MayaQuest
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* MAYAQUEST *
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* Gopher: InforMNs.k12.mn.us/mn-k12 *
* WWW: http://InforMNs.k12.mn.us/mayaquest *
* E-mail: Mayaquest@InforMNs.k12.mn.us *
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WANTED:
School Work Site Managers to Help Build a School-based
Internet Project Around the MayaQuest Cycling Expedition.
During this school year, a kid-directed team of
archeologists and bicyclists will be using the latest
technology to help illuminate one of the greatest mysteries
of all time: the collapse of the Ancient Maya Civilization.
Between February and May, 1995, the team will travel through
Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and southern Mexico. On
mountain bikes they'll carry Hi-8 cameras, laptop computers
and EXEC*SAT satellite transponders which will connect the
team to an on-line audience featured on Prodigy and the
Internet.
Students will be able to help direct the expedition and help
answer questions by archeologists in the field. CNN
Newsroom will air weekly reports on the expedition's
progress and students in Minnesota will produce live
satellite programs with accompanying support curriculum
available via the Internet. All Internet materials are
available via Gopher, World Wide Web, or e-mail.
Beginning October, 1994, TIES (Technology and Information
Educational Services), InforMNs (Internet for Minnesota
Schools) of Minnesota and MECC are creating an Internet
program designed to establish threads of activity around the
expedition. These "threads" will provide interdisciplinary
curriculum materials for teachers and background information
for students to consider archeologist's questions.
Site managers will be asked to work with their students to
build enhanced curriculum resources for distribution via the
Internet. These sites will in turn archive their resources
via the Internet on a central computer in Minnesota.
Each work site will be assigned tasks which support one of
the following activity threads:
* Natural Disaster -- Did the ancient Maya civilization fall
because of an earthquake, hurricane or drought?
School Site Assignment: track the weather reports and
conditions uploaded by the team daily, provide history of
earthquakes and hurricanes in Middle America, provide
articles on how natural disasters have effected other
ancient and modern civilizations. And Internet links to
related weather information.
* Environment -- Was poor management of the environment and
their natural resources(including land, air, water) the
cause their demise and how well are we managing today?
School Site Assignment: upload wetlands data and satellite
images provided by NASA of the research around Merida,
identify similar wetlands and its importance to our
ecosystem here in the U.S. Work with local Department of
Agriculture for data on and information on farming methods
used in Central America, such as terracing. Upload
information on current rate of rain forest depletion and
make predictions.
* Tribal warfare-- Did tribal warfare kill off this unique civilization?
This theory is supported by evidence of fire and destruction at ancient
Mayan sites.
School Site Assignment: gather content around the notion
that tribal warfare contributed to the demise of the ancient
Maya and how tribal warfare effects other civilizations
ancient and modern. Upload pictures of any artifacts or
glyphs supporting this theory
* Museums -- create an alliance with a local science museum or Maya Society.
School Site Assignment: upload images and content available
through the museum and their network of resources from other
museums. Network with the Library Congress in Washington,
D.C for images and information.
* Zoos -- create an alliance with a local zoo.
School Site Assignment: upload images and content on plants
and animals indigenous to Central America. Gather
information on any endangered species living in the areas
MayaQuest with go through.
* Related fields -- develop contacts through the Internet of Mayanists and
experts in related fields (rock dr.s, paleontologists, astrologists
(calendar)....) who will offer input on questions posed by archeologists.
School Site Assignment: create data base of experts with
their bios and current research project. During the
expedition, connect the proper expert with the appropriate.
* Spanish -- Use MayaQuest as a tool to teach Spanish in the classroom.
School Site Assignment:. moderate discussion forum and
collect, develop and disseminate cirriculum materials from
other on-line Spanish teachers.
* Other Civilizations -- research other civilizations whose rise to
greatness or demise offers parallels to the history of the ancient Maya.
School Site Assignment: upload information (bios on leaders,
psychology of leadership and power...) which offer
parallels and contrasts of today's society with that of the
Maya.
* Maya Math -- Maya calendar calculated the length of the solar year to
within 17 seconds of the figure we come up with today using atomic clocks.
School Site Assignment: upload fun and culturally rich
activities for math lessons.
* Images--
School Site Assignment: index related resource material, maps and
photographs
* Archeology in the Classroom. --
School Site Assignment: upload material on using archeology in the
classroom.
* Student Projects --
School Site Assignment: compile and disseminate student
products created around the Maya and the MayaQuest
expedition.
* Mapping --
School Site Assignment: upload maps and mapping activities and related
lessons
* Other suggestions.
Eligible sites must have access to the Internet either via
dial-up access or a school district direct connection.
Selected sites and the corresponding schools will receive
appropriate credit for resources created. Also a package of
incentives will be donated to each selected work site.
(e.g. software, support materials, etc.). Selected
Minnesota sites will receive an honorarium through funds
made available through the Minnesota Department of
Education. Via the Internet you can access MayaQuest via:
Gopher: InforMNs.k12.mn.us/K-12 Resources or
World Wide Web: http://InforMNs.k12.mn.us/mayaquest
Interested candidates should send a brief work plan (no more
than a page) which describes the curriculum materials your
site would develop as School Site Manager. Send to:
MayaQuest@InforMNs.k12.mn.us or fax 612-349-6584.
