The Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab prepared for their upcoming GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Day celebration to be held November 19, 2008, Wednesday, with a videoconference session with Japanese students and teachers from Wakayama Prefectural Kainan High School. A team of Kainan High School teachers and students will be coming to Eureka Springs to participate in GIS Day, to conduct science demonstrations for local elementary students and for members of the Eureka Springs Rotary Club, and to learn more about American culture and traditions.
Meeting the Japanese team for the first time at the videoconference were EAST Lab's top student mappers Brandon, Cassady, Joey and James. Also present to videotape the videoconference session was EAST student videographer Sierra.
The public is invited to meet our Japanese guests during GIS Day, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm, at the Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab. GIS Day activities also include a comprehensive map gallery, GPS rover demonstrations, GIS mapping project presentations, mapping games and prizes. GIS Day is an event where Geographic Information Systems users such as schools, businesses and governments, open their doors to the general public to showcase how GIS mapping can benefit the community.
Kainan High School was the EAST Program's partner when we worked together on environmental projects under the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher (JFMF MTP) Program, which officially ended in 2008. The JFMF MTP Program was sponsored by the Government of Japan and was launched in 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. government Fulbright Program, which has enabled more than 6,000 Japanese citizens to study in the U.S. on Fulbright fellowships for graduate education and research.
The EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Program encourages students to use high-end technologies to develop and implement service-based community projects. While working on these community projects, students develop technological skills in self-directed learning, teamwork, problem solving, communication, research and evaluation.
For more information about the EAST Initiative, readers can contact Amy Glover Bryant, Director of Development at Amy@EASTproject.org or by calling 501.371.5016. For more information on the Eureka Springs program and GIS Day, please contact EAST Program Facilitator Mila Lynne Floro at 253-2936 or 253-8875.
(Videoconf 1): The Eureka Springs High School EAST Program's student mappers (from left) Brandon, James, Joey and Cassady videoconference with Japanese teachers and students from Kainan High School, who will be coming to Eureka Springs to help celebrate GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Day. The public is invited to the event which will be at the Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm, on November 19, 2008, Wednesday.
(Videoconf 2): The Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab prepared for GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Day by videoconferencing with Japanese teachers and students from Kainan High School. The Japanese team will visit Eureka Springs to help celebrate GIS Day. From left (sitting) are EAST student mappers Brandon, James, Joey and Cassady. EAST student videographer Sierra taped the videoconference session. . The public is invited to the event which will be at the Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm, on November 19, 2008, Wednesday.