A Telecommunications / Community-Action Project

Who | What | Where | When | Why | How

Resources: Research | Technology | Writing | Teaching Guide

Prophets :

Who

Who is this project created for? Prophets, that's who. Like the quotation says, people who can clearly see what's right and what's wrong in the world. But more than that. Prophets aren't whiners, they are doers! So who are these prophets? You, students, that's who! Who else do you think will change the world?

Specifically, students in 9th and 10th grade English, social studies, science, health, and applied technology classes will serve as core teams investigating a problem in local or global communities that they think needs fixing. Students in other grades can work as consultants, experts, researchers, data gatherers, technologists, graphic artists, etc. to help the core teams.

Professionals from across California and the world will also contribute expertise, feedback and support to the student teams as they create the projects. What are these projects? Look at the next section!

What

Nonprofit Prophets is an interactive project that challenges groups of students to investigate a problem that they see in the world and then create a World Wide Web Resource page on the Internet that teaches the world about the problem. What kinds of topics/problems will you work on? You might want to look at a list of possible topics that have already been brainstormed and/or add your own ideas.

Here are some examples of past Nonprofit Prophets participants from a Pacific Bell Education First demonstration site, Century High School in Santa Ana, California:

Centro Guadalupe Website - a comprehensive social service program

created by Ms. Saiza's students (1997)

Student Buddies Website - a student mentoring program

created by Ms. Saiza's students (1996)

La Raza Galeria Posada - a Latino bookstore and gallery

created by Ms. Puma's students (1996)

Clinica Tepati - a free medical outreach program from UC - Davis.

created by Ms. Puma's students (1996)

Other actual Websites for nonprofit organizations might give you an idea of the kind of site you could create:

• Rainforest Action Network
• Animal Rights Resource Site
• 54 Ways You Can Help the Homeless
• Surfrider Foundation USA
• The Sperm Whale Project
• The World Wide Fund - Global Network

As you can see, there is no one way to create a World Wide Web Resource Page. Different groups use different formats. Some things that they do have in common, however, are:

• Information that goes beyond what the typical person would know.
• Expertise that shows an understanding of the complexity of the issues involved.
• A focus on real world problems or issues.
• Use of multimedia and online technologies that enhance the user's experience.
• Quality layout, text, interface, etc. (edited, revised, and polished products)

These are the kinds of Web pages that real people made to understand, serve and solve problems they saw in the world. You should get the idea that Nonprofit Prophets is anything but "playing school" (i.e., doing something that only has value within the walls of a classroom). Explore these web sites so that you have a good feel for what Nonprofit Prophets is about.

More specifically, what you will do is:

Phase 1: Learn the Ropes

1. To begin, choose a topic/issue that you really care about or that impacts your life directly. For ideas you can look at an On-Line List of Topics (feel free to add your own ideas to the page).

2. Use the Resource Page for Topics/Research to help your investigation.

3. Locate nonprofit partners on the World Wide Web and locally with whom you will collaborate. Use the Resource Page above again or try the Sacramento Community Directory.

   An "Agreements Letter" is available for potential Nonprofit Prophets partners that should help organizations understand if this is a good project for them to become involved with.

4. Conduct on-going communications with peers, professionals in the field, resources on the internet, and consultants via e-mail and video conferencing.

5. Write an article or assignment for publication (on the World Wide Web page or brochures you could be creating).

6. Select a Technology Job that meets the needs of your class and organization then receive training via interactive telelearning (video conferencing) sessions.

Phase 2: Create Prototypes

1. Use the "Prophets Template" as a starting point to dialogue with the nonprofit partners about what should be on the World Wide Web page. You might be interested in another group of students at "Plugged In" and Youth in Action Network who also develop Web-based social action pagesfor individuals and businesses. See, you're not alone!

2. Develop the technology products that will make up your World Wide Web page or related products (brochures, videos, etc.)

3. Work with teammates, mentors, contracted workers, nonprofit partners, etc. to create an outstanding project.

4. Post your prototypes on the Internet's World Wide Web!

Phase 3: Get Feedback and Revise

1. Get feedback on your posted prototypes from a variety of sources (other younger and older students, professionals, mentors, etc.)

2. Work with teammates to plan and complete the revisions that you decide are needed.

Phase 4: "Publish!"

1. Polish your World Wide Web page and any related products so that they show off the best work your team can do.

2. Work with teammates to develop and revise a presentation of your Web site.

3. Present your products to the community (including nonprofit partners, mentors, the World Wide Web audience, school members, Education First representatives, etc.).

Where

Nonprofit Prophets takes place on the World Wide Web, through interactive videoconferencing, and in classrooms around the world. Students interact with other students, community people, professionals, social leaders, experts, etc.

When

Nonprofit Prophets began in September, 1995, after teachers received training in the latter part of the summer. Other schools and nonprofits are invited to participate for on-going partnerships. The project usually spans at least a semester if not a school year, but this is determined by the school and nonprofit partners themselves.

Why

One of the saddest things in the world is a youth who has given up. Too many students don't get involved because they mistakenly believe that they are powerless to change things for the better. Nonprofit Prophets strives to give students the deep feeling that even though sometimes the world is a hard place, answers come from their caring and commitment, not apathy and giving up.

How

Teachers can enroll their class in Nonprofit Prophets by submitting the attached participation form. Initial participation will be limited to Education First Sites that have access to both internet and video conferencing. Any subsequent openings will be made available to schools outside the "Ed First Initiative." This Web site - with all its linked Resource Pages - will remain on the Web for other schools interested in doing their own version of the project.

Who | What | Where | When | Why | How

Go to: Teacher's Guide | Topic/Research | Tech Jobs | Writing Tasks |

Please e-mail us your comments/ideas/interest on this project.

Last revised April 7, 1998 Created by Tom March, tmarch@mail.sdsu.edu Applications Design Team/Wired Learning http://www.kn.att.com/wired/prophets/ Copyright © 1996 Pacific Bell -- All Rights Reserved