Originally we planned for the CyberZoo to be a project
involving small teams from all three upstate Living SchoolBook
schools. However when the life science teacher from Whitesboro Middle
School said she wished to include all 110 of her life science
students the focus shifted.
Now the CyberZoo project has become an integral part of her curriculum and other teachers from her team have joined the project. Their students are discovering biomes through class lessons, library research, and video conferences with scientists. They will present their new knowledge on the CyberZoo web site providing a framework of biomes on the web site in which the CyberZoo animals will be found.
In teams of two and three, the students are researching forty eight animals. The animals were selected from animal lists from the Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse, NY and the Utica Zoo in Utica, NY. The animals were selected so that three to five animals would represent each biome, and so members of as many vertebrate classes as possible could be found in each biome. The students are learning about their animals through library research, class lessons, and field trips to each of the host zoos.
The field trips will be opportunities for the students to observe and photograph their animals, and also opportunities to interview the zoo keepers to gain a deeper understanding of their animals life history, biology, evolution, niche, and habitat.
The CZ project was an aggressive endeavor using all possible communications devices including one that was not kept in the log-the use of Timbuktu for troubleshooting. This information comes from Jason BrechkoÕs log and project documents.
| Communication Events | Number |
| 53 | |
| Phone | 25 |
| Face to Face (Meetings) | 20 |
| Video Conferences | 6 |
| 1 | |
| Fax | 2 |
| October 1996: | The CyberZoo concept is developed by the Living SchoolBook. |
| December 1996: | Communication was initiated with Living SchoolBook teachers. |
| December 17, 1996: | Communication established with MOST. |
| December 18, 1996: | Rosemary Maurer expresses interest for 110 student life science class. |
| December 20, 1996: | Meeting with Burnet Park Zoo: They will participate. |
| January 10, 1997: | Video Conference with Rosemary Maurer confirms her participation. |
| January 17, 1997: | Assembled a list of university scientists to video conference with students. |
| January 22, 1997: | Phone Call to Utica Zoo: They will participate. |
| January 24, 1997: | Meeting with Ask Eric. Will use Newton's Apple Videos as VOD for CyberZoo. |
| January 28, 1997: | Meeting With Rosemary Maurer to plan CyberZoo curriculum. |
| February 4, 1997: | Began construction of the CyberZoo web site. |
| February 10, 1997: | Video Conference with Randa Ratazzi to discuss her participation. |
| February 12, 1997: | Meeting with Rosemary and Kathi Kubicki to plan web site and field trips. |
| February 13, 1997: | Confirmed field trips to Utica Zoo for March 17. |
| February 27, 1997: | Web site moved to server. |
| February 29, 1997: | Meeting with Rosemary and Kathi Kubicki to plan web site and field trips. |
| March 1997: | Students begin research of their assigned animals. |
| March 3, 1997: | Students questions for professors are installed on web site. |
| March 5, 1997: | Install software at Whitesboro and prepare for Video Conferences. |
| March 6, 1997: | Video Conference between Dr. Charlie Hall and Whitesboro students. |
| March 7, 1997: | Video Conference between Dr. Sam Mcnaughton and Whitesboro students. |
| March 17, 1997: | Field trips to the Utica Zoo - students observe and video assigned animals, interview zoo staff. |
| March 19, 1997: | Field Trip to Burnet Park Zoo - students observe and video assigned animals, interview zoo staff. |
| April 1997: | Students construct web site pages. |
| April 22, 1997: | The CyberZoo forum page is made available for the CyberZoo experts to answer students' questions. |
| April 30, 1997: | Parents night at WhitesboroÑlive video conference with Jason at SU |
| June 13, 1997: | The CyberZoo Rollout at Whitesboro Middle School. |