Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh

School Reform From the Bottom Up:
Internet Case Studies

/projects/ckp/publications/presentations/talk6.html

Presentation made at:

Regine Fougere's Lesson Plans
Curriculum development takes on a new meaning when educators feel empowered to use the Internet in their classrooms. Regine Fougeres, a German teacher at Schenley H.S. is now using the World Wide Web to develop lessons for her German classes. The book is not necessary when a teacher chooses to use primary sources available on the Internet.

Linda Savido and Kathy Olesak's Virtual Library
The Pittsburgh Public School Library Home Page is the result of a professional collaboration between Kathy Olesak at Schenley H.S. and Linda Savido at Westinghouse H.S. Through use of the Internet, these two educators in remote locations have collaborated and developed products that are useful for the school district and the Internet community.

SlipLube
Two students - John Fail and Brian Miles, at Brashear H.S., developed a package of software that provides SLIP software and configuration for the PC. This independent project (part of their gifted IEP) provided John and Brian with the opportunity to go far beyond typical classroom activities and develop a user-friendly product for the school district.

Deanna Harris and the SAM Project
The Westinghouse Science and Mathematics Program (SAM) gives students the opportunity to conduct scientific research. SAM students use the Internet to post research questions to newsgroups, to collaborate with online mentors via email, and to publish their final reports on the WWW. Use of the Internet has forced the SAM program to restructure how classes are scheduled and how students work together. This restructuring has students beginning their introduction to the Internet in the 10th grade problem solving courses. This continues in the 11th grade where students collaborate with 12th graders to conduct their research.

The 3Rivers Poetry Forum.
3Rivers is an online poetry forum. It includes a number of Western Pennsylvania writing groups - elementary schools, high schools, and local writing workshops. Each group publishes and maintains a presence on the Net through the forum. This is an example of providing a place where multi-age groups can publish their work and receive feedback.