AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION

A Project From EAST At Harrison

This project’s goal is to build PVC partitions with a clear plastic wall to provide a divider between close workspaces in the classroom while allowing students to still be productive.

MEET THE TEAM <<<<<

>> Liam Bright

GRADE: 8 YEARS IN EAST: 3

>> Maddox Peck

GRADE: 11 YEARS IN EAST: 5

>> Jaxon Holt

GRADE: 11 YEARS IN EAST: 4

>> Chloe Regan

GRADE: 11 YEARS IN EAST: 3

>> Facilitator: KELLY REGAN

The 19- 20 school year ended abruptly and no one knew what Summer 2020 would be like as the country watched the ebb and flow of COVID-19 cases. Arkansas leadership and educators were no stranger to the discussion regarding how to make classrooms safer in the fall in regards to social distancing. It is no surprise that EAST students were somewhere brainstorming on how to solve this problem we were all facing. Led by EAST facilitator for Harrison High School Conversion Charter, Kelly Regan, EAST students from Harrison Middle School and High School came together to make their classroom a little safer during the school year.

Where did the project idea originate?

Liam: The idea originated for this project over the summer with the High School facilitator, Mrs. Kelly Regan. She (Kelly) was talking to us, Chloe and me, over the summer about how to provide an extra layer of protection for students when at the computers in class since commercially-made partitions are expensive. I was interested in building and designing the partition. Chloe — Regan’s daughter— wanted to help so we just kept talking and figured it out.

Chloe: The goal of the project was to build PVC partitions with a clear plastic wall as a divider between close workspaces in the classroom so we could stay safer.

Kelly: We are creating PVC partitions to use dividers between students in close seating situations in classrooms. Plexiglass partitions are expensive and budgets in school districts are tight. Our original design utilizes cheaper PVC pipe and clear vinyl sheeting to fit between computers to allow an additional layer of protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partitions will not keep students from having to wear masks or being sent home for quarantine due to close contact but our hope is that it will help keep those students healthy.

You began this project over the summer. Did you run into any challenges? What has kept you inspired in the process?

Liam: The rising numbers are what keeps me inspired.

Chloe: Since COVID numbers are rising in schools across the state, we are willing to continue this project so any teacher that would like to have partitions between their students for safety can have them.

Kelly: The major challenge is that although recommended in the Ready for Learning Playbook, partitions like these will not keep students from wearing masks or being quarantined if determined to have been in close proximity. Building the partitions was not a priority for some so the rollout of the project has been slower than we anticipated.

Give us the details on the materials used? Did you have to build or test things multiple times?

Kelly: Liam built the original partition based on the first set of measurements taken in the classroom. It was almost spot on! Only minor adjustments had to be made to level the partition out to sit on the tabletop where the computers are placed.

Liam: The design has a component that reaches the floor but it was decided to build a portion that rests on the tabletop in order to provide a barrier between the computers and out past the student’s chair.

Update us on the progress of the project since things were halted this summer?

Liam: In the beginning, I worked on the project for two to three days over the summer before we felt we could not move forward.

Chloe: It was just recently that the project started back up, and we decided to pull in Maddox and Jaxon to help build five more partitions.

Kelly: We have been in contact with the Special Education department to see if they could use some of these style partitions on kidney-shaped tables in those classroom environments too.

So far, do you feel like your project has been successful?

Group: Sort of! It gave us a sense of responsibility even though we couldn’t really complete it like we wanted to!

Maddox: Taking on a project that could help keep other students from getting COVID, even if it won’t keep them from having to be quarantined; it still felt good.

Jaxon: Yeah. Like it’s cool that some of the teachers at the high school are interested in the partitions. We hope that more will request them for their classrooms when work areas are closer than 6 feet.

Chloe: We were just trying to think of other ways to help, like with our 3D printed ear savers.

You mentioned that the project gave you a sense of responsibility, what else has EAST done for you?

Liam: EAST has helped me grow as a person. It has taught me how to take initiative and responsibility to complete tasks I find important. Instead of always asking for help, I will look up tutorials and other lessons to learn skills myself.

What do you want people outside of EAST to know about the project?

Kelly: These partitions are an inexpensive way to provide an extra layer of protection during the pandemic.