The VISTA program links youth to their community. Students utilize experts in their community and present ideas for change back to the city officials.
This program has grown tremendously over the past six years to include topical issues prevalent to a variety of communities in the state. Issues include, poverty, crime, safety, water pollution, disparity of housing versus cost of living, historical renovation, youth needs and space, traffic congestion, bike and pedestrian crossings, and many more.
Our educators in the program have students ranging from 5th grade through high school presenting issues, studying them, researching them and designing solutions for change in their communities. Typically, educators work in collaborative groups and students tackle these issues and share with other students around the state via video conferencing.
As part of a technology strengthening component, students are asked to prepare a formal presentation highlighting their issue or problem of focus, research they analyzed, solutions and recommendations for the future and steps learned along the way. They then prepare a technology piece that is presented to community officials, parents, school boards and colleagues arguing their ideas.
The projects in this site represent presentations made by four teachers as entries for the 2005 CyberFair competition with the Global SchoolNet Foundation. |
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