Real World Tech Camp provides new way of learning

How often do you see 13- and 14-year-olds spending their free time teaching fifth-grade students about technology? Some of the EAST students at Robinson Middle School did this many Thursday afternoons this spring.

These students were involved in teaching Real World Tech Camp at Robinson, Chenal and Baker Elementary schools. Each camp varied in size from 10 to 20 students and lasted four weeks.
Middle school EAST students taught their younger pupils about video editing using a green screen by filming a commercial or music video.

Other students taught Virtual Reality. Fifth-grade students took pictures of their own elementary school campus using a Virtual Reality camera with a fisheye lens. The students learned to stitch the pictures together into panoramas and, using the stitched photos, the student-teachers helped them create a completed VR tour on 3D Vista Show.

On the last day of each Tech Camp, parents were invited to an open house to view their children’s work.

John White, one of the Robinson Elementary participants said, “It was more fun than learning about computers, it was having fun with technology. I learned things I never knew about computers at tech camp.”

Justin Blankenship, one of the EAST students, added, “It’s basically been a learning experience for the both the fifth graders and us because we’re new teachers. We are showing them what EAST has to offer and teaching them real technology skills.”

This project was made possible by the EAST After Hours grant, which is funded by the Enhancing Education Through Technology grant through the Arkansas Department of Education and is done in cooperation with the Southeast Educational Service Cooperative and the EAST Initiative. The After Hours grant allowed Robinson Middle School to purchase extra equipment such as a Macbook, an HD video camera and a tripod to teach the camp.

EAST® is an educational model that provides new ways of learning for modern students. EAST focuses on student-driven service projects accomplished through the use of the latest in technology.

Baker ElementaryChenal ElementaryEASTRobinson ElementaryRobinson MiddleStudentsTechnology

Published on May 15th, 2012