One of the early Mall Project classesThe Mall Project
One of the curricular units that has enhanced my teaching is called The Mall Project.  Originally begun during the 1990-1991 school year, it integrated the word processor, data base and spreadsheet functions into a series of fun activities for 8th graders.  Each student chose and named a store in a fictitious mall, then completed a series of activities all related to the operation of the store.

The Mall Project has stood the test of time as platforms changed from Apple II to Macintosh to PC and the software progressed from AppleWorks to Microsoft Office.  On the way, it has been awarded the grade 6-8 division of the SPACE GEMS technology contest in 1997, sponsored by a U of I alumnus, Clay Hurst.  In addition, The Mall Project received a grant from the ISBE, for emphasizing  the "School to Careers" connection, in the spring of 1999.  This creative teaching idea has been shared at several conferences including the Role of Technology in Education, the Midwest Technology Conference and the IASB Convention.  Just this year, the Mall Project was copyrighted.

The Mall bulletin board

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