Description

Project Atmosphere Australia Online is a teacher-developed, online project for school communities in Australia and around the world. It is based around a collaborative web site and email discussion lists. The email lists support the communication of teachers, students, academics and meteorologists from different parts of the world. Through learning about the weather the way it shapes each other's life styles, we gain a greater understanding of other cultures and the way people live. Long term friendships are the basis of the ongoing nature of the project, which relies on volunteer time and the generosity of people from academic institutions, meteorology bureaus and schools.

Project Atmosphere Australia Online is a project of many faces, which will continue on indefinitely, as will the bonds of the people involved in the online community. From 7 teachers in schools in 1996, we have had hundreds of teachers and schools from across the world involved on our email lists, over the years. At the time of writing, there were around 20 schools registered in our new weather sharing database. University academics, scientists and meteorologists from around the world complete our online community of cooperation. There are many other users of our resources that look in on our community - the project web site now attracts, at the time of writing, over 30,000 page visits per month and over 500 search queries.

Objectives
The objectives of the project since its conception in 1996 have been to:

• base a project and web site around a growing community of people, beginning in Australia and reaching out to other countries;
• establish and maintain email list discussion groups based on the interests of project participants;
• bring together teachers, children, academics, meteorologists and scientists in a common interest group;
• publish the work of participants, and share ideas and resources;
• support teachers in the classroom;
• develop the ideas of the project participants into shared activities which make the project grow greater in scope and interest;
• engage the participants in 'virtual' adventures related to the interests of the project;
• re-model the web site on a needs basis to facilitate the changing nature of the project and utilise new delivery methods - user interaction and streaming now being looked at.

We are unique among school curriculum-based projects in that we seek to encourage the contribution of everyone and value all that take part, treating all as equals - children of both sexes, all ages and all nationalities, the teachers and specialists. All are important in the project which is the sum of everyone.

Use of ICTs
The project makes use of information and communication technology as its entire foundation. The project has a web site which is its vehicle for:

• information delivery;
• activity instructions and materials;
• 'virtual tours' and looks at special places and events;
• communication protocols;
• publishing of the work of participants;
• sharing weather data;
• school web pages;
• sharing ideas and teacher resources;
• developing new activities and smaller projects;
• showcasing the project and providing promotional materials for participants.

The project also makes use of email lists, which are open to people around the world - particularly those interested in weather education. At present, 2 email lists divide the traffic flow into interest groups. One list is for educators, parents and specialists in weather. The other email list is for students to communicate and share their learning, and hosting the membership of meteorologists and academics to answer the questions of children.

Results
Over a nine-year period, the results of the project have surpassed the expectations of a teacher who commenced what was originally quite a small project. The project has become a big ask in voluntary time, but will keep going due to the enthusiasm of those that help out and take part in the project activities. We are almost like family now, after all! It is the people who give of themselves to make education better for students which make this project what it is. In 2000, the project was nominated as a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Award and the Global Junior Challenge Award, which shows a 'people' project without a budget and corporate sponsorship can go a long way! The successes of the project can be measured in:

• the number of schools from different locations in Australia and various countries around the world the tap in;
• the web site resources and contributions increasing with each year;
• the feedback sent in by email from teacher and students;
• the number of teachers and specialists that are part of the email community;
• the number of teachers that have taken part in training and resource development as part of the partner project;
• the 'change' in classrooms engaging in this project;
• the number of page visits (at over 30,000 a month) on the project web site;
• visits to schools taking part to observe classroom activities;
• analysis of participation by visiting email archives;
• number of non-school community people involved or providing positive feedback on the project's web site.

Teachers and students have gained much through this project in there being a ready facility to 'open the walls' of the classroom to share learning across the world. Meteorologists and academics also gain much and often enjoy taking part on line, it seems, as the students!

What may others learn?

There are some things which others may learn from Project Atmosphere Australia Online. The internet is about interaction - empowering, supporting, publishing and communicating in bringing together communities of people on line. The development of a website and project around such a community provides a strong foundation for the project's activities and long term success. Email lists become a vital part so that all feel involved - they can communicate and contribute. The project is about people and the project is the people - it has become what it is through the involvement of people - it is not intended as simply a 'cool' web site for schools. The project is about sharing learning, more than simply 'looking up stuff' on the web.

Extra Background

The project was developed in 1996 from ideas that two teachers had - Sel Kerans and Lindy McKeown. The ideas were developed out on paper and plans made for involvement of other agencies. A submission was written and a small grant received to start the project, develop its web site and email communities and commence engaging children and teachers in the spirit of the project. There have been times of rapid growth and times when the project has slowed, due to fluctuating time commitments and the lack of continued funding. The project is still going well, however and will continue to do so, despite difficulties. We enjoy the online communication with people in our learning of the weather and seeing the difference that the project makes in classrooms that we will continue on - the rewards are greater and nominations as finalists in international judging are more 'personal' when the work of people who care about what they do and volunteer their time is the core of the project.