INTEGRATING SERVICE LEARNING,
TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMS
INTO THE COLLEGE CURRICULUM
NorthWest Arkansas Community
College
One College Drive
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
Dr. Marvin Galloway, Dean of Science & Mathematics
Dr. Regina Ryel Thomason, Program Coordinator
of Teacher Education
Ms. Dianne Phillips, EAST Facilitator
What is EAST?
Environmental and Spatial
Technologies
 Got its start in public schools in Arkansas
 Pedagogical model that enhances learning -
Project based learning
 A skill building process for students of all ages
We Believe:
• Students should, can, and will take
responsibility for their own learning
when given the opportunity.
• Students should be actively engaged in solving
problems in their communities.
• Students should be given access to relevant
and challenging resources and tools to use in
solving these identified problems.
• Students should be allowed (indeed required) to collaborate
with each other and with professionals in their communities as
they grow and develop their capacity to be positive agents of
change.
Inside the EAST Environment
EAST Nationally
EAST K-12
In most schools, EAST is a separate class.
NWACC has adapted and incorporated the
EAST model into several classes to enhance
student learning.
Service
Technology
Teamwork
EAST
EA ST
E A ST
E PA ST
E PA ST
E PACST
EMPACST
EMPAC TS
EMPACTS
EMPACTS
Taxonomy
•Intrinsic
•Problem Based
•Learner Initiated
Evaluation
•Harder to assess
•Non-linear
Synthesis
•More Relevant
• Knowledge & Comprehension
Follow from Application
Analysis
•Relevance
Application
Student
•Simultaneous Learning
Comprehension
Knowledge
•Extrinsic
•Easier to grade
•Content Based
•Easier to manage and
control but less relevant
•Teacher Driven
Content
Adapted from “A Taxonomy For
Education” by Benjamin Bloom
The EMPACTS Model
Project Based Learning
“Students as capable,
self-directed learners”
Curriculum
Teams/Learning
Communities
“Students as caring,
competent
group members”
Goals and Outcomes
“Students as
active, successful
owners of learning”
Service to Community
“Students as contributors
to society”
Technology
“Students as problem solvers
and users of
appropriate
resources/technologies”
Copyright © 2007 EMPACTS
EMPACTS across a Broad
Curriculum
 Introduction to
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Education
Introduction to GIS
Physics for Elementary
Teachers (PET)
Organic Physiological
Chemistry
Environmental Geology
Physical Science
Plant Biology
Principles of Biology
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Math for AAS
Intermediate Algebra
Math Structures II
Psychology
Probation and Parole
Astronomy
Physical Geology
Physics and Human
Affairs
 Environmental
Management
Key to successful learning
Student Engagement
EMPACTS advances:
 Curriculum
 Technology
 Service
”THE PURPOSE OF THIS LAB IS TO
HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
CELLULAR REPRODUCTION. WHEN
COMPLETEYOU WILL BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY ANIMAL AND PLANT CELLS
IN THE DIFFERENT MITOTIC STAGES.”
– excerpt from an NWACC east project
Curricular Focus
Students learn course concepts in and out of the classroom
Tar Creek Superfund Site, Picher, OK, Environmental Geology
EAST Technology
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Adobe Suite – Graphic Design
Arc GIS – Map building
Google Sketchup – Architectural Design
GPS units -- Global Positioning Systems
AutoCad – Architectural and Mechanical Design
Macromedia Suite – Web Design, Animation and Graphic
Design; Flash, Dreamweaver, ….
 Front Page – Web Design
 Fruity Loops – Music Composition and Design
 Microsoft Movie Maker – film editing
Microsoft Movie Maker – videos within power points
Mircrosoft Slide Shows – slides show design
Students Use EAST Lab Technology
Students work together to learn and use computer
based technology to solve community problems.
Service
Collaboration with Community
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Educational Outreach (Public Schools)
Partnership with area architects and
landscaping firms
Community Leaders, mayors, city councils,
etc..
Partnership with Law Enforcement
Partnership with area Youth Programs
Environmental Agencies and Park Services
Partnerships with area college faculty
Animal Shelters
Helping out with local Food Drives
Peer Instruction
Alive and Well
Positive Interdependence:
Roles
CLASS
ACTIVITY
CURRICULUM
SERVICE
Plant Biology
Planter boxes
ID native species
Reclamation of native
prairie
Environmental
Geology
Soil sampling,
Slope evaluation
Soil ID, slope analysis Landuse suitability,
hazard map
Environmental
Management
Trail building
Manage native &
invasive species
Preserve natural area
Introduction to
Education
Developing
instructional
materials (weather,
Arkansas history)
Examine beliefs
about self, students,
and community;
instructional
strategies
Outreach to K-12
community
Introduction to GIS
Project and digitize
data
Digitizing,
projecting, mapping
Map data from other
classes
EAST  EMPACTS
E ducationally
M anaged
P rojects
A dvancing
C urriculum
T echnology &
S ervice
EAST adapted for college adult learners
Environmental Management
 Curriculum:
 Technology:
 Service:
Manage native and invasive
species; restore prairie
GPS, GIS, Excel, digital camera,
tablet PC
Preserve NWACC’s Living
Laboratory for instruction and
recreation; create annotated trail;
virtual field trip
Introduction to Education
 Curriculum:
Examine beliefs about school,
society, and diversity
 Technology:
Microsoft and Adobe Suites
 Service:
Coordinated food drive with
community and elementary school
students, faculty, and staff (1200
cans of food for children’s shelter)
Environmental Geology
 Curriculum:
 Technology:
 Service:
Soil type identification; slope
hazard evaluation
GPS, GIS, Excel, digital camera,
tablet PC
Landuse suitability; hazard map
Survey of the Universe
 Curriculum:
 Technology:
 Service:
Planetary geology; satellite ground
truth
GPS, GIS, Excel
Create Phase I map of popular trail
system
Intro to GIS
 Curriculum:
 Technology:
 Service:
Digitizing, symbolizing, and
analyzing data; projecting GPS
data onto map
GPS, GIS, Excel, digital camera,
Powerpoint
Evaluate impact of possible road
extension; enhance map products
of other EAST classes
Introduction to Education
Working as a Team
Professional Development
EMPACTS students in the local schools – Future Teachers
Fundraising for Public Schools
Community
Outreach with Local Schools
Tutoring
English as a second language
EMPACTS Learning Experience
Experience
12 – 15 weeks
Self directed
Collaborative
Constructivist
Knowledge
Application of
Course Content
Real World
Community
Product
Finished Project
Technology is used
as a tool
AFTER THREE YEARS OF
SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS
EVOLUTION
Learning Communities
Collected Data
Environmental
Geology &
Physical
Science
Plant Biology
Introduction to
GIS
EMPACTS
Learning Communities
Created Map
from Data
Biology class
collects GPS data.
GIS projects data to make a
map.
Compilation map: 3 classes. Data collected
from learning community.
y
NWACC nature area: Conservation
Project of Environmental
Management, Plant Biology, and
Intro. to GIS
Locating EAST/EMPACTS
website
 Academics
 Science and Mathematics
 Environmental and Spatial Technologies
 EMPACTS
 Enter
For more information,
contact:
Dr. Marvin Galloway
mgallowa@nwacc.edu
479.619.4158
1 College Drive
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712