Two students win TCEA Web design contest   Two eighth grade students talk about their award-winning Web sites and their experience using technology at their school.   By Melissa Brown HPR*TEC

his month, Kidspeak spoke with two eighth grade students who attend a technology magnet school in Texas, who's Web site entries placed in the top three in the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Web Publishing Design Contest. Each year, TCEA sponsors student contests to encourage students to use the Web to communicate ideas and information about curriculum-based subject material. The contests are divided into four grade levels; PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each grade level is assigned a different subject area to create their Web page.

ui and Jonathan entered the junior high portion of the competition. They are both members of the Future West Tech Web Team at their school. This after-school program consists of a group of eight students who keep the school Web site updated and spend time learning to use different computer programs. Their experience in this program sparked their interest in joining the Web design contest.         The contest topic for their grade level was Texas heroes. Students have from September through February to work on their projects. Top students are recognized at an awards ceremony in May. All levels of students from both public and private schools enter. The categories for each contest are designed to model the Technology Application courses that are currently in the state curriculum.

ui tells us about his award-winning entry. "I did my Web page that won first place on Admiral Chester Nimitz. We were already doing a social studies research project on him, so I went ahead and picked him out of a pretty large group. Once I found out more about him I became more and more interested. Lucky for me the TCEA contest topic was about Texas heroes so I just went ahead and did him. I did a basic Web site with some scrolling text and some pictures and I put my research into that page and it all turned out well. I also added one animation I did from Web Painter on my page," said Rui.

"I did my Web page that won first place on Admiral Chester Nimitz. ... Once I found out more about him I became more and more interested." --Rui

ui got involved in Web Design when he entered junior high. His parents encouraged him to take advantage of this experience because it would be useful in the future. He agreed, and once he got started he realized that technology wasn't that hard to learn. "Previously, I didn't have much Web page experience. So basically, last year the Future West Tech Web Team was my first experience. I didn't think it was very hard to learn. It did take a while though for some of the more complicated programs such as Flash and maybe even Fireworks. I think both of them can do a lot and they are just wonderful programs. If you really learn to use them you can make a wonderful Web site," said Rui.

onathan started learning to make Web pages in fifth grade when his friends encouraged him to join the Web Team at his elementary school. Once he got to junior high he had already had a few years experience building Web pages so he joined the Web Team and his teacher, Ms. Davis encouraged him to join the TCEA Web Design Contest.        Jonathan tells us about his award-winning entry. "My page was basically about an Indian named Quanah Parker. We didn't want to take someone too famous because other people might have taken it. So I picked Quanah Parker as my person and I got information from my teachers and other people and I got online and got some pictures. We used various programs to edit pictures and animation programs to put animations on our page. We just kind of talked about his life and everything that went on," said Jonathan.

"I just think that the technology at this school is great. ... In the future the companies are going to start needing people that really know how to use the computer." --Jonathan

art of the reason both boys chose to go to Richard West Junior High Technology Magnet School is that technology is infused into all of their learning. "In all of our classes such as social studies and science, many of our projects relate to using computers and other forms of technology. We will occasionally make our own Web sites or a Power Point presentation. In language, if we do essays we type them in Word. A lot of our work is done on computers, using computer software. I think that helps all of the students to learn how to use this technology that will useful to them in the future," said Rui.        Jonathan says that it's obvious that the school spends more of the budget on technology and it's worth it. He says having access to digital cameras and good printers and software will help them be more marketable to companies in the future. "I just think that the technology at this school is great. We have everything that other schools don't have, such as digital cameras. In the future the companies are going to start needing people that really know how to use the computer," said Jonathan.

dvice to other students? Rui sums it up for us "I agree with Jonathan about starting early. Don't put off technology as something that would be wasting your time. Take the time to learn it now and in the future it will be very useful to you."        All of this experience with technology is great preparation for a career in technology. Although they haven't decided yet, both boys are already thinking about the future and how technical knowledge will be important. Jonathan would like to become a programmer or a pediatrician. Rui hopes to attend MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology] and study computer sciences or engineering. Either way, their preparation and hard work now will help them be ready for the challenging careers that lie ahead.

Both boys also entered the Texas Library Association Web Design Contest.

Check out their award winning sites!   Rui won 1st Place in the Texas Library Association Web Design Contest with his Onward to Mars entry.   Jonathan won 2nd Place in the Texas Library Association Web Design Contest with his Mars entry.

Students interviewed for KidSpeak are nominated by teachers. Send nominations to the editor. Copyright. © 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 ALTec, the University of Kansas