Helping Get a Fix on the Community

High school kids hack into the networks of major corporations. They use PhotoShop to make fake IDs. And they figure out how to get around the filtering software programs now required by most schools.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to combine the power of today’s technology with the enormous dedication, energy and problem-solving skills demonstrated by kids in all these activities to achieve something that actually benefits society?

Seaside High School teacher Mike Brown is among the educators who understand that presenting kids with tough tasks to crack the code on real-world problems is key to teaching them to think critically while helping them gain a sense of responsibility to their community.

“Community-based learning” is what Brown calls it. He begins by identifying problems in his area, and from there he designs a practical, hands-on, technology-infused curriculum for his science classes.

Seaside is on the coast of northern Oregon in a region of sand dunes, wetlands, rivers and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. Brown’s mission--and that of the Coastal Studies and Technology Center he founded--is to provide opportunities for students and staff to participate in projects that investigate these natural resources with an eye toward preserving them.

Student projects have included mapping areas of the Columbia River and nearby Necanicum Estuary using a computerized geographical information system (GIS) and a software program called Arcview to discover and protect salmon habitats.

Brown’s students understand that the challenging work they do in their science class is important and has the power to affect the lives of many. And that makes it compelling. Their maps and data can be viewed by the end of the school year at Seaside’s Web site at https://www.seaside.k12.or.us.

What community-based school projects might interest your child’s teacher?

* The Community Outreach Program at https://www.willamette.edu/org/cop is representative of several sites now available through colleges and universities. This and others are designed to present a range of volunteer opportunities to raise awareness of community needs.

* The Kennedy Space Center Community Relations site at https://www.ksc.nasa.gov/external/outreach includes mentoring programs for high school students, a disability awareness action group, a speakers bureau and other services designed to teach students and get them involved in their communities.

* Homeless Shelters and Programs at https://csf.colorado.edu/homeless/shelters.html includes a state-by-state listing of about 100 homeless and help services across the country.

* The HIV/AIDS Information Outreach Project at https://www.aidsnyc.org is maintained by the New York Academy of Medicine and compiles contacts for numerous organizations that deal with HIV and AIDS. It includes such services as the New York Harm Reduction Educators, Mothers’ Voices, a Clinical Directors Network and an AIDS History Center.

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Susan McLester is editor of Technology & Learning magazine.