OurStory Project Information

Low, Québec

St. Michael's High School

Western Québec School Board

Low, Québec Email:stmichaels@igs.net
Teacher: Michael Caruso
Classes participating: Grade 11 Computers
Number and ages of students: 13 students ranging from 16 to 17 years of age

Project Reflection

1. Description of School: St. Michael's High School is a rural small school located in the Outaouais region. We are located 40 minutes north of Canada's capital., Ottawa. Our school consists of 5 grades, ranging from grade 7 to 11 and has student population of 83. The students are primarily Anglophone within an Anglophone community.

2. Summary of project: The Grade 11will create an electronic chamber of commerce for local businesses and residents.

3. What obstacles did you have to overcome to complete your project?

The grade 11 students have been working on the community web site as a personal project. A core group of students were responsible for specific areas on the site. We had some difficulty with the uniformity within the site. Several problems resulted due to the number of students involved in the project and the methods in which these documents were saved and uploaded. At times we had to rename entire files and URLs, as well as file endings. The students had some difficulty with the web page templates that where provided through HRDC's Community Access Program. The templates did not meet our needs and were not visually appealing.

4. What information technology tools did you use in creating your website?

The students used a wide variety of IT tools which raged from simple word processors such as WordPad for HTML programming, Internet Explorer, a file transfer protocol program called CuteFTP, Corel PhotoHouse to create and touch up images. The class made use of a scanner to transfer pictures into JPG files. To continue, the students also created an HTML form to collect data from local businesses and services and have been collecting data to update the site using E-Mail.

5. How did the project goals relate to your curriculum?

Presently, the upper level computer classes have been learning HTML as well as have made Corel Presentation Slide Shows. The Community Web Site has given the students to an opportunity to apply these skills. Most of the outcomes within our computers curriculum have been met and surpassed. Outcomes ranged from: to create an HTML document, to upload file using a file transfer protocol program, to create HTML forms to collect data, to insert images, to create links, etc. Some students were capable of surpassing the curriculum goals by adding Dynamic HTML features that required a basic understanding of Java.

6. What has been the impact of this project on your students learning?

The project has given the students a true understanding of web site creation in a larger context. They progressed from making simple web pages to making complex sites that require indepth understanding of links and URLs. They learned that larger web sites require a wide range of talents, not only computer skills. Collaboration, communication, and patience were some of the skills used in the process of this project. The ability to attentively edit their work and the work of others is probably the most important impact on their learning. The concept of quality assurance is essential in computer programming and students have gained a true understanding for this through the Low Québec Community Web Site.

7. How did you connect with your community?

Our school was able to connect with our community through several mediums. The students made phone calls, knocked on doors, and used friends and family to get most of the data and images displayed on this site. The school also had local newspaper reporters come to the school and advertise our endeavors on the front page of the weekly paper called THE NEWS. Our site has become an electronic chamber of commerce for the community, allowing local and regional visitors to learn more about Low, Québec.

8. What would you do differently if you were to do the project again?

I truly believe that making mistakes is part of learning, at least that's what I tell my students. We may have saved a lot of time and trouble if we would have used a better plan of approach and planned ahead. The collection of data should have been completed before the actual creation of the web site. As well, we should not have used the web page templates provided by HRDC. On bright note, I can now use our mistakes and teach others how to make even bigger mistakes. In other words, learn more that before.

9. What recommendations would you give other students and
teachers wanting to run a project like this?

Do your homework, plan ahead, and get help form other subject areas such as the history class, media class, leadership classes , etc.

10. Share some of the students' thoughts on your project with us!

Not available at this time.