Water Pollution in Brazil and California:

A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Study

5. Rationale

The United States and Brazil were both "discovered", settled and colonized by European nations during the beginning in the 15th and 16th century. The two nations share parallel, yet separate histories that our students, working collaboratively, would discover. The various waves of explores and settlers changed the ecology of both countries. In turn these changes have affected our water sheds.

Whereas art, technology and science produce effects in social and political dynamics, vice versa, art, technology and science are also products this social and politics dynamics. Our students will collaboratively discover how our artists and scientists work or collaborate in relation to our theme of water pollution, and what their contributions are. Today, water pollution is also a universal problem. Our students will try to discover why this condition exists, how our artists and scientist could work with us to affect a positive solution to this problem. Our students will determine what the interaction is between past and present, art and science, art and politics with ecology. We will identify our students' knowledge base about water through questionnaires, oral and written, dialogues with experts, teachers and researchers, and production of photos and multimedia. In these different steps, the work will be compared and evaluated by the students in the two countries.

In general the Brazilian teachers don't know how to work with the new technologies. This is a new educational problem that is been reflected in an absence of Brazilian experience and bibliography. At the same time there is a urgent need expressed by teachers and by educational branch of the Brazilian government. The teachers want to learn which are the most efficient educational methods and technologies (hardware and software) that can be used to on line and collaborative projects. Through of the sum of experience and reflection the teachers intend to establish some parameters to school of future.

These issues are also expressed by the American teacher. Consequently, we believe that globally teachers and educators are just beginning to realize the power of the new technologies, and are not yet fully trained in how to effectively integrate these technologies into their curriculum in instruction. This is a new global education problem that is reflected in the lack of teacher experience in using these new technologies; however there is an urgent need demonstrated by both educators and governments to integrate these technologies into education so our students will be able to integrate a variety of knowledge areas, compete for jobs , and survive in the global economy and society of the twenty first century. As an international collaborative team, we are attempting to determine the most efficient educational methods and use of technology for student cooperative projects dealing with water pollution.

Sponsoring Organizations	Major Goals and Short Description	Specific Objectives	WATER POLLUTION HOME	Project Activities
Target Population	Evaluation	Estimated Timetable	Estamated Budget	Meet the Teachers
Driving Questions	Multiple Intelligences	Art	Science/Math	Social Studies
Language & Literature	Data Collection	Technology	ASTL Presentation	Training and Development
Outline for ASTL Conference	Cartography