As a California Partnership Academy, the Berkeley High School Computer Academy develops computer-based technological expertise to assist students with a wide range of career goals. This integrated unit can be used in a communications pathway including advertising, journalism, public relations, publishing, TV, radio or film or a human services pathway including government, law, education or public service. In this integrated curriculum, we work with 50-60 Computer Academy juniors in government, English, and computer classes to produce public service announcements on issues currently before the California legislature or California voters.
Students research the issues in the areas of education and criminal justice.
They develop positions on those issues and, backed by facts and examples gleaned from their research, argue the issues in the form of a letter to a legislator. They then present their letters during a field trip to the California legislature in Sacramento. As the government class moves on to other aspects of government, students are given an introduction to the role of the media in affecting government policy. Their final products are presented on TV through Berkeley Community Media or submitted to local radio and television stations. The skills learned serve the budding neurologist just as much as the aspiring design engineer by integrating baseline technological expertise into a project that allows students to act on their concerns and to address a concerned audience.