Stop Waste At School

Students work with IT pros like Liza Morse to learn computer diagnostics and repair.

With funding from the Altamont Education Advisory Board, teacher Nancy Ely was able to purchase sets of tools, equipment, and spare parts to create an after-school engineering and technology program for students interested in learning computer repair, web design, animation, robotics and other skills.

Ely, a history teacher also holds a degree in computer science. She was inspired to start the club after participating in Purdue University's EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service-Learning) program. EPICS aims to teach students science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through hands on inquiry and design processes.

Students also learn to create animations and websites.Working with the school's PTA, Ely recruited two amazing parent volunteers to help lead the core work of the Teen Tech program: computer repair and refurbishment. Working in teams, students learn to tackle both hardware and software challenges on donated computers. As they become more proficient under the watchful eye of their mentors, students begin to take on the task of providing free computer repair for community members- usually family members with broken equipment.

Salvaged computers awaiting repairParent Liza Morse, an IT professional who runs her own computer repair business (Remote Computer Repair Service - http://www.rcrservice.com/), volunteers twice each week and teaches students the fundamentals of computer diagnostics and repair. Morse possesses a unique mix of boundless energy and limitless patience which she uses to fully engage the students.

Using a hands on process, students learn in context as new challenges arise. On a recent Friday afternoon, Morse was teaching the students about sector and cluster errors that might occur on computer discs. Using a combination of technical language, metaphor and pantomime, Morse made sure students understood the causes and implications of the type of error they discovered while working on one family's computer.

Parent volunteer and IT pro Henry Stohner helps out twice each week.Parent Henry Stohner, an IT professional, also volunteers twice each week. He is impressed by the student's curiosity and focus, but realizes that those attributes must be supported, "One of the things that makes this so successful is that the students get to work with trained professionals with experience in this field- sure they could google around for solutions, but we are able to make sure they have a broad understanding of a computer's hardware and software systems."

Recruiting just from the 6th grade class, two sections of Teen Techs filled within days. The program now runs a waiting list of students eager to learn more about computer repair and technology.

To learn more about Teen Techs or to take advantage of their services, visit: http://www.teentechs.org/

Additional news about Teen Techs: http://alameda.patch.com/announcements/ground-breaking-after-school-program-at-wood-middle-school

Bag Ordinance Outreach

Students will work in pair-share groups to craft a letter to accompany the information from Alameda County Waste Management Authority. Ordinance 2012-02, effective January 1, 2013, means that single-use plastic bags will no longer be available at most stores that sell-packaged food in Alameda County. 

The students' letters draw from their own observations and studies of the impacts of plastics on the beach near the school as well as their understanding of how the ordinance will impact their family.

Wood PTA and SLWRP are planning to use one of the NOAA Ocean Guardian "In Our Backyard" art pieces of ocean animals affected by marine debris as a cloth bag fundraiser for Wood PTA.

Students and families can show pride in their school and community by bringing this bag to stores when they shop. "It is one more way students and families can understand that their own effort can make a difference in curbing waste into our San Francisco Bay ecosystem, said Jeannette Frechou, SLWRP Coordinator and science teacher.

Updates:

According to teacher Jeannette Frechou, student engagement with this project spilled into other disciplines, including math, "Daniela and Maritza applied math estimates in their letter.  Both calculated the # of bags (4) used by their families and they shopped once per week for 56 weeks at a savings of $22.40 if they didn't bring bags and were charged. This is a powerful service-learning STEM moment and both girls were given a "Beaver Bravo" for it."

Over 250 families returned signed letters back to the school acknowledging the role their children played in preparing the family for the new ordinance.

6th graders teach principal Jeff Knoth how organic pollution attaches to plastic

6th graders in Jeannette Frechou's Service-Learning Waste Reduction Project organized display cases showing the impacts of litter on marine life using actual debris collected at the beach. At the gallery opening on November, 2, they hosted tables and displays highlighting their contributions to an international citizen-science project tracking the spread of persistent organic pollutants through the world's oceans. 

Teacher Jeannette Frechou shows off her students' work

They also welcomed student visitors and encouraged their comments through post-it notes attached to art work.

Frechou praised her students ability to talk about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) topics with adults and peers alike, "Jared Thomas, a 6th grader, talked to students about the harmful effects of polystyrene breaking apart during wind, wave and current interactions and their tiny spheres are mistaken for eggs. These plastics contain estrogen-like molecules that move up our food chain. He told students to talk to retailers to use more earth-friendly packaging for fragile electronic materials."

DolphinOver 80 students from grades 6-8 in Lindsey Shepard's art classes created works of art focusing on individual marine animals and the ways human activities impact them. Shepard explained that she was interested in having students investigate where artists find inspiration and encouraged them to start close to home and look at ways that art and science can influence each other.

"One of the 1st steps in this project was for students to conduct research," said Shepard. "They had to identify and study the needs and challenges faced by different animals. Many of them went to the beach on weekends to make observations and collect debris that might harm animals- all of this helped to inspire their art."

Inspired by a technique called Zentangle ®, students used ink and watercolor to create bold, vibrant representations of marine animals. Each work of art was accompanied by an artist's statement explaining both the motivation for choosing a particular animal and concerns about human impacts on their health.

"I really wanted to help students bring their voice and passion to this project- they have a great amount of pride in their work," said Shepard.

Alameda Unified School District Board Member, Trish Herrera Spencer, echoed Shepard's sentiment:

"As a parent and AUSD Board Member, I truly enjoy the opportunity to see our students' work and am continually amazed by the incredible opportunities offered to our students in our public schools. This is a wonderful example of Wood Middle School's collaboration, through the stellar efforts of Ms. Frechou, with a national organization, the NOAA, to bring the teachings of science to life for our students. The students' detailed writings and colorful artwork reflected their efforts and enthusiasm in their studies. Student success, especially in areas such as science and math, is dependent upon the ability of teachers to spark students' interest and the support of organizations, such as the NOAA, helps achieve that mission."

The gallery opening capped a week-long campaign to raise awareness about waste reduction, conservation, and student leadership in environmental stewardship.

Students observe Arrowhead Marsh before a clean-up activity

Supervising Naturalist James Frank provided an overview of the area and the animals that call it home. Students observed a variety of birds, including a heron that hunted, drowned and ate a rodent right in front of the students. Not missing an opportunity, Frank discussed the adaptations of the heron, including its long beak, eyes positioned for hunting and wide feet to keep it from sinking in the Bay's mud.

Frank also showed a gallon jar of cigarette butts that were collected on a stretch of beach near Wood Middle School as an introduction to the importance of litter clean-up activities, but more importantly, litter prevention efforts.

Students then participated in a beach clean-up study. In less than 1 hour, students collected nearly 1000 pieces of trash- categorizing every bit. The tally showed  that over 70% of the items collected were made primarily from plastic. Students were surprised to discover a sleeping bag, couch cushion, toys, and shoes. Sadly, the beach had been cleaned as part of an Earth Day event exactly one month prior to the students' visit. One student remarked, "If we had more time, we would have found even more trash."

Building on their year-long efforts to study the impact of plastic on the environment, students also looked for tiny pebbles of plastic called nurdles- the pre-production bits that get turned into all the plastic items that we use everyday. Measuring less than 5mm and shaped like small rocks, nurdles are hard to spot, but the eagle-eyed students found over 180 of them which they plan to send to International Pellet Watch in Japan for analysis.