Project Narrative
The Music and Art of Rochester, NY
Link
to our CyberFair 97 Entry
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Mrs. Desso, pre 1st
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Mrs. Clark, 4th/5th
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Ms. Botting, 6th
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How many students worked on this project? 600
Their ages were: 6-12 Years of Age
Our community is Rochester, New York. Rochester is rich in culture, industry, technology, history and the arts. Our school is located in an industrial/residential urban location on the west side of the city. We service nearly 700 students who come mostly from the surrounding neighborhood. The poverty level of our student population has reached 79%. Our community has many partnerships with the school that enhance the services that we provide. There is much for us to learn about our community and share with others around the world. Our local community includes faculty members, students,
parents, caregivers, residents and visitors to the Greater Rochester
Area. Our community also extends to those individuals who assist
in the devolpment of our children as healthy individuals.
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We have learned about and explored as many of the local art and music forms in our community as we can. We have contacted organizations, performance groups and artists and arranged demonstrations of their craft and talent in order for our students to appreciate the artistic wealth and diversity of our community. We have explored the history of Rochester's art and music and seen what impact it has had on the community and the world. We have brought art and music into the classrooms and exhibited the work that our students produce, be it inspired by something they learned from this project or fueled by their own imagination. We are continuing to demonstrate the power of the Internet and publishing for a global audience. The students have learned the value of sharing and collaborating in order to produce meaningful pieces of work with available technology. |
We access the Internet via 28.8 and 14.4 baud modems located in various places in our school. Our library, computer lab, and approximately 6 classrooms have direct phone lines that allow Internet access. We connect to a local Internet Service Provider (EZ Net), a local BBS (MLS Online), and America Online. We are currently finalizing plans to utilize an MCI 56K digital connection that we obtained by being Grand Prize winners in Cyberfair '96. Once the components for that line are installed we will begin serving our own site from our school off of an Apple Workgroup Server purchased in conjunction with our P.T.A. and business partners ITT Automotive and Olin Chemical Corp. |
In order to gather and process the information for a project of this size we had to overcome may obstacles and planning difficulties. In order to help things go smoothly we held organizational meetings where we brainstormed and delegated assignments. Our librarian set aside a place in the library ("Cyberfair Center") where information was accessible to all students. With the help of a parent PTA officer and community helpers, groups of students used the "Cyberfair Center" to research and compose reports and essays. We integrated this work into an already full instructional day.Due to the lack of an internal school computer network, the team needed to manage and compile work on floppy disks and have students deliver them by hand. Tracking works-in-progress and editing revisions was often hectic and frustrating. Students assisted by taking responsibility for their materials and submitting completed work on disks to the proper place in the "Cyberfair Center".Working with students at so many grade levels made age-appropriate materials hard to find. Support staff assisted students with content and vocabulary comprehension.The quickly developing technology of the Internet has made possible the ability to provide visitors to our web site with more video and audio content. We have no consultants or "technical department" to teach us the newest applications. Staff members were given release time to "figure out" this new technology on their own so that our students could present their material and ideas with cutting- edge style. |
Our Cyberfair '97 entry has inspired an understanding of the breadth and depth of the artistic talent in our community. We are developing an awareness of the enormous contributions made world-wide to the arts and technology by our city and are excited to be sharing it with the global community. |
This section explains the project elements found in the CyberFair Project Assignment.
The students learned to develop their own questions about their community and the environment in which they live. They refined and enhanced their research skills as they discovered the variety of materials and avenues available to access information. Students developed an understanding of contributions made by several ethnic groups to the artistic and cultural environment of Rochester. They also gained an understanding of team process used to establish and achieve common goals. We learned that we, as a school, can become a resource for our community by compiling a collection of information and experiences and sharing it through available technology.This project allowed for the integration of content in specialty areas emphasizing problem solving skills and effective use of information.Students, by their participation, have developed a life long appreciation and understanding of the artistic and cultural contributions that have been passed from generation to generation in the community, Students also now see our community's artistic culture as a means of emotional and intellectual stimulation .This project addressed the following district and school guidelines, goals and standards:
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Computers:
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Adobe PageMill v2.0
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Text Sources:School #43 Library
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Other Information
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We have obtained the hardware tools and some of the
software above over the last few years through our corporate
partnerships with Olin Chemical Corporation and ITT Automotive.
Other software has been donated to the school through various
channels. Some of the most useful software is available as "Shareware"
from the Internet.
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Students scoured libraries, archives and museums seeking information, pictures and ideas in order to satisfy their curiosity about the arts and culture in Rochester. They also consulted artistic and cultural experts to review the materials and resources in order to confirm authenticity and accuracy. The students contacted and arranged assistance from groups and businesses in the community through a variety of methods suchs as phone calls, letters and personal contact. They also enlisted parental support for the project. Parents were instrumental in providing support, information and community links. The enthusiasm of the students encouraged people from the community to offer their services. Due to public interest generated by this project,
we have created new business partnerships and secured future
visits by performers and Rochester's cultural icons. Other schools
have contacted us about the process of getting online and participating
in global events such as the Cyberfair.
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Through this project we continue our committment to the constructive use of computers and telecommunications in preparing our students to become global citizens. School 43 was featured in a local publication as an example of how technology can be used to enhance the curriculum. Parents and members of the community often visit School 43 to observe how technology is integrated into the classroom. We have been nominated for the Computerworld Smithsonian Award for Academia for our work with evolving technology in the classroom. This project has given the students of School 43
a sense of sharing the artistic and cultural contributions of
Rochester with the gobal community. Our community, students and
parents especially, are very proud of the level of technology
and how it is being used in our school due mainly to our participation
in the Cyberfair competition. There has been a more than 100%
increase in the level of parent involvement at our school. One
of the reasons parents give for their renewed interest in our
school is that we are doing "wonderful, innovative things"
like the Cyberfair project. |
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Our involvement in Cyberfair '97 generated much interest
and provided us with the opportunity to work with many people.
Among those volunteering their time to help our efforts were:
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Our students were very surprised to find that Rochester has produced so may famous musicians and artists. They also didn't realize that our city is responsible for some of the greatest imaging and graphic design technology ever produced in the world. One student said "When you live here everyday you don't really see all of the important things that our city has." A lesson that we all have learned from this project is that if you take the time to look around you, you can find some of the greatest treasures right in your own backyard. Now when we think of our community we will think of the important contributions of Kodak, Cab Calloway, George Eastman, Lou Graham & Foreigner, Steve Gadd, The Eastman School of Music, Ramon Santiago and many, many more. Our students are really excited about living here and are more inspired to follow their dreams.Another surprise is the willingness of people to help when asked. Many of those we contacted were very excited about our project and were willing to send us whatever materials we needed. We have a very giving and caring community. Their generosity helped make this project possible.Under every stone and around every corner we experienced serendipity! From the wit and syle of our students to the community response, the Cyberfair team made delightful discoveries every day. The children had a knack for turning dry biographies into lively prose. Also, they supplied surprising insights on performers, art forms and objects. We were delighted to find many "Rochester Roots" for the rich and famous. |
