TRI-LAKES AREA — Students at Malvern Junior High School are making progress as they go EAST.
The school has been a part of the Environmental And Spatial Technology - EAST - Initiative since 1999, but this is the first year for Chris Slaton to lead the program as its facilitator.
Information provided in a pamphlet from the EAST Initiative given to Slaton when he took the job states: “EAST promotes the development and intellectual growth of all students, regardless of current educational skill level, technical proficiency or socioeconomic background. Students perform self-directed community service projects using sophisticated and emerging technologies in a real-world environment, thereby honing skills including teamwork, communication, collaboration and problem solving.”
Teamwork was evident during a visit to one of the school’s four EAST classrooms in November as students began to learn about the two new iMac computers the school had received just days before.
“We’re getting new furniture, too,” said Slaton, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in sports management with an emphasis in business from Arkansas State University. “We’re all excited about it. I’ve never been where we were able to get all new stuff.”
Before coming to Malvern Junior High, Slaton taught for two years at Benton Junior High School and before that, two years in the Fort Smith School District.
“I didn’t know anything about EAST before I came here and took the training,” Slaton said. “I’m learning right along with the students. It’s great.”
Slaton said as soon as the students, who are either in the seventh or eighth grades, became familiar with the new iMac computers and the new software for the personal computers in the lab, they will begin work on any number of projects for not only the school but also for the community.
“As soon as we get our feet on the ground, we hope to make posters for the teachers and want to do a commercial for some kids’ events,” he said.
Students could be found working on a variety of projects during the November visit.
Kiersten O’Bryan, seventh grader, and Jared Walker, eighth-grader, were installing a compact disc on one of the new iMac computers. Seventh grader Austin Montgomery was making a video of them as well as of the rest of the students working on their projects.
Eighth-graders Emily Jett and Hannah Hathcock were studying designs available with Photoshop software to create wall paintings for the teachers’ lounge and the principal’s office.
Montgomery and his fellow classmate Blake Fite, eighth grade, were working on birthday projects, putting music to PowerPoint presentations.
The EAST students, which number 55, have already begun creating a map of the school using Global Positioning System equipment. Slaton said the students are also planning some school landscape projects along the sidewalks and probably at the football field.
Slaton said the EAST students met at the beginning of the school year to brainstorm.
“We took a silent walk around the school and came up with some things that we could do to make it better for everyone,” he said.
Some of the EAST students formed a robotics team last fall that took part in a competition hosted by the Hot Springs BEST - Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology - Hub at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts.
“That was definitely an eyeopening experience,” Slaton said with a laugh. “I was proud of them. It was a learning experience.”
Slaton and his EAST classes are now preparing to participate in the 2010 EAST Initiative Conference scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, through Thursday, March 4, at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
“Some of the kids went last year, but I’m really not sure of what to expect,” Slaton said. “I know we’ll get ideas for projects and that some of our kids will participate in competitions.”
Slaton said he is “having a blast” with the EAST students.
“You don’t have to do a whole lot to get them engaged,” he said.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 54 on 01/07/2010