Students Laura and Megan, along with their coaches, T. J. Fletcher and Joshua Barnd, developed their Dinosaur Treks web site about dinosaurs, their tracks and extinction theories. Winners of the international competition will be announced in mid-November. Web sites will be judged on educational content, technical excellence, interactivity and imaginative use of graphics. Teams are also assessed on their ability to work together and share information and skills. Most teammates never meet in person but use the Internet to design their entries.
Students learn how to work together across time zones and different languages.
ThinkQuest unites international students through technology and education, said Betty Schweizer, TIES co-executive director. It is a tremendous way to engage students in learning. As the Minnesota state partner of ThinkQuest 2001 Internet Challenge, TIES invites students ages 12 to 19 to create an interactive educational web site. Applications for the ThinkQuest 2001 Internet Challenge will be accepted online beginning December 4, 2000. TIES is a nonprofit consortium of 36 Minnesota school districts that has been bringing technology and education together for more than 30 years.