Sierra Vista Students Go High-Tech
to Solve Social Issues

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Feb. 1, 2008 – Have you ever wondered about the issues being pondered by today’s Phoenix seventh and eighth-grade girls?  The topics are apparently much deeper than just clothes, boys, mall trips and math tests, if a recent program implemented at Phoenix’s Sierra Vista School is any indication.

Under the direction of Arizona State University Professor Kimberly Scott, 16 Sierra Vista School girls this past semester used technology to analyze and propose solutions to social issues concerning them – issues such as school violence, teen rape and gay and lesbian rights.

“Dr. Scott is interested in social justice,” explained Sierra Vista Assistant Principal Bryce McClellan. “The CompuGirl program focuses on how teenage women – particularly teenage women of color – cope with social justice issues.  The program allows them to do interviews and thoroughly research the issues, and then utilize cutting-edge technologies such as digital photography, video, graphics, spread sheets and more to propose ideas on solving the issue.”

McClellan said four groups involving four girls each worked closely with a mentor teacher from Sierra Vista throughout the semester to analyze these issues and develop multi-media presentations on each topic.  For example, McClellan said the group researching the problem of teen rape in the Valley utilized on-line data bases from Arizona State University to determine areas of metropolitan Phoenix recording the highest frequency of teen rapes.  Utilizing newly acquired graphic arts skills, the students then developed a color-coded map identifying areas where the crimes occurred with high frequency.

In addition, Dr. Scott arranged for the group to interview a fellow Psychology professor.  The group studying teen rape merged its resources into a power-point presentation that will be presented to the Roosevelt School District Board on Feb. 21.

McClellan said the CompuGirl program came to Sierra Vista at a great time. The school was already in the midst of upgrading its technology and looking for ways to introduce students to high-tech programs.

In addition to its launch at Sierra Vista School this past semester, the CompuGirl program is also being incorporated into other schools in the Roosevelt School District and the Phoenix Union High School District.  And a new offshoot of the program – CompuBoys – will be introduced at Sierra Vista next year.