HOW IT WORKS
City Sites are not always as familiar as the millions of tourists who visit daily with what their city has to offer. The same can also be said for students.  City Sites is a technology-driven program supported by a Social Studies and Language Arts curriculum about New York City. The students, through the use of the Internet, go on virtual tours of some of the city’s most popular sites, obtaining information that will be used to create new brochures for future visitors. The first step is for the students to familiarize themselves with the Internet. They learn to log on, access a search engine (google.com), and search for pictures on the site they have chosen to explore. Once the students acquire this basic skill, they learn to copy, paste, and save in Microsoft Word so they can easily retrieve their found information. The search is guided by an Information Response Sheet that asks for specific data: location, architect, construction dates, etc. The students also list five facts about their site that they find interesting. After all the information has been collected, the students place it into a brochure format using a template created by the teacher in Print Shop 5.0 that is then loaded on each computer so they can work at their own pace.

THE STUDENTS
There were 12 special education students (12:1:1) participating in this program. They visited the computer lab twice a week. The computer skills were easily learned by most of the students. The research end of the project that involved acquiring information challenged the students to use their literacy skills. Their literacy efforts were reinforced by the teacher and the paraprofessional responsible for the project. This project can be easily adapted to all age levels and abilities.

THE STAFF
Susan Naclerio has been a Special Education teacher at the Bronx Occupational Training Center, P721X, for the past 20 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Virginia. She has enhanced her teaching skills by completing courses at Boston College and Columbia University Teacher’s College and through district and in-house workshops.
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WHAT YOU NEED
This program requires a computer with Internet access, printers, ink cartridges, software programs Print Shop 5.0 (or an updated version) and Microsoft Word, worksheets provided by the teacher, and brochure paper.

OVERALL VALUE
City Sites is a very effective tool in engaging students in a project that uses the computer not only as a vehicle to obtain information but also to advance self-learning through the Internet. By using technology, the students are able to acquire a more in-depth understanding of their site through both textural and visual sources. The culminating activity--creating brochures--allows the students to make the connection between their research on the Internet and how the information can be presented.