National Skills Summit

National Skills Summit
Innovative Initiatives: High Tech and Sciences

Environmental and Spatial Technology (East) Program and Wellsco Inc.: East Labs Initiative in Schools

The Challenge:

To provide high school students of all abilities and backgrounds the problem-solving ability and preparation they need for a high-tech career.

The Solution:

Create an educational program that challenges students to develop their problem-solving skills in addressing real problems in their communities using up-to-date technology

The Partners:

Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Program teaches high school students to solve complex problems using advanced technological tools in an interdisciplinary laboratory environment.

Wellsco Graphic Solutions, Inc., an information technology firm in Paragould, Arkansas, helped develop parts of EAST, recruited other business and technology partners, and devoted four full-time employees to the project.

The Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), part of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, provides technical support, seed camps, and web-based learning resources for the entire consortium of schools involved in EAST.

The Story:

EAST labs started in 1994 with the vision of Tim Stephenson, an environmental science teacher at Greenbrier High School in Arkansas. He knew that today's high school students will graduate at a time when the economy is increasingly driven by information and dependent upon workers with problem-solving ability and technological skills, but he did not see these skills being taught in his school. To help his students meet these challenges, Stephenson partnered with local IT firms to implement an EAST lab in his school.

In EAST labs, students work in teams to assess a problem and use technology to develop a solution. Rather than being taught how to use technology by an instructor in a traditional classroom setting, students determine themselves which technological tools they need to solve problems, and they teach themselves how to use that technology. They design systems that can be adopted by a fire, police, or planning department to help their community save money, save time, address crime, or manage growth. Past EAST projects include the design of a high school arts facility, a digital tour of an art gallery, studies to improve the efficiency of school bus routes, school maps, plans for a community pool project, and assistance in locating a new school site. The students work with their teachers, community leaders, business experts, and others who can help them solve the problem they are addressing. This real-world experience prepares graduates for complex information technology jobs. One graduate from Heber, Arkansas, went on to write and customize software for local dental practices.

Students in EAST labs are exposed to a method of learning that stresses comprehension, understanding, collaboration, and a team approach to problem resolution that better prepares them for participation in the workforce. In addition to problem-solving techniques, students learn from EAST how to use the latest high technology programs and equipment to solve real-world problems that effect their schools and their communities

Since its inception in 1996, EAST has rapidly expanded to 98 participating schools involving over 10,000 students. Students in five states are expected to take part in EAST labs in the fall of 2000.

To date, EAST has placed $52 million worth of computer hardware and software into 98 school districts. Private contributions paid for $42 million, grants for $5.4 million and school districts for $4.6 million. For every $1 school districts have invested, EAST has been able to provide them with $11 worth of equipment.

Each EAST lab is a multi-station Microsoft NT-based lab that offers students a variety of different hardware and software applications. Students have the opportunity to learn networking and network system administration, desktop publishing, Global Positioning Systems, architectural design, solid modeling, Web page design, computer- generated animation, database management, and many other IT skills.

When asked what it takes to succeed in EAST, students responded that it took vision, faith and determination, patience and commitment, communication, the ability to identify and solve problems effectively, an understanding of your team members' capabilities and the tools that are available, and good old-fashioned hard work - all skills in high demand in today's economy.

A Model of Innovation:

This exciting program harnesses the resources of the private sector to unlock the enormous potential of high-school youth. Without the donations of technology and expertise from IT firms, EAST could not develop such a comprehensive lab experience for students. Through this partnership, EAST is generating a pool of trained workers with a passion for complex problem solving and hard IT skills who will return to the Arkansas IT firms that support the program.

Contacts:

Tim Stephenson, Director
EAST Project
8221 Ranch Boulevard
Little Rock, AR 72223
(501) 371-5016 (p)
(501) 371-5010 (f)

Jim Wells, Vice President
Wellsco Graphic Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 218
Paragould, AR 72451
870-236-1080 (p)
870-239-9020 (f)

Highlight quote:

"We're planting seeds for the future of Arkansas knowledge-based companies."

-Jim Wells, Vice President Wellsco Graphic Solutions, Inc.