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Empowering students through service learning
District lead teacher for instructional technology
at Canutillo Independent School
District, tells how high school students took the initiative to
develop an Open Forum that would influence the decision makers in their district.
By Joan Gil
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 n 1995, I was named the district's first lead teacher for instructional
technology. I am also the teacher, who got her finger stuck
in the film projector back in the 80s. I have had a continuous, rocky, loving
relationship with technology. In 1988, I began using Apple 2Es with migrant
students and saw the innate power of technology to motivate learners.
Thereafter, I taught in a computer lab environment where I really started to apply
technology to enhance learning. Keep in mind, I was not then, and still am not, a
so-called technology expert. However, I have always taught
"constructively." Constructivism is an all-encompassing theory of learning.
Basically, the constructivist teacher devises problems and
monitors student exploration, guides the direction of student inquiry, and
promotes new patterns of thinking. I found this out in 1998, when the
Canutillo Elementary School began to receive assistance from
the Southwest
Educational Development Laboratory's Technology Assistance Program.
My growth as an educator has been phenomenal thanks to Canutillo ISD's foresighted
administrators who have allowed me to receive much training and continuous education
to sharpen my saw.
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 he Canutillo Independent School District is a relatively small district located in far west Texas,
outside the city limits of El Paso. The district is highly innovative in its use of technology, thanks
to its zany director of technology. Several years ago, the district received a
Service Learning Grant
that included monies and, more importantly, staff development for implementation.
Service learning is a teaching methodology that enriches instruction by providing thoughtfully designed
opportunities for students to use their skills and knowledge in service to and with the community.
Service learning's goal is to have students develop their skills and knowledge through active participation in the community;
because there is often a need for an informational campaign or literature dissemination,
service learning philosophy lends itself beautifully to technology infusion.
With this in mind, we created the Open Forum Project in 1997. The Open Forum is a project
that gives the community an opportunity to meet their school board nominees.
I had been working closely with a social studies teacher in the high school.
An unexpected question in Mr. Berglund's Advanced Problem-solving Social Studies class
ignited the Open Forum that is now heading into its third year. A female student questioned
the absence of girls' softball. The class discovered that if change were to occur, they
needed to address the school board. After thoroughly investigating the issue, the class
did address the school board, and girls' softball became a reality. Shortly after their
victory, the class started to ask Mr. Berglund how the board members were elected.
Mr. Berglund invited the class to study the process. Students soon discovered that
voting had been sparse, and in several instances, a candidate had run unopposed or
had won by a single vote.
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hus began a student-generated project that involved months of planning and overcoming obstacles.
Most administrators warmly embraced the idea, but there was also some fear that the forum could
result in a political circus. Open Forum I was a success however. Student-generated publicity
piqued interest in the politically apathetic, disinterested citizenry. The students found sponsors
and managed to have the actual forum televised on cable television! Technology was used in all
phases: word processing to write letters to candidates; business letters to seek sponsorships;
flyers for bulk mailing and publicity; Internet research on the election process; e-mail to
contact state and local representatives; and the televised forum. The only disappointment was
the low voter turnout. Nonetheless, Mr. Berglund and I knew that the students had become inspired
to become politically active and more involved. Technology and service learning had melded to
enhance instruction. The students received kudos, encouragement, and praise, and knew they had
support to continue the project in the future.
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"The Open Forum project typifies a technology-assisted constructivist learning environment."
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n
fact, the backing for Open Forum II in 1999 was fabulous. The forum
received support from the Corporation for Service Learning, district
administrators, the district's technology department, and more students
-- some not even in Mr. Berglund's class! Student enthusiasm was high:
there were seasoned students from Open Forum I and there were students
from all grade levels that wanted to get involved. Students were coming
to school at seven in the morning to plan, organize, and create Open
Forum II. The savvy students addressed their task with more sophistication.
They conducted a voter registration drive at each of the four elementary
school campuses. They generated a logo and received sponsorship for
tee shirts. They recruited 10 additional sponsors; and received full
support from the high school principal. We even spent two wonderful
days at the University of Texas at El Paso in the NASA lab working with
engineering students to create a video. As a true testament to their
dedication, students also gave up a day off from school to finish the
project. The students then launched the Open Forum Web site. The opportunity
to use technology had attracted and helped to maintain a high-interest
level.
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 ong gone are the days of
"the Open Forum project holds great promise." We have another burning issue, the possible annexation
of unincorporated Canutillo into the city of El Paso, as well as the possible incorporation
of the local school district into the larger El Paso Independent School District.
Service learning projects like the Open Forum meets
classroom curriculum needs using real-world applications. The students interact
with students, teachers, administrators, and parents in the school setting. The
Open Forum project typifies a technology-assisted constructivist learning
environment. The National Corporation for Service Learning, the district, Mr.
Berglund, the students, and myself are working together to evaluate and reflect
on what has been learned and how it might affect students' attitudes and
behavior, their academic progress, and teachers' future classroom practices.
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Joan Gil is a lead instructional
technologies teacher.
Teacher Testimony authors are
nominated by people like you. Send nominations to the editor.
© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 SCR*TEC.
This page is Bobby
Approved.
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