Winter 2016 EQ

EQ

Winter 2016

QUARTERLY

ISSUE

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WHAT IS TINKER SPACE? PAGE 4

> WINTER

HIGHLIGHTS

EAST PROJECT PROFILES

CAVE CITY + BENTONVILLE

+ LOOK

INSIDE TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS

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THE ORIGINAL EAST

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YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS! EAST CONFERENCE 2016 MOBILE APP

The EAST Initiative mobile app puts Conference in your pocket, with schedules, information on speakers and sessions and the opportunity to connect with other attendees directly or through social media.

DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE TODAY! bit.ly/EASTapp

bit.ly/EASTandroid

WINTER 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 2

EDITOR’S LETTER

3

EDUCATION UNLEASHED

4

ALL HANDS ON TECH

5

SUMMER SEMINAR 2016

6

RENTAL RATES

14

16 PROJECT PROFILE

Cave City creates a 3D model of its town in the mid 1950’s.

WINTER EVENTS

See highlights from EAST Fall trainings, hosted events, conference prep and more!

By Matt Dozier and Spencer Watson

A new, customized approach to professional development for all teachers.

What to expect from this new thing we call Tinker Space.

Announcing the dates and location of this year’s Summer Seminar.

EAST facilities are available for rent to the public.

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PROJECT PROFILE

Bentonville creates a story map following its students who served in World War II.

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ORIGINAL EAST STUDENTS

Students of the very first EAST class recall the early days and how EAST shaped them.

ON THE COVER CONFERENCE LEADERS

18

GEEK SPEAK

20

CALENDAR

21

GEAR STORE

22

PARTNERS & SPONSORS

23

EAST STAFF

Expert advice on how to make sure you’re prepared for conference.

Upcoming events for March, April and May.

Buy new gear we have in stock so that you can look awesome.

Thank you to all who sponsor and partner with EAST!

Here’s a little insight into what the staff of EAST is really like.

Meet the leaders of the three leadership teams for #EASTcon16!

WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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EDITOR’S LETTER

TO SAY THAT I’M EXCITED THAT CONFERENCE IS ALMOST HERE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. To say that I’m thrilled beyond words may be a bit strong (considering it’s me saying it). Let’s leave it at: I can’t wait to see everyone in Hot Springs in just a little while.

I have been a part of every EAST conference, and I can tell you that we have some pretty cool tricks up our sleeves for this one. “EAST XX” is a celebration of two decades of achievement and an opportunity to look back while we are anticipating what the future holds. Because of EAST and our students, that future is brighter than bright.

I invite you to enjoy this preview (and the glimpses of the kinds of stories you can hear in greater detail at the conference), but even more, I invite you to celebrate with us.

I hope to see you at Conference. The entire staff is looking forward to meeting, visiting and sharing with you.

Matt Dozier

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MARCH. It heralds the end of winter and beginning of spring and, for as long as I can remember, just so happens to mark the anniversary of my birth, an event for which I’m forever grateful.

But this year offers a new reason to get excited: my first EAST Conference. I’ve heard so much about this event, even before I came to work for EAST. Now that I’m here, I truly understand what all the fuss is about. It’s not just the highlight of the year, it’s the capstone. It’s thousands of EAST students at their best celebrating their best.

Considering what I’ve come to know of what EAST students can achieve (answer: anything they want), I’m waiting to be amazed.

Hopefully as you flip through this issue of EQ, you’ll see some of that anticipation peeking through. You’ll find some hints about new features we’re delighted to introduce and get to know more about the leaders of the Student Leadership Teams.

You’ll also learn more about the original students who helped launch this whole thing we call EAST (because that’s the name they gave it).

EQ

QUARTERLY

6215 Ranch Dr. Little Rock, AR 72223 501.371.5016 www.eastinitiative.org MAGAZINE TEAM Editor - Spencer Watson Designer - Dave Lewis CONTRIBUTORS Marisa Damm James Hopper Matt Dozier PHOTOGRAPHY Spencer Watson Dave Lewis COVER Dave Lewis PRINTING/PUBLISHING Printed by Allegra Print & Imaging of Arkansas, Inc. Published digitally through Issuu at: issuu.com/eastquarterly Disclaimer The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited materials lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of the EAST Initiative. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the copyright holder. All copyrights are recognized and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review.

Of course, as always, you’ll also find information on a couple of very neat projects.

Enjoy the issue. Enjoy the anticipation. And, most of all, enjoy your Conference experience. I know I will.

Spencer Watson

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Questions or feedback?

communications@EASTstaff.org

EDUCATION UNLEASHED

NEW IN

2016

YOUR SOLUTION FOR CUSTOMIZED, ENGAGING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Accelerate Your Classroom with Free Technology Learn how to integrate free technology into your classroom. We will look at a comprehensive approach to incorporating technology into activities, projects, and lessons for a 21st century classroom. Participants will be given time to discover and learn about free software used in EAST classrooms across the nation. In addition, EAST best practices and delivery methods will be demonstrated throughout the session for teachers to better integrate technology into their curriculum. Participants will leave with a working plan for a technology-integrated project or activity to improve student outcomes.

Digital Mapping: See Your Data Come see what maps can do for you and your lesson plans. This session will unveil free tools such as Google Maps and Esri ArcGIS. These tools will help you to take your data-driven curriculum and make it fun for your students to visualize and comprehend. Join us to go beyond the bar graph, the globe in the corner, or a map on the wall to make interactive maps to engage your students.

Awakening the Potential This session will help you plan, prepare, and deliver life-changing experiences that can serve as a catalyst for magical “ah-ha” moments.

Learn how to take the experienced-based best practices of the EAST Initiative and turn your field trips, guest speakers, etc. into meaningful and relevant learning experiences for your students.

Kick the Dust Up: Spice your curriculum up with community involvement and soft skills Need ideas and activities that bring life to your classroom? Do you want more engaged students who take ownership of their learning?

Discover how the EAST Initiative model actively engages local communities, fosters greater student ownership and independence in learning, and facilitates students to develop 21st century skills.

Google: It’s more than a Search Engine Do you only use Google as a search engine? In reality, Google offers a vast array of tools to promote collaboration and efficiency in a classroom. This training will introduce you to the basics of what Google has to offer. You will learn how you can use Permissions & Sharing, Docs, Drawings, basic Google tools, and (of course) how to get the most out of a Google Search.

“Add-On” to Your Google Knowledge Comfortable with Google basics like Docs and Sharing? This training will focus on using Sheets, Forms, Slides, and tools that can automatically grade assessments, send feedback to your students, streamline your reports and much more! These Google Apps for Education can be used to enhance collaboration, establish instructional outcomes, and create statistical data within your classroom.

“Extending” Your Google Knowledge: Set Your Sites on Chrome Google Apps for Education are great resources to extend learning beyond the bell. These apps can also help you to be more efficient with digital storage, organization, and communication. Come learn how you can extend your knowledge about Google Chrome, Sites, and Groups to enhance learning experiences for your students. Experience with basic Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Permissions & Sharing) is preferred.

“Coordinate and Integrate” Google Classroom Does your school have that googley stuff? This session will show you how to integrate Google Classroom within your classroom to improve the efficiency of your class to allow for more individualized learning opportunities during class time. We will focus on how Google Classroom can be used in a variety of ways that work best for your style.

FOR PRICING INFORMATION, CONTACT EducationUnleashed@EASTstaff.org

WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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CONFERENCE

S D N A H L AL

H C E T N O L

N e w C o n f e r e n c e f e at u r e o f f e r s t i m e t o t i n k e r

BY JAMES HOPPER

ook, it’s hard to talk about one particular new addition to Conference this year, the NWA 3D Tinker Space, without giving too much away. And I certainly don’t want to spoil the surprises. But I have two words: competitive robots.

Intrigued? I hope so, because here are two more words: hands on. Or is it one word: hands-on? I forget.

But I do know this, several friends of EAST are coming together to make this an interactive playground for Conference participants. There’s going to be a lot of fun stuff there to tinker with (hence the name), and you won’t want to miss it.

When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Students thrive in EAST classrooms by doing. They dive in with a certain software or a bit of technology and figure out how it works as they go. For years we’ve seen the same thing at Conference with hands(-)on breakout sessions, which always prove the most popular. The NWA 3D Tinker Space is just the same idea taken to a new level.

So, after Fusion is over on Tuesday evening, Horner Hall will be getting a makeover. It will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday as the NWA 3D Tinker Space and from that point on will keep the same hours as the exhibit hall.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited EAST staff members are about this space — and how disappointed we are that we will all be so busy running around we’ll likely have little chance to participate ourselves. We suggest you make the time for it, because you won’t be disappointed.

In the meantime, thanks are due to those who are making it happen. In addition to the Tinker Space sponsor, NWA 3D, several other organizations have already accepted invitations including: the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, Mid-America Science Museum, the Arkansas Discovery Network and the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.

I would also like to mention that, while we’re still planning the first edition, we already know we want the Tinker Space to be slightly different each year. I mean, technology is always changing, right? So we’ll be inviting new guests and encouraging returning partners to switch up what they are doing come 2017. If you know someone who would already like to be involved next year, please contact James@eaststaff.org. n

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SAVE the DATES!

JULY 19-22 The EAST Initiative’s Summer Seminar 2016 will be held July 20-22 at the L.E. “Gene” Durand Conference Center on the Center Campus of North Arkansas College in Harrison, Arkansas. Tech Camp, an optional offering held on July 19, will be hosted at the same location.

Don’t miss out on the best professional development opportunity of the year, bar none. Breakout sessions topics run the gamut from latest technology, to innovative classroom approaches to tips for new facilitators with veteran educators sharing best practices.

FOR INFORMATION ON HOTEL RESERVATIONS, VISIT: http://www.eastinitiative.org/TrainingEvents/summerseminar.aspx

REGISTRATION OPENS IN APRIL Advance registration for Summer Seminar is $200.

Registration for Tech Camp is $50.

QUESTIONS?

See you this Summer !

Contact events@eaststaff.org

WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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RENTAL RATES

R E N TA L R AT E S CONFERENCE ROOM 838 SQ.FT.

$250 per day $175 half day SEATING CLASSROOM 36 THEATRE 64 BOARDROOM 34 PODS 48

The meeting and training rooms of the new, 14,000 square-foot headquarters of the EAST Initiative in west Little Rock are available for public rental and provide adaptive venues in which to hold meetings, training seminars or professional development workshops. Each room offers a variety of configurations and comes technologically equipped to suit your presentation needs.

BOARD ROOM 1,242 SQ.FT.

$300 per day $225 half day SEATING CLASSROOM 60 THEATRE 80 BOARDROOM 24 PODS 48

LAB 1

COMBINED

LAB 2

1,156

2,218

1,062

$250 per day $175 half day

$450 per day $375 half day

$250 per day $175 half day

SEATING

SEATING

SEATING

CLASSROOM 30 THEATRE 65 BOARDROOM 16 PODS 32-36

CLASSROOM 70 THEATRE 140 PODS 76

CLASSROOM 30 THEATRE 65 BOARDROOM 16 PODS 32-36

SQ.FT.

SQ.FT.

SQ.FT.

CONTACT INFO

MELANIE RIDLON melanie@eaststaff.org or 501-371-5016 ALL ROOMS INCLUDE A PROJECTOR, PROJECTION SCREEN AND WI-FI. COMPUTER LAB RENTALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE.

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TILE TO REMAIN

MEN 137

TECH. 134

WOMEN 136

CORRIDOR 144

CORRIDOR 150 OFFICE 127

SMALL CONFERENCE 131

SERVER 130

JANITOR 129

LAB 122

CARPET TILE

OFFICE 126

CONFERENCE 104

THINK SPACE 284 ft²

WORKROOM 128

CORRIDOR 149

KITCHEN + BREAKROOM 103

OFFICE 123

OFFICE 124

OFFICE 125

CORRIDOR 148

OFFICE 105

CARPET TILE

CLOSET 153

CLOSET 152

CLOSET 151

OFFICE 106

CORRIDOR 147

OFFICE 107

LAB 121

OFFICE 120

CORRIDOR 145

OFFICE 119

OFFICE 108

OFFICE 118

CARPET TILE

LAB 2

RECEPTION 133

KITCHENETTE 135

MECHANICAL 102

CARPET TILE

LAB 1

BOARD ROOM

LAB 143

STORAGE 138

MEN 140

STORAGE 141

WOMEN 139

ELECTRICAL 101

MECHANICAL COURT

CORRIDOR 146

OFFICE 117

OFFICE 116

OFFICE 115

OFFICE 114

OFFICE 113

OFFICE 112

OFFICE 111

OFFICE 110

OFFICE 109

BUI L D I N G S C H E M AT IC

CONF. ROOM

WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

T H E A R N A O M

ST U D E NTS M AKE 3D M O D E L OF TOW N AS I T WAS 60 Y E A RS AG O B Y S P E N C E R W AT S O N

J

ust as photography changed the way people experienced history about a hundred and fifty years ago, modern technology, as it’s being applied by a team of students from Cave City High School, is further enriching that experience.

Recipients of a 2015 EAST Beyond the Bell grant, the team of students bought a MakerBot 3D printer and began researching the history of their city to bring it to life as it appeared in the 1950s, when the community’s largest and most celebrated event, the local watermelon festival, was founded.

“We were looking through old yearbooks from the 1950s, and when we would flip to the back, we would see all the businesses who used to sponsor it,” said senior Atlee Lambert, part of the project team. “So we had this idea to make a 3D model of the town in the 1950s to show people now what life was like back then, all 8

EAST QUARTERLY | www.EASTinitiative.org

the business that thrived in that time period.”

“Not much is known about our town in the younger generations,” admitted junior Jordan Harris, another team member. “Not much was shared between the older generation and the newer generation about how things were, so the idea of the project is awareness. The town has a lot of the same families in business, and it’s important to know how the town started.”

Cave City, which straddles the line between Independence and Sharp counties in northeast Arkansas, wasn’t huge in 1950. It had 442 residents, according to census records. Still, it had a thriving business district, the students found.

“We found out our town had two theaters, though they’re not running today. One was in a building that’s a craft store now, and another was behind an old bank,” said Jordan.

“There was a restaurant that’s no longer there that a lot of people would hang out at, with the atmosphere of an old downtown. They’d park there, walk around and have a good time on a Friday night.”

For research they started with a book on the city compiled by a local historian, then consulted all his original sources and started making lists of living descendants they might contact to piece together the heart of town as it was 60 years ago.

“We started going door-to-door, asking can we call these people and get pictures,” Jordan said.

“We also went around to different businesses and talked to them. We took pictures of town, where stuff is, where it used to be,” added Atlee.

The plan was to use Agisoft’s PhotoScan program to process photographs into 3D spatial data, but, as often happens, the plan didn’t work.

“We took all these pictures but finally figured out the file compatibility wasn’t going to work. So we had to start using scale measurements we took for all the buildings and converted that into SketchUp, and that’s where we brought it into the MakerBot,” said Jordan.

Mind you, the MakerBot presented some problems, itself. The “firmware was messed up,” so much so it had to be returned to the manufacturer. That set things back a couple months, meaning the project wasn’t ready for the debut originally intended at the Watermelon Festival.

That being said, while updates and tweaks are still underway (and will likely always remain so), there’s enough done that the students plan to bring the project to Conference. And that, they said, will help achieve one of their goals.

“We want to tell people who come by our booth that our town isn’t just a cave or about watermelons,” Atlee said. “We hope they see this project and that it might change their opinion.” n

N O T M U C H I S K N O W N A B O U T O U R T O W N I N T H E Y O U N G E R G E N E R AT I O N S .

T H E O LD E R G E N E R AT I O N A N D T H E N E W E R GENERATION ABOUT HOW THINGS WERE, NOT M U C H WAS S H A RE D BE T W E E N

WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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STUDENT SOLDIERS Story map follows Bentonville High’s participants in World War II

By Spencer Watson

B

entonville High School’s Lily Musengwa might argue that the most rewarding projects are the ones that never really end. They may be imbued with so many countless details that completion isn’t really a feasible end goal, or they derive from other projects and then spawn other related endeavors, themselves. Her latest efforts happen to be both.

The idea was relatively straightforward: create a story map showing involvement of Bentonville High School students in World War II. The idea came about after classmates started a project to digitize old yearbooks, which go back more than 100 years. One in particular they found no trace of: 1942. It was never produced, they learned, because the class donated all the yearbook funds to the war effort.

That little tidbit came to them via an alumna of that class, Tennie Russell,

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whom the students set out to interview for a documentary about the school’s involvement in the war.

sacrifices today. We don’t have to deal with stuff like that. So I wanted to hear what Mrs. Russell had to say about it and what her feelings were and how that felt back then,” said Lily, who interviewed Russell for the film.

Doing research beforehand, she was struck by the numbers of students who went to war. And she was even more struck when those numbers became names and faces. She wanted to find a way to represent them.

“I really wanted to know where people went and how it all worked out after.”

“I thought it was interesting and kind of shocking, because I can’t really imagine us making those

Drawing on training and experience in ArcGIS in the classroom and in EAST student trainings — work that’s earned her an internship with the county GIS office — she set about putting locations with those names and faces. It was easy, she said, until it wasn’t.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

“I didn’t expect it to be that hard.

When I first started looking for the information, I was just Googling the names, and the first names I tried happened to be really easy. I searched for them and could see that, ‘oh look, one of them built this famous building.’ But after that, when I started going through people who didn’t make it through, it was a lot harder.”

She found records to be vague, absent or contradictory. She might know a student-turned-soldier served in France, but that’s not much to build a map out of. Others she got specific information for — one was part of the Normandy invasion on D-Day. Others she only had an obscure picture of a gravestone.

“You’d think they would have records, but unfortunately they didn’t have computers back then. Someone had to go through and type all that information out [in hard copy].”

Sometimes they didn’t, or if they did the record isn’t digitized. For that reason, the map’s early stages have leaned on service records of those soldiers killed in the field. Lily hopes to continue adding more information and, as a senior, pass the project on to later students.

“There are a lot of people helping with research by putting the information they find into a shared folder on the computer. And we definitely have

I can’t really imagine us making those sacrifices today.

Then there were those who returned. Many left legacies in public service.

A pair of brothers went into law enforcement, one for the city of Bentonville, the other for Benton County. Another was a noted builder under E. Fay Jones.

His structures are still standing today. Many, many others, however, simply disappeared.

“The ones who did come back either did something really interesting and fairly important, like they worked for the government, or they just didn’t do much that got recorded. They disappeared. It was interesting how different people reacted after their service. They were either a policeman or with the FBI, or you just can’t tell where they went.”

That’s not to say Lily and a team of classmates haven’t been looking.

They have been, through Google and genealogy sites and military records and everything else they can find. Sometimes the information is just not there.

more names to research and more points we can put on the map.”

As for Lily, the documentary and story map have given her a new appreciation for her community and history in general.

“Before I started, history was just something far off, like I couldn’t really understand it. But after talking to people who were there and that this happened to, hearing how this felt, it’s really changed how I think about all periods, not just World War II.” n

We don’t have to deal with stuff like that.

WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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FEATURE STORY

A

HODGEPODGE MISFITS OF

MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL EAST CLASS SHARE MEMORIES B Y S P E N C E R WAT S O N

T

he thing about being the first of something is that you rarely know you’re the first. Or, perhaps more specifically, you don’t know that what you’re the first of is going to be something. You only figure it out later, when it’s already become what it’s going to become.

Such was the case for the first members of the class that was to become EAST. It was, at the outset of the 19951996 school year, called the Greenbrier Service Institute. Only later in the year did the students them12

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selves call it Environmental and Spatial Technology. But that’s already getting ahead of the story.

“We had started an environmental study-type service institute the year before [in 1994-1995], and it was cool to some of us because we got to leave the classroom,” said Julia Sites (nee Lincoln). “We went spelunking in a cave, repelled on a

mountain. We slept in sleeping bags out in the field, did water testing and other projects of that nature, and that was kind of the start of the whole thing.”

At the start, no one really knew what they were getting into.

“A friend and I took it because it was enviromental science,” said Lisa Rodgers VanEvera. “We didn’t want to take chemistry or physics, but needed a science class, so we took that class.”

Some students were going to be in “that class” simply because of the person leading it: Tim Stephenson.

“I got involved to begin with because of Mr. Stephenson,” said Jennifer Burroughs (Osborne back then). “He had done his student teaching in my eighth grade history class, so when he was hired as a teacher my sophomore year, I signed up for any class he taught, because that was the best year of history I ever had.”

still largely in its infancy, certainly in public schools.

“This was the time of the 14.4 modems and, you know, literal floppy disks. This was a time where the access to this kind of stuff wasn’t automatic. You didn’t have iPads and smartphones and all these things in your life,” said Sites. “So the opportunity to not only use these, but to be in charge of them, to be able to set them up, was invaluable.”

For her, that experience was parlayed into a degree and a career in computer science. For Burroughs, EAST was an influence on choosing to go into education (though she nearly went into geography science and GIS, a path also introduced

by EAST). VanEvera, who also went into

college senior, I’m like, yes, thank you very much, I appreciate it.”

Indeed, that echo of appreciation, particularly given two decades of reflection on how things panned out, was not uncommon among EAST’s original class.

“I’ve had opportunities I would have never had otherwise and made some great friends for life,” said Burroughs, The various motivations led to an who has not only taught a traditional eclectic group. classroom but also was an EAST facilitator and even worked “It was like a hodgepodge for the EAST Initiative of misfits. There wasn’t THERE WASN’T LIKE A CERTAIN TYPE OF — twice. like a certain type of clique in there. Looking back on CLIQUE IN THERE. EVERYBODY HAD SOMETHING VanEvera said her appreciit now, everybody had THEY COULD DO AND CONTRIBUTE. ation has grown over time. something they could do and contribute,” said “EAST actually prepares you and VanEvera. education, said the principles of EAST still gets you ready for things you’ll face have an influence on her today. in professional life,” she said. “Back “I was a good student. I could sit in a at 16 or 17, I don’t know that I cared, traditional classroom. I could take tests “I think it’s probably one of the reasons I but now I see benefits of it. I’m teachand regurgitate facts. I had the grades homeschool my kids,” she said. “I wanting my own girls that.” and the scores to prove that,” said Sites. ed them to have the freedom to pursue “But most of the guys in that first class things that interest them in their own Sites added that while the technology has didn’t. There were some great students timeframe, like EAST does.” drastically changed, the idea of learning in there, but there were a lot of so-called that powers an EAST classroom has not. ‘troublemakers.’ Mr. Stephenson didn’t Of course, none of them envisioned exactsee them that way. He would be tough ly what the class would become, though “EAST from the beginning was about on people when he needed to, but he Sites said she had an inkling while still in learning from your mistakes -- we made also gave them an opportunity to do college. She’d been asked by Stephenson them -- and that’s with you your entire something better and to change — and first to talk to the governor’s staff about life,” she said. “I think we’re facing a they ran with it.”

EAST, then to come to Little Rock for a generation of kids who don’t know how conference, then to address the conference to fix their mistakes, so they don’t know Those opportunities came in a variety of herself after the governor did. how to move on from them, and they forms. The early students remembered stall like a deer in the headlights. projects like mapping hydrants for the “This is where I joke that you nevfire department. They built a greenhouse er say yes to Mr. Stephenson un“See, EAST isn’t just teaching people and tried (unsuccessfully) to raise catfish. less you’re all in,” she said. “But as how to use technology; there’s a million They traveled to a technical conference in I walked down off the stage at the tutorials for that. But it creates an enviAlabama and presented to a room full of end, I turned around and there’s this ronment in which students can make adult professionals. They also had to set line of people waiting to talk to me. I mistakes, learn from them and then up the classroom computer network at think I walked out of there with maymove on successfully.” n a time when computer networking was be 70 business cards. As a graduating WINTER 2016 | EAST QUARTERLY

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CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP

TAKE ME TO YOUR

LEADERS

BY SPENCER WATSON

T

o be a leader is one thing, to be a leader among leaders is, well, something else. It means exhibiting a certain set of qualities that makes one stand out among hundreds of applicants and dozens of those accepted. But the qualities that make one best suited to such a task are usually the ones that put the spotlight on others.

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Leaders lead, but in the end it’s the people who deliver.

-Tony Blair Such are the four leaders of the three Leadership Teams for EAST Conference 2016. Each offers their own special skill set for the task ahead of them, and here’s what they had to say about themselves, their experiences in leadership and about their experiences in EAST.

JORDAN LEE

Ambassador Team Leader Senior, Nettleton High School

“Because of my involvement in EAST, I have learned more than I ever thought I would from what is typically deemed as a “computer course.” Over the past three years I have been able to work with individuals from all backgrounds to solve problems. I have been challenged to dig deeper and think critically, which has allowed me to grow as a student. In my opinion, EAST is a program that can teach you more about yourself than you know. Because of the roles that I have had in my program, I have flourished and experienced many great triumphs. My confidence has definitely grown as well.

However, most of my success can be credited to my failures. I feel that one of the most important things to do is fail, because it allows you to learn something different about yourself every time.

Your failures do not define you, but rather how you recover from them.”

BAYLEE KIMBRELL

Documentation Team Photographer/Team Leader Senior, Greenbrier High School

“I have been in EAST for three years; I love the program and its unique classroom environment and opportunities. When I first started EAST, I did not expect to have achieved and learned so much.

Before EAST, I felt like everyone had their hobby, their place to belong, whether a sport or in band, and I was kind of a misfit. EAST has given me a home and place to express my creativity. Through EAST I have not only learned about work ethic and teamwork but also created a passion for photography and graphic design. It has taught me about patience and the difference you can truly make in your community. For example, being a coordinator for our high school career fair had many obstacles, but I along with my co-coordinator were able to pull together a great fair. EAST has given me management skills and many opportunities to learn how to be a great leader and allowed me to interact with the community. I am this year’s 2016 EAST Conference Documentation Team Leader, and I am so excited to get the opportunity to give back to the program that has given me so much.”

CONRAD MURRAY

Technical Support Team Co-leader Junior, Berryville High School

“I have learned a tremendous amount of leadership in my time with EAST. I may not be the smartest or the most knowledgeable, but I have a will to learn and to succeed. My time with EAST has not only helped me in my endeavors, it has also guided me. I have had the opportunity to share what I know, from being taught when I was a freshmen, to teaching what I know to the freshmen this year. I took the responsibility of head administrator of our room not to lord it over others, but because I believed I could do it. EAST has taught me to not become frustrated when a problem arises, but to look at it from a different angle, and to teach someone while I do it. Leadership doesn’t necessarily mean ‘herding the sheep,’ but supporting the flock.”

SPENCER HEALD

Technical Support Team Co-leader Senior, Gravette High School

“EAST to me is so much more than just a class. It is an opportunity. An opportunity to grow life skills beyond what I thought I could ever achieve in high school. I walked into EAST as a freshman completely unaware of what the class was or the impact it would have on me over the next four years. I grew stronger as a leader and was given opportunities never imaginable. My first two years in EAST were very much a learning experience. I devoted most of my time to programming for different projects and teaching others about computers. During my junior year, with the help of a good friend, James Isabell, we developed the EAST Tech Team. Over the past years the teachers have felt overwhelmed with technological problems. The Tech Team was created to resolve this issue.

Through teaching students about computers and practicing my skills of assigning help tickets to student team members (15 different students in a total of four different classes), EAST provided me with more real life experience and knowledge than any other class could even imagine.”

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WINTER EVENTS

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EVENTS

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WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

W

hat technology are you going to bring to Conference? Have you thought about and prepared for all of your tech needs? It never fails: some schools will arrive only to discover there is a missing cord or a key component that didn’t get packed for the technology they plan to use. Planning ahead can save you a headache. Here are some things to think about:

• Do you have a presentation saved on your server at school? Have you made a local copy on a computer you’re bringing to Conference or a flash drive? Your server won’t be at Conference, so you need to make sure whatever data you need is with you in a portable way.

• You will need to know the local account username and password and make sure to remove your computers from the domain before you bring them to Conference. You will not be able to use your server account information to log onto the computers at the convention center.

• Are you bringing a monitor, TV or some other display? Make sure you remember those VGA, HDMI or other cables. You can’t connect to a display without a video cord!

• Many times schools are plugging in multiple devices. If you are, don’t forget those power strips and extension cords in order to cover your entire booth area (depending on where your technology is located).

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GEEK SPEAK

TIPS FROM TSG TO MAKE YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE FREE OF TECHNICAL WOES BY MARISA DAMM

• What about documenting your experience at Conference using your EAST cameras?

Don’t forget to charge your batteries ahead of time and bring those battery chargers with you. Also, don’t forget to bring SD cards! Check to make sure they’re not already full before you leave school.

• CORDS. CORDS. CORDS. A few extra backup cables can prove invaluable. The EAST Initiative does not have enough cords to supply every school with one if they forget something, so please make sure you have what you need. Make a checklist for packing: power, USB, audio, video, etc.

• Test everything before you leave your classroom. Then test it again. While there is technical support available, the Conference floor is not the ideal place to try to troubleshoot problems. Make sure it’s working before you set out.

• We recommend against planning to use an Apple TV or Chromecast in your booth because the WiFi networks are not dependable, and with so many schools trying to utilize it, the wireless connection often does not work well. With that in mind, we recommend against relying on the Internet for anything. Store locally and don’t depend on bandwidth.

What happens when you get to Conference and have technical difficulties? Don’t worry! Send a student to the Technical Support booth located in the exhibit hall and ask one of our Technical Support Staff for help. We will be there for all three days of Conference for you! You will be able to differentiate the student technical support team from the other guests because they will be wearing bright blue vests. Should issues arise, and sometime they will, we are there to help.

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CALENDAR

TRAINING

CALENDAR MARCH 2016 15th-17th

Hot Springs

APRIL 2016 12th 14th-15th 14th-15th 19th 28th-29th

Introduction to Audio / Video Learning Adobe Illustrator Make a Movie (Regional) Systems Administration Advanced Adobe Illustrator

Little Rock Little Rock Camden Little Rock Little Rock

MAY 2016 2nd 4th TBD

Introduction to Arduino Programming with Processing Pre-Implementation Workshop (Private)

Little Rock Little Rock Little Rock

CONFERENCE CLIPS http://bit.ly/CNclips16 20

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Be sure to check out Conference Clips on our YouTube channel!

r a e G

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(1) (3) (10) $3 / $7 / $20

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Thank You to all of our sponsors and supporters who help make EAST happen for students.

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EAST STAFF

We asked the staff “What part of Conference are you looking forward to the most?”

Matt Dozier

President / Chief Executive Officer Matt@EASTstaff.org

Mary Forst

Chief Financial Officer MaryF@EASTstaff.org

“Two things: the first is the beginning of Conference. I love it when, after all the planning and preparation and fretting over details, everyone arrives. There’s such excitement in the air. The other thing I look forward to happens on the last day. It’s a secret, but suffice it to say it allows for quiet contemplation and expressing gratitude to a small group of VERY special people.”

“​I always look forward to the end of the first day to see how the exhibit hall transforms from a quiet, mostly empty area to an area full of students, booths and excitement.”

Tami Baker

Sam Byrd

Program Coordinator Tami@EASTstaff.org

Technical Support Group Member Sam@EASTstaff.org

“I always look forward to judging. As a facilitator, I served as a judge every opportunity I could because I knew there was value in the experience. Now, I not only get to watch the professionalism of students as they present, but also get to watch as the judges soak up all of that awesomeness, just like I did. It’s a very rewarding experience, especially for ME!”

“I can’t wait to see all of the student-created booths. The creativity and ingenuity that goes into the booths is always interesting, especially considering the 10x10x10 space that every school is given. But most of all, I can’t wait to see the projects that the students have done.”

Lori Canada

Lisa Cook

Program Coordinator Lori@EASTstaff.org

Professional Development Coordinator Lisa@EASTstaff.org

“I’m looking forward to the new and exciting Red Carpet Extravaganza and Gala. We have been working hard to make this experience a fun celebration! I can’t wait to see all our plans come together and the look on the kids’ faces!”

“Man, it’s hard to pick just one thing! I love when we raise those back doors and schools flood in first thing Tuesday morning, and I get to see all those familiar faces and the excitement! But DJ Mario puts on a show at Fusion, and I can’t wait to see all those kids AND facilitators let loose a little!”

Toni Cook

Adam Crider

Purchasing Coordinator Toni@EASTstaff.org “This Conference will be my first, and I am honestly looking forward to all of it: the chaos, the excitement, the euphoria. Since the work I do is mostly behind the scenes, I have seen the countless hours that many staff members have put into Conference, and I cannot wait to see the final product. I have a feeling it is going to be pretty AMAZING.”

Programmer

Adam@EASTstaff.org “I look forward to seeing how all the students use the technology they have in the classroom.”

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Marisa Damm

Lead Technical Support Marisa@EASTstaff.org

Jessica Dunham Events Manager

Jessica@EASTstaff.org

“I enjoy pausing for a moment in the exhibit hall each year just to look and listen to “EAST” and in that moment I know that we are making a difference! I cannot wait to experience that moment again this year!”

“Seeing all of the students on the Leadership Teams take charge and shine! The Ambassador, Documentation and Tech Support team members are a vital part of what makes Conference unique and very successful, and it’s incredibly rewarding for me.”

Doug Gusewelle

Rinda Hall

Technical Resource Specialist Doug@EASTstaff.org

Program Coordinator Rinda@EASTstaff.org

“At Conference this year I am the most excited about the Tech Support Olympiad Competition. Every year it gets more exciting. I also don’t want to miss out on STEM Challenges at Fusion.”

“I love the excitement of the first day on the show floor! Students sharing projects and ideas and bumping into Matt and Tim with looks of awe on their faces. Priceless.”

Phaedra Hawkins

Beth Hicks

Student Training Coordinator Phaedra@EASTstaff.org

Program Coordinator Beth@EASTstaff.org

“The students. Seeing the excitement and expression on their faces is priceless! For some students, this is the first time they have ever taken a trip. They are excited and amazed!”

“I’m looking forward to Gala and the Red-Carpet Extravaganza!”

Eric Holt

James Hopper

Internet Services Manager Eric@EASTstaff.org

Development Coordinator James@EASTstaff.org

“I look forward to watching the kids take to the stage and show us how awesome they are: that’s the true measure of success at what we do.”

“I am looking forward to interacting with the guests, especially the first-timers. I love seeing the look of amazement on adults’ faces when they see what students are capable of when given a chance. My favorite phrase is ‘where was this when I was in school?’”

Lani Jennings

Cody Jones

Office Coordinator

Lani@EASTstaff.org “I can’t wait to see all the pieces come together! I’ve never been to Conference, so it’s hard for me to begin to even guess what to expect!”

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Staff Accountant Cody@EASTstaff.org “I’m looking forward to seeing the Red Carpet Extravaganza. It’s always cool to see new elements added to Conference.”

Dave Lewis

Jerry Prince

Designer

Senior Director of Program Services

Dave@EASTstaff.org

Jerry@EASTstaff.org

“This is going to be my first Conference experience, and I am really excited to see the entire EAST community all together in one place!”

“I can’t wait for the chicken-free Gala. This event is such a motivator to see the students lead the show, the surprises of students being called to the stage but mostly the potential experiences for young and old.”

Melanie Ridlon

Tim Stephenson, Founder

Senior Director of Operations

Program Coordinator

Melanie@EASTstaff.org

Tim@EASTstaff.org

“I’d say the moment I cherish most is getting a sneak peek of the Documentation Team’s video, produced in just two short days, as they are putting the final touches on it before it is shared at the closing session. The team is so excited. The goose bumps, the emotion, the message. There is nothing like it.”

“I’m looking forward to greeting kids and parking buses, as well as helping with the Founder’s Award judging and the presentation of the award.”

Tim Van Dusen Network Manager

TimV@EASTstaff.org “I always tell people that if they want to experience EAST at it’s finest then come to the Exhibit Hall on Day 2 when all of the students are there. The atmosphere is electric and students kick it into high gear as they share what they have been working on. ”

Spencer Watson

Communications Manager Spencer@EASTstaff.org “As a lover of stories and how they’re told, I’m excited about the photo and video work, as well as the on-the-ground reporting, of the Documentation Team. They get to write the first pages of history, and I look forward to seeing them.”

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