that we use the
internet more often. We use the internet for projects and when we do our
contract. One teacher Mr. Jordan uses it allot.Also for our newspaper,to
find information about anything. The internet is very important.Its alot
of fun also. Hope you have fun searching the world wide web.
                                                         Laura Harrover

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 09:36:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Written by Charla Pleasant a 7th grader at Schiller:

The Internet and the teachers have helped me so far on my report.  Mr
Check and Ms. Sbraccia have shown us shortcuts and showed us how to get on
the internet.  Mr. Fagan supplied us with the computers and the time to
work on the computers.  Dr. Gutkind supplied us with the Internet.  Mrs.
Tepper gave us addresses for the internet to help us out on the science
project.  In all the teachers are good at helping kids out on the
Internet.

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 09:36:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Written by Christie Emery, a 7th grader at Schiller:

I want to tell you about my experience with the internet.  The following
teachers, Mr. Fagan. Mr. Check, Ms. Tepper, Ms.Sbraccia, and Dr. Gutkind
have allowed me to explore the internet.  It is amazing how you can almost
find out everything from almost everywhere in the world.  I enjoyed
working with computers and especially the internet.  I hope you and
everyone else will enjoy reading about my experience with the internet.

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 09:36:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Written by Jerrod Parks, a 7th grader at Schiller:

Hi!  My name is Jerrod Parks, and I'm going to tell you how I used the
internet.  I used the internet in a lot of classes.  In social studies I
use the internet for our Roman Empire/Christianity report.  Acomputer
helper came in and showed us how to get our important stuff.  His name is
Mr. Check.  Also when we are done with our social studies work, Mr. Fagan
sometimes lets us go on the internet.  Ms. Tepper, our science teacher got
us information off the internet for our science project.  Ms. Sbraccia,
our computer teacher knows a lot of stuff about computers.

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 10:06:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Andrew Meyer 7D

        I use the internet for social studies ,science,language arts,and
the clubs I am in at school.  the internet has helped me many ways such as
finding a science project or doing a social studies project.  When we have
club meetings I have to get on the internet to look for software for the
school newspaper.  I use it at home to help me with my homeworkand more.
One thing is for sure,I would never get as much of my work today if I
didn't have the INTERNET.

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 10:06:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Carlos Boyd 7A

        Hi my name is Carlos Boyd and I'm going to tell you how I use the
internet for different things for school.  The first thing I used It for
was to print my good copy of my autobiography in english.  I also use the
internet to do research for L.A.,S.S, science ,andMath.  I also play games
on the internet,the Internet is very useful to me and other people

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 10:06:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Lloyd Wilson 7D

Hey, my name is Loyd
wilson and I go to Schiller Middle School.  What I did on the internet so
far.  One of the things I did on the internet is looking for information
on Nero, but I did not find information on Nero.  I found one thing and it
was like a letter, but written in German.  Mr. Check and Mr. Fagan tried
to read the German information but I could not use the information.  Mr.
Check told us how to use the Internet.  Mr. Fagan helps us on it for our
social studies reports and investigations.  Ms. Tepper lets us use it for
our science projects.

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 10:06:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Ryan Abel 7D wrote:

Here at Schiller Classical Academy we work on the internet in a couple of
classes.  Our computer teacher, who only teaches 8th grade and she makes
them work on the internet.  Her name is
s. Sbraccia.  Another class we work on the internet is our science
teacher.  After we get done our work, the kids know how to get on the
internet and she lets us.  Her name is Ms. Tepper.
  Acomputer guy comes in on Tuesday and shows us different ways to work on
the internet.  His name is Mr. Check.  The most times we use the internet
is in Social Studies, with Mr. Fagan.

---

 
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 10:19:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Dan Fagan 

Written by Carmen Council 7d at Schiller.

Schiller is very fortunate to have the internet. We arte able to use this
valuable resource frequently in the majority of our classes.  This is
really helping kids who don't know how to use a computer to learn also.

A lot of teachers are making it possible for us to use these computers and
to work on the net.  First of all, Dr. Gutkind has done a lot to get thew
internet into Schiller.  Also Ms. Sbraccia, Schiller's computer teacher
has done a lot to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students about th
computers even though she only teaches 8th grade.  Also a man named Mr.
Check has dedicated his time to teaching us how to work on the internet to
get information.  Our social studies teacher, Mr. Fagan lets us spend a
lot of time on the internet.  He thinks it will help us now as well as in
the future.  The newspaper staff gets to work on the computers in Mr.
Jordan's room also.  Plus we are going to begin working on the net in
science with Ms. Tepper for our science projects.

  As you can see the internet is a big part of Schiller.  Thanks to all
the people who are making it possible.  Schiller students are learning to
use the resources of tomorrow today.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: Students can get accounts if there is an Internet server at their school. This is the case at all CK:P schools and those schools that are putting this type of network infrastructure into place. For additional information, contact CK:P or the PPS Division of Computer Services.

Obtaining Help