Epstein's Imagination Station: Language Arts & Technology
A Perfect Integration

As part of Sarah Blattner's 7th grade Language Arts class at The Epstein School, students have been engaged in an online discussion with Rodman Philbrick, author of the novel Freak the Mighty.

Utilizing a new electronic interface (a class wikispace), an Activeboard and computers, students were able to post their ideas and questions for the author on the "wiki."

Registered members of the discussion board were able to participate in online discussion topics regarding their latest literature experiences by posting questions for Mr. Philbrick, receiving his responses and uploading class photos to make it a personal, yet creative and technological learning experience.

In addition, the book includes subject matter such as disabilities and friendship which is particularly relevant to 7th grade students studies and service learning projects.

Students were very excited to be able to interact with the author, posing questions such as this one from Hannah Marcovtich, "Your book was so creative.  How did you think of all of the ideas that were written in the book?" The Freak the Mighty Author responded, "Your imagination is like a muscle - it needs exercise.  If you make a habit of thinking of stories, and paying attention to seeing where experiences in real life might be adapted into a story, then your imagination will start supplying ideas free of charge."   Truer words were never written on a Wiki...and these Epstein students are learning that imagination, language and technology together make for an exciting learning experience.

Informational note: The word "wiki" comes from a Hawaiian phrase, wiki-wiki, meaning fast. Internet entrepreneur, Jimmy Wales applied it to the web-based encyclopedia he was building, Wikipedia, and now the prefix has come to mean a website that allows users to add, delete and edit its content.

To learn more about The Epstein School please visit the school's website at www.epsteinatlanta.org