Scholar Plus Program Designed to Develop 'Makers'

Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, superintendent of the Perris Union High School District, and Joe Williams, district director of technology, pose with the proclamation they received during a visit to the White House in June. Menifee 24/7 photo: Kristen Spoon

Technology has increasingly become a tool for learning in schools as educators realize the importance of preparing students for a working world based on computer programs and electronic communication. But in the Perris Union High School District, which supervises instruction at Paloma Valley and Heritage high schools in Menifee, they know much more is involved.

PUHSD officials are committed to using those technological tools not only for data processing, but as a means of incorporating the latest learning methods into a program designed to train students to be creative and productive thinkers.

In June, district superintendent Dr. Jonathan Greenberg and district technology director Joe Williams joined representatives of about 25 other school districts across the nation at a conference at the White House. The event, sponsored by the White House Office of Science and Technology and the American Association of Superintendents, included speakers from the government and schools.

The topic: A nationwide initiative called Maker Education. At the event, Greenberg signed a commitment letter to the president regarding PUHSD's involvement in the movement. In turn, White House representatives presented Greenberg and Williams with a proclamation regarding the National Week of Making, which was celebrated June 12-18.

According to the proclamation, "Our country was built on the belief that with hard work and passion, progress is within our reach, and it is because of daring innovators and entreprenuers who have taken risks and redefined what is possible that we have been able to realize this promise ... To continue a nation of makers, we are committed to engaging students at every level in the hands-on learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to inspire them to pursue their own passions and excel in STEM fields."

What does this mean to a district like PUHSD? It means the extension of a commitment the district made two years ago, when technology was emphasized and students were provided with Chromebooks as advanced learning tools. Now, in the next step of what is known as the Scholar Initiative, special learning spaces have been created at Paloma Valley and Heritage high schools where students can practice hands-on learning next to their STEM teachers.

The school day was extended 25 minutes and a few minutes were cut off each period to create a seventh period that allows students to explore their learning skills, blending technology and old-school skill sets to work together on projects that will prepare them for the work place.

In explanation, Greenberg provided some examples.

"We want all students to be interested in the Maker program," he said. "The Maker movement is sewing; it's getting rods and dowels and stryofoam and mocking things up. It could be making a model with popsicle sticks. It could be a project using cardboard. This is a true constructivist model in education.

"For a lot of kids, school's not their thing. But if there's one class, one opportunity that makes them want to come, it's worth the effort. In the past, all the drama kids worked after school with their teacher to make drama sets. Why are the sets made only by the actors? In this program, you have construction people and designers involved. Why not take language arts and other students who are interested and have some of them design the sets, do the research, the mockup? And some who build it. They're going to learn more about language arts working on that project than they would just sitting in a classroom."

Greenberg and Williams realize this is a challenge, but they have had success being at the forefront of change before. According to Greenberg, PUHSD two years ago was the first district in Riverside County and the first district its size in the state to embark on a one-on-one technology initiative with student use of laptops and other technology.

"Many in our community, mostly the teachers, worried that kids wouldn't respect these devices," Greenberg said. "We did a study over a year and a half. The amount of dollars in breakage was less than the damage done to our textbooks. In a community where a lot of these kids don't have this technology, they're guarding these devices with their life."

Greenberg said the expense of the program is built into the district budget and that the economic level of some communities in the district has resulted in extra state funding some districts don't have.

"It's not an expenditure, it's an investment," Williams said. "If you don't close the opportunity gap, how are you going to close the achievement gap? We're providing more access to real-world opportunities.

"In the Scholar Plus program, we have tech peer tutors available to help students not only in math and English, but also the proper use of technology. We're funding this. We don't want a handout. We do want a partner, say someone from Qualcomm. Someone who could contribute their time, and maybe out of that we get a Maker in Residence from industry."

Results of the program won't be known for some time, but to Greenberg, Williams and other district officials, the anticipated end result is well worth the effort.