At a recent technology conference, students presented a HyperCard program that has been an on-going project for the last four years. High school students in Rockford, Illinois, mapped all the city parks, photographed facilities, and cataloged historical information about the park system. Their elaborate presentation is even searchable. For example, a community member might search for a city park that has a soccer field, picnic tables, and wheelchair-accessible facilities. This student-prepared program will eventually be available to residents at kiosks around the city.
Presentation software lends a polished, professional touch to any type of assignment.
Technology enables students to produce attractive, well-organized, and effective messages with the power to benefit and influence a wide audience. Sheryl Hinman , a Master Teacher in the State of Illinois Honor Program, is an English and journalism teacher who earned her M.A. in educational administration at Western Illinois University. She has served as a team coach for Think Quest, a highly competitive, national Internet contest for high school students, and was named the ThinkQuest Coach of the Year at an awards ceremony held in Washington DC in November 1997. This column is a service provided by The Center for Learning to create a community of educators who can pool their experiences with using the Internet to promote student learning. The Center for Learning 21590 Center Ridge Rd.