What is the purpose of the summit?
The summit is designed to help students learn about a timely, law-related topic, and develop informed opinions about it. They will develop the skills of critical thinking, research, civil discussion, civic writing, research, problem-solving, analysis, synthesis, self-direction, and cooperation.

What do students do in NOYS?
Students complete 12-14 activities designed by the ABA to build their knowledge and skills. Some exercises will be completed in class; some assignments will be shared in a web conference, in which students will be asked to take part in online civil discussions with other students across the country. The discussion is asynchronous—meaning that students do not need to be online at the same time. In the course of the summit, students will:

• Learn about some of the topic's issues through a literature-based exercise
• Research a legal topic
• Complete a research-based final project (See sample Student Final Projects)
• Pose questions to legal experts
• Learn how to engage in civil discussion by participating in the online discussion environment
• Sharpen critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, cooperation, self-direction, and information literacy skills.

Is all the curriculum provided?
Yes. Twelve to fourteen sequential activities are designed and provided by the ABA. Some are classroom based; some assignments must be posted online, and require online exchanges with students from other schools. Ongoing instructional support from ABA staff is provided throughout the project. Teachers are also given a resource notebook with summit curriculum and additional teaching aids and source documents.

However, you will be asked to create one individualized activity for your students, based on parameters provided by the ABA.

What do I need to do to prepare for the summit?
You will need to participate in an online orientation in a "teachers only" message board and complete four orientation activities over six weeks from January to February. You will also need to integrate the program curriculum into your students' course of study.

How do the students communicate with each other?
The ABA uses software called FuseTalk for online communication; this software allows people to interact or communicate over the Internet. You can think of FuseTalk as an online message board, where participants can post messages related to the topic at hand. Your computers must be able to access the Internet in order to use FuseTalk.

Will just anybody be able to access my students' posts?
No! Our FuseTalk board is private and can only be accessed by using a password. Only students and teachers involved in the summit will be able to see your students' posts.

Will my students be able to write whatever they want on the message board?
No. We encourage you to ask your students to draft their posts offline, so that you can review the message before students post it online. You will also be responsible for managing your students' use of the Web, and engaging them in discussions on the message board. ABA staff are also active in monitoring web conferences.

Will I need to install any software?
The first time you log-in to FuseTalk, you will be prompted to install an application. This application is used for composing posts and will need to be installed on each computer that is used during the summit. The installation is quick and automatic, but you may have problems if your school computers are behind firewalls. You will want to check with your school's technology expert to make sure you can download the application.

Are there any other technical requirements I should know about?
FuseTalk will work with any of the following browsers installed on your computers:

• Internet Explorer (IE) version 4 and higher
• Netscape version 4 and higher
• Opera version 5.12 and higher
• Safari
• Firefox version 1.0 and higher (Note: There are known display issues with this browser)

To participate in the summit, you will need to provide school computers with Internet access for student use. You will also need to have a valid e-mail address, use e-mail on a regular basis and agree to subscribe to a summit listserve.

Is technical support provided?
ABA will help you to learn the software, but cannot help you to manage your technology. You may need to seek support from technical staff at your school.

Does the program meet national standards? What about state standards?
Yes. The youth summit curriculum is adaptable, and can be aligned with many national and state standards.

What is the time commitment for this youth summit?
The youth summit runs from January-May. Students spend approximately 12 weeks from February to April completing their work. Most teachers spend at least two classes (and up to five classes) per week on summit activities.

You will also need to spend time preparing classes for the summit. The following estimates have been provided for the following types of classes:

• AP Government: Two hours of planning time per week during the summit.
• Government: Two to five hours of planning time per week during the summit.
• Law Class: Two to five hours of planning before the summit starts, and 1.5 hours of planning time per week during the summit.
• Language Arts: Five hours per week before the summit starts, and one hour of planning time per week during the Summit.

Do students need permission from their parents to participate in the summit?
We encourage you to seek parental permission for students to participate in the online aspect of the summit.

Do I have to pay to apply?
No! All we ask is that teachers hand in final reports and evaluations and post tests.

How long has this program been around?
The first National Online Youth Summit was held in 1999. Since then, the ABA has held seven summits. More than 4000 students have participated in youth summits since 1999.

What level classes should apply?
Only high school classes may participate in the summit.

Why should my students participate in NOYS?
We've worked with thousands of students in this program over the last five years, and students have told us that they enjoy the experience of online discussion with other high school kids in different parts of the country. Our pre- and post- tests show that students improve their knowledge of the topic during the course of the summit. Students also have the opportunity to practice important skills in research, analysis, and writing, and apply those skills in their final project.

How do I apply?
You will need to complete an 2008 Application form, and ask your school principal to send a letter of support. See Model Letter for example.

What does the ABA look for in an application?
The ABA strives to reach a wide geographic area and serve a diverse mix of students through this program. All high schools are encouraged to apply. In your application, we will look for the following:

• Completion of all questions—incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Strong classroom learning objectives for the program.
• Evidence of willingness to manage your students in a Web-based discussion environment and engage in online discussion with your students on project topics.
• Evidence of appropriate school technology to support student engagement in a Web-based interactive program.
• Evidence of willingness to learn software involved in a Web-based discussion program to support student participation in the project.