Students in Smart Move initially will be trained in critical thinking activities that will help them understand the different perspectives of people involved in local growth issues, such as landowners, developers, politicians and naturalists. Next, they will research background information related to the environment, growth and development and conduct laboratory and field-based investigation. Finally, the students will apply what they learn to better understand relevant issues of growth and development in Habersham County and Northeast Georgia. An important part of the project is the involvement of the community . We want to bring in people from the community to support the learning process so kids can see the connection between education and the real world.
Students are welcome to join at the beginning of each new session and continue as long as they wish.
The first session will be held at the Piedmont College Martens Botanical Center. Although the program will start out on the Piedmont campus, by the third session Smart Move will be phased back to the middle schools as an on-site program. Since the program is project based, homework will not be the main focus, Brown said. Call 778-8500 extension 1278 for more information. Partnering with the Homework Centers to monitor and participate in Smart Move ar the Habersham County Board of Education and schools, Piedmont College, the Smart Growth Coalition and Northeast Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center, which is located at the martens Botanical Center.