EAST Initiative

The EAST (Education Accelerated by Service and Technology) Initiative is an educational non-profit that oversees and trains for a school program, EAST, that operates primarily in the United States. It is unique for offering students and teachers professional technology and software for use in a loosely structured, self-driven environment. The EAST philosophy, taken from the EAST project website, is as follows:

"To further this, EAST program instructors (known idiomatically as facilitators) maintain a curriculum designed to allow students to familiarize themselves with technology (granted through partnerships with leading technology firms, such as ESRI, Intergraph, Microsoft, Dell, SoftImage, Adobe Systems, Macromedia and Avid among many others) while at the same time helping their community and/or school. Major technology groups used in EAST programs include software for Geographic Information Systems, computer animation, computer modeling, and video editing, as well as GPS utilities and CAD."

Reproduced from the EAST website:

"As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the EAST Initiative is supported by a dynamic collaboration of government, education, and business partnerships that share a common goal of striving to make a difference in the lives of children and their communities."

History

EAST began with one classroom in Greenbrier, Arkansas in 1996. Former law-enforcement officer Tim Stephenson was in his first year of teaching, and having had experience with “disconnected” youth, had been assigned a classroom of “at risk” students. In seeking a point of interest for them, Stephenson proposed an outing to a spot near the school where students often went to skip classes. The wooded area included a creek and a pond. It was pointed out that it would be muddy crossing the creek. The first EAST project turned out to be constructing a bridge across that creek.

The students became enthusiastic with the success of their bridge and proposed additional structures. One student offered his father's CAD expertise and Stephenson suggested the students get appropriate software and learn to use it themselves. Thus, the technology component was born.

Realizing that the K-12 education system lacked the needed technology as well instruction in using it, Stephenson sought help from an Arkansas technology firm that introduced him to national and international resources. The academic-business partnerships that were formed became the foundation for a new and relevant model of learning.

EAST training (student)

EAST students routinely receive training from accomplished professionals in the fields that they represent. Student training is primarily intended to educate students on technology groups while offering a team environment in which to learn. While slots are limited, an effort is made to accommodate all students who wish to attend. As of April, 2005, students have the following course opportunities (variability within programs is common):

Technology training:

Online course offerings:

  • EAST Geospatial Virtual Camp
  • School Mapping Project
  • ESRI Virtual Campus

Students experience many different types of software/hardware, including (as taken from the EAST website[1]):

  • CAD/solid modeling/visualization:
AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, SketchUp Pro, Solid Edge, etc.
  • 3D animation:
Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, etc.
  • Programming/coding:
Arduino, Pi-Top, Xcode, Visual Studio, etc.
  • GPS/GIS:
ArcMap, ArcGlobe, ArcGIS.com, Garmin GLO, etc.
  • Video/photography/graphics:
DSLR Cameras, GoPro Cameras, Professional Video Cameras, Ricoh Theta S, Audio Kit, Lighting and Green Screen Kit, Tripods, Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut Pro X, Oculus Rift Kit (including Oculus VR Headset), 3D Scanners, Vinyl Cutters, etc.
  • Music composition/production:
FL Studio Signature Edition, Blue Yeti Pro, MIDI Keyboard with Drum Pad, etc.
  • Servers and computers:
Windows Server, Workstations & Laptops, Oculus Workstation, Apple iMac Workstations, Apple MacBook Pro Laptop, etc.
  • Mobile devices:
Apple iPad, Android Tablet, Printers, 3D Printers, Plotter, All-in-One Printer, Color Printer, Laser Cutters, etc.
  • Video/presentations:
Apple TV, Chromecast, Flat Screen TV, etc.
  • Productivity:
Microsoft Office Suite

Project-based learning

EAST students are expected (and in many cases required) to generate an idea for a project which helps the community or school that acts as host to the lab; after the brainstorming process, individual and group plans of action are constructed and refined. This is the process in which the facilitator plays the largest direct role, as supervisor and mentor — when the actual projects begin, the facilitator's primary role changes to that of observer and supporter. Projects vary in goal and method of execution, but share the same central philosophy: with motivation, encouragement, and access to professional technology, students are capable of great things.

EAST Conference

The culmination of any given EAST project can be seen at the annual EAST Conference,[2] traditionally held in the spring. The Conference brings together teams and projects from all participating schools with the purpose of allowing students to demonstrate what they've accomplished and learn from one another. In the formative years of the EAST program, projects were displayed individually, with each team bringing one project to display; however, in more recent years, this has shifted towards an "overall" presentation, allowing each project in the individual program time in the spotlight. This conference is usually located at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

At the end of each EAST Conference, various awards, including the biggest, the Timothy R. Stephenson Founders Award, are given to recognize the programs that are determined by a panel of judges to be superior, and the winning schools receive monetary and technological rewards for their efforts.

Research

The EAST model is grounded in solid pedagogical theory related to the use of technology as a catalyst for learning, collaborative learning, and performance-based learning. In the EAST model:

  • The use of technology promotes collaboration, higher order thinking, and problem solving.
  • Professional development is an important component of the education technology program.
  • Technology is effectively integrated into the curriculum.
  • Students independently select appropriate technology tools to obtain, analyze, synthesize and assimilate information.
  • Home/school connections are enhanced through the use of technology.
  • All students have adequate access to technology.
  • Teachers encourage students to utilize technology to find and make sense of information.
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References
  1. https://www.eastinitiative.org/images/EASTSnapshot.pdf
  2. https://www.eastconference.org
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