When computer information systems (CIS) students signed up for associate professor Ruth Guthrie's Interactive Web Design course earlier this year, they figured they would do a lot of learning. They didn't expect it from elementary school teachers.

During the class last winter, the students took part in a service-learning project that paired those from the Web design class with elementary school teachers at Oakmont Elementary School in Claremont.

While the students were given valuable hands-on learning experiences, the Oakmont teachers also benefited from the students' expertise and commitment.

Under the guidance of Cal Poly Pomona faculty, students designed classroom Web pages for the Oakmont teachers, providing them an online presence with links to homework assignments, lunch schedules, reading lists, news items and other useful materials for the children and their parents.

"This was a great opportunity for students to have real world experience in technical work as well as working with clients," Guthrie says.

Through the learning process, Cal Poly Pomona students realized that the greater challenge wasn't necessarily designing a child-friendly Web site, but rather bringing ideas to life and balancing client needs and desires with what is feasible. Students often explained the site's potential, serving as advisers and consultants.

For instance, CIS senior Jackson Tse reported a minor roadblock when working on a fifth-grade teacher's Web site. The teacher requested that her Web pages include popular cartoon characters like "Tweety." Tse alerted her to copyright laws and suggested reasonable solutions.
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The end result thrilled the teacher.

"At first I thought the project was a hassle, but after seeing the teacher's reaction, I got more into it," says Tse. "The results felt good. It's fulfilling to see someone so happy with your work."

This service-learning project was established last year by assistant professor Carlos Navarrete with a smaller group of students working with Sycamore Elementary School in Claremont. Due to the success of both programs, Navarrete is working with the school district to integrate the teacher Web sites for the school. He and Guthrie would like to continue helping local schools get connected with the Internet through Web pages.

"It would be great to do this service learning all the time," Guthrie says. "The students got so much out of it. Rather than wait two years for this experience, it really made them a lot wiser. They may not program better, but it's made them know people better."