Winter 2001
Volume 3, Number 2
  


Penn State Fayette camp
prepares Web designers
By Melanie Thomas

Penn State Fayette’s Tech Prep program got its first Web site, courtesy of the high school students attending the campus’ Tech Prep Information Technology Camp.

Students from Albert Gallatin, Connellsville, Frazier and Uniontown high schools learned how to design and build professional Web pages during the two-week camp. Erica Fitzwater and Jennifer McBeth of Albert Gallatin, Mary Hanan of Connellsville, Lynn Steiner and James Natale of Frazier, and Donald David, Brian Hayden, Jeremy Lee, Bethany Moreau, Matthew Smalley and Mark Stroup of Uniontown participated in the camp, learning how to use HTML, Java script, 3D graphics and icons.

Upon completion of the camp, the students designed the official Penn State Fayette Tech Prep Web site. Tech Prep combines the efforts of parents, schools and businesses to help prepare graduates for technical jobs.

“Everyone today is using the Internet for everything,” Melissa Battaglini, Tech Prep coordinator at the campus, said. “The students’ project is very important in the real-world business environment.”

Battaglini co-coordinated the camp, along with Alicia Vincent, area representative for Penn State Fayette Continuing Education and Outreach. The camp is based on a pilot program of the same type conducted in Potter County by William Shuffstall, senior extension agent with Penn State Cooperative Extension in Clearfield County.

In addition to exploring the possibilities of Web design, the students learned group and leadership skills through teambuilding exercises held throughout the camp. Cathy Brady of Penn State Cooperative Extension conducted many of the teambuilding exercises.

Field trips were scheduled throughout the camp to enable the students to conduct research for the Web site. According to Battaglini, the field trips also provide important networking opportunities, as well as a chance for the students to check out Internet business as a career.

“Not all of these students plan to actually design Web pages for a career,” she added. “They have very diverse interests and hobbies, but all participated in the camp because they were curious and wanted to learn what they recognize as an important skill to have in the 21st century.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Vocational Education funds the Penn State Fayette Tech Prep Consortium.



Instructor James Natale (seated) shows students how to use Web design software programs during the Penn State Fayette Tech Prep Information Technology Camp. Nearest the computers are, from left, Mary Hanan, Bethany Moreau and Jeremy Lee (seated).




Recognizing exemplary outreach teaching, research and service
This Penn State faculty member is sharing research with individuals, organizations and communities to make life better:

Dr. Harold J. Webster
Associate Professor of Biology
Penn State DuBois


Dr. Harold J. Webster’s outreach initiatives focus on environmental issues and civic activities. In addition to his research in the areas of wetlands ecology, watershed restoration and mosses of Pennsylvania, he serves on several local conservation and community groups. He is one of the directors of the Clearfield County (CAPTION) Conservation District, which is involved in numerous community projects to protect the environment. Through this organization, he also oversees state grants for the Pennsylvania Dirt and Gravel Road program to prevent erosion and sediment pollution. For the last five years, he has worked with the city of DuBois, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and his Penn State biology students in the conservation of Beaver Meadow Wetlands through monitoring, planting and data gathering. This project has led him to give presentations at state, national and international conferences in addition to providing the community with environmental education opportunities and Penn State DuBois students with research experience.


  

U.Ed.OCE 01-8002/mkm/GSM