🚀 go-pugleaf

     The San Jose Unified School District is looking for volunteers to 
provide information for a grant proposal for an ecology program and, 
if the proposal is accepted, to help set up the program.
     The proposal is called "A River Runs Through Us," and relates to 
the Guadalupe River in San Jose and its effects on all of us.  A 
science program with activities in all grades K to 12 is proposed.  
The goals of the program include introducing the students to public 
service, fostering teamwork, helping ensure a high literacy rate, and 
providing a program that can be carried through a student's entire 
school career.  If successful, the San Jose program can serve as a 
model for other school districts.  Possible program topics, depending 
on grade level, include but are not limited to hydrology, life 
cycles, agriculture, toxic waste, geology/tectonics, and human and 
animal migration.  
     The proposal is now being written.  Help is needed in determining 
computer activities that would be appropriate for this program, and 
in determining the cost of those activities so the amount of money 
requested is correct.  If the proposal is accepted, help would be 
needed in setting up the computer aspects of the program.

     Specifically, help is needed in the following areas:
- What computer-based tutorials, simulations, and games are appropriate 
for ecological studies at the various grade levels?  What hardware is 
needed to support this software--Mac vs. IBM-compatible, processor 
speed, amount of memory and disk space, multimedia requirements, etc.?
- The National Geographic Society has some projects involving 
establishing scenarios, doing research, and sharing of the results 
among schools around the country.  We need people to investigate 
these programs and determine their applicability for the proposal.
- What information relevant to the program can be obtained over the 
Internet?  What are the sources of information; what other schools 
are doing similar things; how does San Jose establish connections 
with them; and what hardware, software, and other equipment are 
needed to access the information and establish the connections?  
- Is teacher training, for this program and for other aspects of 
ecology and science, available over the Internet?
- What hardware (computers and networks) is needed at the participating 
schools, beyond the limited and aging equipment currently installed?  
Cost is an important factor here.

     Again, help is needed this summer in providing information that 
will be used in writing the proposal and particularly in determining 
the cost of items proposed; and if the grant is provided help will be 
needed in implementing the program.  For further information or to 
volunteer, please contact Merlin Dorfman at 408-268-4219 (home), 
408-756-8204 (work), FAX 408-743-0863, E-mail DORFMAN@NETCOM.COM; or 
Phil Scott at 408-447-6675, PSCOTT@CUP.HP.COM