EQ EAST®
QUARTERLY
Summer 2018
ISSUE
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SOARING WITH EAST 2 GRAY MATTERS 6 INSTALLING THE EXPERIENCE
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WE ARE STILL
INSPIRING CHANGE
I TH
T S A E S I S
We may look a little different, but we are still the same EAST that began in one classroom in Greenbrier, Arkansas in 1996. We still envision a world where communities are strengthened through service and technology. We still aim to provide all learners with the opportunity to have relevant, individualized, lifechanging educational experiences. And this is still your EAST. We’ve simply reimagined the way we tell our story.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summer, farewell. Farewell the sunburnt shoulder, Farewell the peasant kerchief on the head. Farewell the thunderstorm, complete with lightning, And the white shoe that ever needeth whitening.
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SOARING WITH EAST
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STUDYING THE EAST WAY
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FACILITATING EXCELLENCE
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GRAY MATTERS
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ALL SIZES CONSIDERED
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INSTALLING THE EXPERIENCE
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MEET EAST
—Phyllis McGinley, Ode to the End of Summer Yes, it is THAT time again. The end of the summer season and the beginning of a new school year with all the possibilities that beginnings give us. Yet, for many of the schools and students with EAST, the summer of 2018 was just the space that other people thought was “down time” because they were busy working to better their communities and hone their projects. Some of those stories follow, and, as we’ve come to expect, they stagger the mind when you consider how great an impact they are having on everyone involved. Join us as we move from the complexities of neuroscience to work in preserving the very symbol of our Republic. Learn what others have found when they have looked at the work of EAST and how it is impacting everyone it touches. Come along as we turn a classroom space into the most exciting room in town. Hop on the bus, welcome back to school…you may discover you never really left it.
Matt Dozier President/CEO
EQ
Dardanelle High School’s Save the Raptors project helps protect our nation’s bird.
A team from Arkansas State University spent time at two Northeast Arkansas schools.
Two EAST facilitators are among those recognized as finalists for Arkansas Teacher of the Year.
Hot Springs EAST students 3D model brain tumors for patient understanding.
EAST’s new website features responsive design.
Get the run-down on how a new EAST environment is prepared.
Learn more about our Site Support team.
6215 Ranch Dr. Little Rock, AR 72223 501.371.5016 www.EASTinitiative.org communications@EASTstaff.org
CONTRIBUTORS Matt Dozier Melanie Ridlon Eric Holt
MAGAZINE TEAM Editor/Designer - Diana Denning
PHOTOGRAPHY Diana Denning Desiree Deliz Photography
Read this and previous issues online 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.
SUMMER 2018 | EAST QUARTERLY
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EAST PROJECTS
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housands of raptors such as eagles, owls, and hawks are injured each year from accidentally ingesting fishing line. Small monofilament line scraps end up in waterways. They then become tangled in fish and other small animals, which are then eaten by the birds. Dardanelle High School EAST students Tyler Turnbow, Chase Hickey, and Kayla Miller spent the last year helping these birds of prey avoid harm.
Soon after, the team began to brainstorm ways to help the raptors, and by January 2018, the Save the Raptors project was in full swing. A plan was made to build monofilament recycling bins to collect used fishing line and tackle. A partnership with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) helped the students fund the construction of these bins. “My favorite part of this project was actually assembling the bins. I love to be hands-on and it was a really neat experience,” said Kayla. The students researched how to build the bins from several online sites and finally settled on a design made from PVC pipe and elbows. After working together for a week, the team produced nine collection bins, which Kayla, Chase, and Tyler agreed was one of the best parts of the whole project. 2
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Last fall, the students began learning about eagle behavior by remotely observing them in the nest. Eagle cams in Washington, DC, northeast Florida, southwest Florida, Big Bear Lake in California and the Upper Mississippi River Refuge revealed food being brought to the nest entangled with fishing line.
I have seen that more people use the bins than what I thought would. People might throw trash and other things in there but at least they aren’t throwing it in the water to harm wildlife.
Photo used with permission from Desiree Deliz Photography
people use the bins than what I thought would. People might throw trash and other things in there but at least they aren’t throwing it in the water to harm wildlife,” said Tyler.
The nine bins the team built were installed at Dardanelle State Park, Delaware, London, and Knoxville, joining seven smaller bins already installed by the AGFC at Dardanelle State Park. The AGFC helped the students develop a method of collecting and weighing the recyclable materials and partnered them with a center for recycling in Iowa. While the bins often hold socks and other trash items, the students of Dardanelle High School are happy they are being used. “I have seen that more
The team has reached out to many of the organizations that run the eagle cams they initially researched. Chase graduated this past spring, but Tyler and Kayla plan to expand the project by installing more bins this coming school year, including four bins at Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, another team
of students from Dardanelle High plans to expand the scope of the project to address lead poisoning. Overall, “the response from [the public] and organizations who are involved in wildlife preservation was very much appreciated and well received,” said Tyler. “Many of the communities we contacted plan to install their own bins.” This group of students took a local step towards a national goal of keeping a onceendangered species off the list of extinction.
SOARING with east
Dardanelle High School EAST students dedicate themselves to helping eagles
SUMMER 2018 | EAST QUARTERLY
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EAST NEWS
In both districts, EAST has been supported by the parents and the community as a whole. Gosnell has formed an advisory council made up of community members and regularly receives project suggestions from parents. At BIC, the community has “...embraced EAST as a resource” from which they can get assistance, and “parents are often the connections to community projects,” said the BIC High School EAST Facilitator.
STUDYING The EAST Way
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ow valuable is a year of EAST? What difference does it make for the students, facilitators, administrators, and communities? Arkansas State University’s Office of Behavioral Research & Evaluation (OBRE) recently finalized a study on two schools with EAST in Northeast Arkansas to explore that question. Gosnell Elementary, which started EAST in 2017-2018, and Buffalo Island Central (BIC) High School, a fourth-year program, were both studied by a team of psychologists and educational researchers. A series of interviews, surveys, and faceto-face focus groups with teachers, students, and administrators were used to document the impact that EAST had on the schools and community as a whole. Those surveyed at both schools believe that EAST has benefited 4
EAST QUARTERLY | www.EASTinitiative.org
The greatest successes in EAST, according to administrators and facilitators, is the holistic growth of the students. Students have taken ownership of their learning and become critical thinkers who are focused on helping their communities. The study also found that this growth is not limited to just the students who are typically successful in school.
ASU Team affirms value of EAST
students academically, in their soft skills, and by developing community connections. A consistency among students that participated in the study was that being a part of EAST helped them realize how many problems exist within their communities and how being able to help the community was one of the best parts of being in EAST. In both districts, through the partnerships established, there was more engagement, and students were more deeply plugged into their communities. “EAST gave me the opportunity to expand my skills beyond the classroom for the greater good,” remarked one BIC High School EAST student.
“With EAST, you see success from all students, not just your top or good students,” said the BIC facilitator. Both districts are enthusiastic about what’s coming next. “[The students are] still learning because we just started. I have a whole list of things the community has asked for,” said the Gosnell Elementary facilitator. In both communities, the study shows that EAST is making a difference. It is making people care about their surroundings, other people, and their own educational growth. The complete study results will be available soon on the EAST website at eastinitiatIve.org.
FACILITATING
EXCELLENCE
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wo EAST facilitators were among 14 regional finalists for this year’s Arkansas Teacher of the Year (ATOY). Heather Hite, from McCrory High School, and Rob Plant, from Mineral Springs High School, were recognized at a ceremony on August 18 at the Governor’s Mansion. “I really am honored to be considered for Arkansas Teacher of the Year, but I don’t want anyone to lose sight of the fact that this award is really about our students. We have some awesome students at Mineral Springs. It is because of these girls and guys that I am able to be the kind of teacher that I want to be in the classroom,” said Rob. Rob, who has been an EAST facilitator for a total of 2 years, credits EAST for helping both his students and himself be successful.
“[EAST allows us to] tap into students’ interests, explore their personalities and [help them] design a project that is a part of who they are as a person,” said Rob. Heather was surprised to receive the nomination for Teacher of the Year, and acknowledges that there are so many others doing outstanding work across the state. “There are thousands of teachers that wake up everyday and bust their tails for kids all across this state, all across the nation for that matter. People that go in early, stay late, and work from home to do the best for kids. To be recognized as a finalist is such an honor and a shock,” said Heather. Each public school district in Arkansas may select one teacher as its District
“...I don’t want anyone to lose sight of the fact that this award is really about our students.” Teacher of the Year and nominate that teacher for the ATOY. A selection panel assembled by the Arkansas Department of Education reviews the applications and selects the regional finalists, one representing each educational service cooperative and one representing Pulaski County. SUMMER 2018 | EAST QUARTERLY 5
EAST PROJECTS
GRAY HOT SPRINGS WORLD CLASS HIGH SCHOOL EAST STUDENTS PARTNER WITH NEUROSURGEON
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magine being told you have a brain tumor. A million thoughts run through your head while the doctor continues with medical terminology and treatment options. You can’t focus on anything, much less the details of the size, shape and location of your brain tumor. This is where EAST students at Hot Springs World Class High School have helped. Ella Pace and Maddie Scott are helping patients visualize their own brain tumors by using 3D printers to print a physical representation of their tumor(s). By creating a scale model of the tumor scans, the patient and their family can see — and hold — the very thing that is causing so much stress. 6
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Ella, currently a sophomore, and Maddie, a senior, partnered with Ella’s father, Dr. John Pace, a Hot Springs neurosurgeon, in order to learn more after having a friend diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. Pseudotumor cerebri is often referred to as “false tumor.” The pressure inside an individual’s brain increases as if there were a tumor, but there isn’t one to cause the pressure. This diagnosis left the girls wanting to understand more about the brain and brain tumors. Ella and Maddie were able to shadow physicians during surgery and clinic visits.
Maddie describes the partnership as “the experience of a lifetime,” and Ella adds that partnering with her dad “has been valuable for both of us. He has always made an effort to try and teach me as much as he can.” “Maddie was under the impression that a tumor was removed all in one piece, when in fact it is removed using suction piece by piece. Now, we can describe terms like fiducial markers and show others the location of [their] tumors,” said Ella. The girls have been surprised by how little understanding many patients have about their own bodies and health. “It is shocking to see that patients really don’t know what is going on inside them even after the doctor has explained [it],” said Maddie. But the 3D models allow Ella and Maddie to fill in the doctor-patient education gap in a direct, tangible way, and patients begin to grasp what is actually happening. Doctors can use the 3D model to explain in a short and concise but also heartfelt manner about the diagnosis and treatment. The students have also learned a little bit about HIPAA and patient confidentiality through this process.
Publicizing a project with these restrictions proved to be a bit challenging for the team. “We are not at liberty to disclose the patient’s name, the hospital’s name, or to post/publish images of the
patient or hospital,” explained Ella. When explaining the project in the community, the students overcome these constraints by showing the mechanics of the tumor, like location, size, and abnormalities
“It is shocking to see that patients really don’t know what is going on inside them even after the doctor has explained [it]” without revealing any confidential patient information. Ella and Maddie plan to continue offering tumor models to more patients and also target pediatric cases. As they are able to reach more patients, they also hope to conduct a study to compare outcomes.
SUMMER 2018 | EAST QUARTERLY
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GEEK SPEAK
By Eric Holt, EAST Internet Services Manager EAST has a new responsive website! So, what does that mean? In the old days, websites were designed for desktop screens. As people started using mobile devices such as phones and tablets to surf the Internet, a big problem presented itself: most websites didn’t fit on the smaller screens, which makes them difficult to use on mobile devices. One answer to this problem is responsive design.
make their content accessible across all types of devices. It is easy to get started with, but you may find that it requires some tweaking to fit your particular project. Here is a quick lesson on using Bootstrap.
Responsive design is a methodology that allows elements on the screen to rearrange themselves to fit whatever screen size the website is being viewed on, automagically! Well, there’s actually a bit more to it than that.
Before Bootstrap is ready to use, you will need to also download jQuery, a JavaScript library. The specific version to use will depend on what’s available at the time and whether or not you want to try a beta release (which, though newer, is still in the developmental stages and may contain bugs that no one has discovered), but keep in mind that you need to be sure to have the right version of jQuery for your version of Bootstrap, which is documented in the installation instructions.
The most popular framework for responsive design is Bootstrap, which was designed by Twitter to
You can find out more about getting started at https://getbootstrap.com/. There are a number of different
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ways to install Bootstrap and it will depend somewhat on the platform your website runs on, so, while there is no one-size-fits-all set of instructions, each version has documentation specific to it that should be followed closely. For users familiar with installing JavaScript libraries this is a very familiar process. Once Bootstrap is up and running, you will want to add a responsive meta tag to your website to tell web browsers that your site is responsive. For example, you can add this responsive meta tag between your <head> tags: <meta name=“viewport” content=“width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no”>. Once that’s done, you’re ready to
design your site. Again, pay careful attention to the documentation to see all of the available features, but it is generally most important to focus on containers, grids, and menus. Containers are the basic layout blocks in Bootstrap. You don’t have to put everything inside of a container, but having content inside containers gives you more control of the layout and how it responds to different screen sizes. Creating a container is as easy as adding a class to a div, like this: <div class=“container”>some content...</div>. You can also add classes to control how the container behaves. If you add the “fixed-width” class, the container will jump in size at certain points as the screen is resized, while “fluid-width” will allow it to change width smoothly. If you want your container to fill the width of the screen, use “container-fluid.” How are contents structured in containers? You use the Bootstrap grid, which is a 12-column grid that can be subdivided any way you like, as long as the total columns add up to 12. The columns will need to be inside of a row, like this: <div class=“container”> <div class=“row”> <div class=“col-sm-6”>column one content</div> <div class=“col-sm-6”>column two content</div> </div> </div> In this example we are using “colsm-6” for each of our two columns. This means a column, small, spanning 6 columns in the Bootstrap grid which yields two columns of equal width. You can change this however you like, as long as it adds up to 12 columns. So, for instance, if you wanted the first column to be
twice as wide as the second one, you could use “col-sm-8” for the first one and “col-sm-4” for the second one. Once you have everything in a grid, you should see that the contents re-arrange automatically from horizontal to vertical as the screen size is narrowed while resizing the screen.
One very important thing to keep in mind is that Bootstrap uses predefined breakpoints to determine the screen widths that trigger a responsive re-arranging of the site. Usually, these built-in breakpoints will work just fine, but on occasion you may run into issues where, for instance, your menu is too wide for the built-in breakpoint and it doesn’t collapse soon enough. To fix this, you will need to override the breakpoints in your CSS file, like this: @media (max-width: 600px){ }
You can create menus in Bootstrap with Navbars. Navbars are useful because they make sure that as the screen narrows, the menu will collapse to fit. The code needed to create a Navbar is a bit complex to show in an article as short as this and is variable based on need, so, once again, the documentation will guide you as you experiment with it.
Just add in the styles that should apply when the screen is no wider than 600 pixels. This is a basic overview of some of the things involved in responsive design, the documentation has many more details. Experiment with the different elements of Bootstrap to see how they work. It may seem overwhelming, but once you get the basics down it’s much easier to work with. SUMMER 2018 | EAST QUARTERLY
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EAST NEWS
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t’s August and just a few weeks before school starts. Teachers are working diligently in their classrooms to arrange desks, organize supplies and decorate walls in preparation for students to arrive. By contrast, in the first year, the EAST experience begins with a bare classroom: tables, chairs, computers, and printers; none of the equipment is plugged in or turned on. It’s just sitting there, waiting (much like the facilitators and students). But the wait isn’t too long, and when it is over, everyone involved has experienced something powerful and inspiring. It’s the “birth” of an EAST environment. In the parlance of EAST we call this transformation the Installation Experience. When everything is in place and all the preparations have been checked and double checked, a team of EAST staff members will arrange to meet at this new EAST school and help oversee the installation process. They can’t do it alone, however, they need the help of the school staff, the new facilitator, and most importantly—a team of EAST students. EAST staff arrive first thing in the morning with a vehicle full of equipment. In total, the equipment a school receives costs over $80,000 and has a commercial value far beyond that. While the EAST technical service team begins to assess the environment to ensure the network and other technical components are working properly, the facilitator and EAST support staff review, unbox, and organize the equipment. About mid-morning, a team of EAST students arrive to help get their EAST experience off the ground. You see, students begin to take ownership of EAST during the technology installation process. They learn by unpacking the various technology, charging batteries when needed, and installing and testing the items they receive. They also setup the network accounts and assemble other hardware such as 3D printers, Pi-Top, and an Arduino Kit.The overall objective is to make sure that everything the school received is accounted for and is in working order. One of the more challenging technologies to test is the 3D scanner which requires the technology to collaborate and then scan an object. This item alone tests a student’s patience and takes a lot of trial and error to set up. When the testing process is complete, it isn’t uncommon to hear a joyful outburst. The install team takes a moment to have a mini celebration with the student because they overcame the challenge.
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EAST QUARTERLY | www.EASTinitiative.org
eSTEM East Village Junior High was one of the new classrooms set up in early August. Since these students had been in school since the beginning of July, they were eager to dive into the added technology. EQ sat down with facilitator Derek Hancock to ask him about his expectations for his new classroom.
Q: Tell me what you are most looking forward to about EAST. A: Wow. Taking these students to the next level. That’s what we
are trying to do. Problem-solving skills are what this class is all about. The students I have been blessed with this year are quite intrigued and ready to get going.
Q: You’ve been in school for about a month now. What have you been working on in the past month or so?
A: We’ve been EASTizing. The first week was pretty much A large scale printer called a plotter “What is EAST?” They had to read and sign a contract to is assembled, ink and printheads let me know that they understood what this class was added, and a test poster is printed. all about, that it is student-led and I am here to assist, to Cameras, professional-grade software, get you to the next level. But it is going to require 100% tablets, 3D printers, an Arduino, virtual effort from the student. After signing the contract, reality equipment and so much more are they had to summarize it and explain things they installed and tested, too. These students were interested in and past knowledge they had. I are instrumental in making sure EAST is found I had a couple of two-year EAST students and able to complete the install during the day one three-year EAST student. and a half allotted. Although technical staff are there to assist, learning how to set up and Q: This is a first-year program. What are you work the equipment is all in the hands of the hoping for your program this year? students. A: To excel. We’ve already been discussing The same install team returns the next morning projects and how they go, and I’ve been to finish setting up the equipment and also to tuning their brains to get to thinking. We’ve provide a handful of technological demonstrations been looking for problems around school, so students can sample just a little of what they will in churches and with parents. We’ve been be able to do in EAST. doing a lot of team-building to establish the rapport. The once empty classroom is now bursting with technology. This new EAST environment is ready to help students lead and serve their communities.
XPERIENCE
An empty classroom gets an “EAST” lift By Melanie Ridlon SUMMER 2018 | EAST QUARTERLY
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EAST STAFF
MEET THE EAST SITE SUPPORT TEAM We asked a few members of our staff:
“Think back...Heading back to school, what is one thing you had in your backpack at all times?” Shandrae Anderson Project Coordinator
Shandrae@EASTstaff.org
Amy Bell
Program Coordinator for Education Unleashed Amy@EASTstaff.org
I always had my Avon lip gloss in my backpack from 3rd grade until 9th grade... :-)
Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers, banana clips, a Sony Walkman, and a Trapper Keeper. #80’sChild
Rinda Hall
Alicia Humbard
Program Coordinator for Site Support Rinda@EASTstaff.org
Program Coordinator for Phase Training Alicia@EASTstaff.org
I’ve always been a planner and ALWAYS had a calendar with me (still do!)... and, don’t you dare write in it! It’s sacred!! ;-)
QUARTERS! Vending machines didn’t take dollars and definitely didn’t take credit cards back in my day, and when I needed a snack, or a drink, I was prepared. No one wanted me to be ‘HANGRY.”
Jerry Prince
Fred Rickert
Senior Director of Program Services Jerry@EASTstaff.org
Backpack? School-daze for me were BBP (before Backpacks). We had lockers – six feet tall (maybe 4 – I was short) solid steel-ish, gunk from stickers past, corners wedged with gum, scratches, scars, a used-to-be shelf, and that original cream-colored paint-job. And a door that SLAMMED! Oh Yeah! Backpacks – meh!
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Program Coordinator for Facilitator Services Fred@EASTstaff.org
I have never had a backpack, I travel light. But in high school, I always had my HP Scientific Calculator with me. Usually, it was in its pouch hanging from my belt. Yes, I was that guy.
THANK YOU
to all of our sponsors and supporters who help make EAST happen for students.
CAST
Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies
Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design
McGuire Family Fund
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6215 Ranch Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72223 EASTinitiative.org
Save the D EAST administrator & Stakeholder Training Oct. 11 EAST Stakeholder Training / Vision Building Kiamichi Technology Center - McAlester, McAlester, OK Oct. 16 EAST Stakeholder Training EAST Initiative, Little Rock, AR Oct. 23 EAST Stakeholder Training TBA (Regional) Oct. 30 EAST Stakeholder Training Don Tyson School of Innovation, Springdale, AR Nov. 6 EAST Stakeholder Training EAST Initiative, Little Rock, AR Nov. 13 EAST Stakeholder Training TBA (Regional)
ATE!
Vision Building Sept. 26 Vision Building Joe T. Robinson MS Oct. 24 Vision Building Location TBD Nov. 14 Vision Building Location TBD Dec. 12 Vision Building EAST Initiative, Little Rock, AR The EAST Administrator & Stakeholder Training workshop is designed to help strengthen EAST by providing professional development for administrators who support local schools with EAST. Topics will include how to observe and assess EAST, pedagogy and history, the student growth process, how to recruit for EAST, and much more! Interested in adding EAST to your school? Attending a Vision Building is the first step! These presentations show you what EAST is all about and how to get EAST at your school.
For more inforMation, contact Tami@EASTstaff.org
