Twenty
kids are creating an internet website that other teens can
use while doing research at the St. Louis Public Library.
At the same time, they're getting paid and learning a lot
about themselves.
The
kids started the MyTRACS project last November and will
be working through July. MyTRACS stands for My Teens
Research and Create Stories.
Carrie Dietz is the young adult librarian at the SLPL.
She said the Missouri State Library is underwriting the
project that "will provide other teens a research tool to
use to get around the library."
Ms. Dietz said, "The kids designed the 'wiki' and are
filling it with information on various areas of research
interest to young people. We'd like this to be a permanent
and evolving resource for young people."
She said 'wiki' is a Hawaiian word that means "quick,"
as in finding things quickly.
In looking for a parallel, she referred to the Wikipedia
website on the Internet. There, individuals can contribute
information on just about any subject. Then, others add
to and even correct information already there.
Rachel
Newlin |
SLPL's grant runs out this summer but library officials
are seeking additional funding so the 'wiki' can continue
to growth in the years to come. Teens on the MyTRACS project
come from nine public and private schools in the City.
The kids work for four hours each Saturday at the downtown
SLPL headquarters. They are divided into two-person teams
that get to work on every aspect of the design and production
of the MyTRACS wiki.
Eighth-grader Rachel Newlin is from Carr-Lane VPA Middle
School.
She said, "I've worked on gathering and writing for sections
such as history, science, fine arts, colleges and careers."
She said she also has helped with the overall design of
the MyTRACS wiki. She said one of the most valuable experiences
has been "the chance to interact with older kids." Rachel
said she ordinarily tends to be somewhat shy.
"I'm a more outgoing person now," she said.
(For a look at the wiki so far, visit http://mytracs.slpl.org.)
Daniel
Carter |
Eighth-grader Deonta' Ervin is from Langston Middle School.
He said he worked on material for the history section. One
of his special essays was about the famous African-American
W.E.B. Dubois.
He said the Dubois article could be a starting point if
someone was looking for a project for a history class. In
fact, Deonta' said he got double duty out of his research
because he used Dubois as subject for his own history project.
But, he said his best MyTRACS experiences involved his
personal life.
"For one thing, I've been coming to interesting work instead
of just sleeping in on Saturdays," he said. Also, Deonta'
said being involved in meaningful work also helps "to establish
my credibility" in school.
Deonta'
Ervin |
Another skill he picked up was learning now to type. That's
also valuable in school.
Eighth-grader Daniel Carter said what he's learned in MyTRACS
had a very practical benefit in school. "My grade in my
communication skills class went from a C to a B," he said.
He credits that to the writing he's done for the MyTRACS
'wiki.' "It's helped me learn to use better words and improve
my punctuation," he said.
The kids hear presentations from experts in various fields,
both from the SLPL staff and from outside.
For instance, the kids got help in designing their 'wiki'
logo from Robert Powell of Portfolio Gallery and Education
Center. Mr. Powell's galley is well-known as a valuable
resource on African-American art.
Another outside expert who worked with the kids was book
author Jan Greenberg. She helped them learn about researching
a subject and then getting it into the right format.
The kids also heard from various SLPL department heads
and got background on resources available locally and on
the Internet.
Some of the areas the kids have spent a lot of time on
included college admission, writing resumes and career possibilities.
Rachel Newlin said she's used the material on resumes to
upgrade her own.
But, she also said researching for 'wiki' material got
her involved in how to search various databases on the Internet.
She said she discovered various state databases while working
on the library computers.
Another activity the kids have picked up in their MyTRACS
work was how to take good pictures. The kids have learned
to use digital cameras in order to illustrate articles written
for the 'wiki.'
Daniel Carter said, "We learned a lot about lighting and
composition of good pictures.
Much of their picture-taking information came from another
outside expert, photographer Chinyere E. Oteh.
The kids also thought their MyTRACS experience will help
them as they look forward to a career.
Rachel Newlin said she's planning to attend the University
of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. But, she said
she isn't planning to be a news journalist.
"I want to be a head writer for a TV soap opera, such as
General Hospital," she said. She said she's already working
on a show, that's she's titled "Tainted Lives." She said
she hasn't started on a script as yet. "I'm just finishing
background for the characters," she added.
