Marquita Everett, left, and Xamarria Mock investigate the ‘Tools of the Trade’ in Level 2 of the sewing project. (Photo by Johnny Morgan. Click on photo for downloadable image.) Wright Elementary School fifth grader, Samarria Brooks, assists fourth grader, Kennara Fountain, in printing her photograph in the photography project. The girls are working together to critique their photos for quality, composition and to see if they follow the “Rule of Thirds.” (Photo by Johnny Morgan. Click on photo for downloadable image.)
TALLULAH, La. – Technology has changed 4-H Club Day in Madison Parish.
Instead of a standard 50-minute meeting, reading minutes and preparing for the next contest or event, 4-H Club Day for 4-H members in this northeast Louisiana town is conducted with a mobile technology lab, according to LSU AgCenter 4-H agent Karol Osborne.
“Our students have grown up in a digital world. Technology is an important part of how they like to learn.” Osborne said. “Students select from six subject-matter areas this year – horses, pets, sewing, photography, environment and babysitting. With a PowerPoint presentation to serve as their navigation tool, they explore whatever subject-matter area they choose.”
The presentation takes them to video tutorials, websites and even learning games that provide more information on the subject area they are exploring. It takes all year to go from level one to level six in one of the subject-matter areas.
What Osborne found is that a large number of the children are staying with their project instead of bouncing around to several. However, some students find the experience so exciting, they want to explore all of the subjects.
Osborne’s students are combining the LSU AgCenter’s grant-funded Reading to the Heart literacy curriculum with computer-assisted learning to help them complete 4-H projects at school and at home.
“We’re focusing on literacy enrichment with the grant, but we’re also bringing that into the 4-H program,” Osborne said. “This has given us greater visibility and helped establish greater collaborations with the schools.”
This format fits the style of children today, who learn and retain what they’ve learned better through hands-on experiences, according to Osborne. This is an interactive learning experience employing multiple learning stations in a fun and engaging setting.
When they come to the monthly 4-H Club Day, the 4-H’ers sign in and pick up the activity worksheets they need to develop their project, Osborne said. “They also get a scrapbook page to add to their folder, which I’m trying to encourage for portfolio development.”
The meeting room consists of about a dozen laptop computers, an activity arcade with tools and supplies for each project area, technology stations for sewing and photography and a book fair. “We have about 250 students coming through the lab each month,” she said.
Demyrra Faust, a fourth-grader at Wright Elementary, said she’s learning about sewing as her project.
“I’m learning about how the sewing machine works,” Demyrra said. “I’d like to make clothes when I grow up.”
Some of the students enjoy the projects so much they continue learning at home by going online to view the videos and websites.
“One of the things our schools are focusing on is cooperative learning,” Osborne said. “We see the kids working together with this format.”
“For example, one little boy who had been working in babysitting saw this little girl having problems with it. He went over to her and said ‘Hey, you’re working on the same project as me, let’s work together.’ Most of the students automatically pair up or work in small groups, sharing and helping each other,” she said.
Along with Osborne, Jean Mikeal, a park ranger with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Evelyn Davis, a school volunteer, devote their time to help make the program a success.
“I work with them on conservation and other projects,” Mikeal said. “I’ve also developed different levels on forestry, habitat and wetlands.”
Mikeal said each month when the children complete levels of their project, they earn Clover Bucks that can either be cashed in to earn prizes or can be put toward the registration fee for summer camp.
Mikeal, who has been involved with 4-H over the past 20 years, said this format is innovative and sparks the interest of the children.
“It’s amazing how much they’re learning about their subject, whether it’s sewing, photography, conservation or babysitting,” Mikeal said.
Davis said she likes volunteering with 4-H because of her experience as a child.
“I still remember what I earned, and I still use what I learned even today,” Davis said.
The students are so excited about the program, they are encouraging their friends to join 4-H, too.
Johnny Morgan