Join A Local Teacher In Helping New Voices Middle School Students Get Ahead With Updated Graphic Arts Tools

Keeping up with advances in technology can be hard for anyone, but it’s particularly difficult for schools — which, of course, isn’t ideal if you’re hoping to build students’ skills and prepare them for the workforce. So when New Voices Middle School graphic arts teacher Nenci Kokic saw a chance to win a grant for her classroom, she jumped on it, and she’s hoping neighbors can contribute a bit more to complete the package.

In her 14 years at the school, which is located at 330 18th Street, Kokic has seen technology change quite a bit. The program started with 10 iMac computers equipped with Microsoft Office, and now they’ve got 36 computers that have a range of art and design programs. But one thing that’s been missing is digital drawing tablets, a tool that all the graphic arts majors at the school should learn how to use now, so they can build on that in the future.

“Our hope is to enable our students to express their visual voice using updated digital technology and software that is used in the design industry,” Kokic says. “Currently they are drawing and painting with a mouse — this is like ‘painting with your foot,’ as a parent put it. Our students need drawing tablets, they need the freedom of using pens and tablets to create artworks and designs.”

So Kokic recently applied for and won a $500 grant from the Association of American Educators, which will be used for two Wacom Intuos Pro Pen and Touch Medium tablets — an excellent start, but sadly, not quite enough.

“This will allow students the freedom of creation, and maximum results while they are learning how to use the various programs in less time,” she says. “Currently the computers crash while the students are working on designs, this is awful.”

The old equipment does indeed mean computers without enough memory, so they can’t handle the programs — also, unfortunately, older versions of that software — they use and the files they create, which leads to constant crashing. Not ideal, of course, when you’re relying on a computer for some pretty big concepts.

“The goal of the graphic arts program at New Voices is for each student to be able to use the computer as a tool to express their ideas visually through graphic design,” Kokic explains. “Our students become active citizens of the world by using the skills they acquire to express their visual voice in the world.”

So for now, starting with the drawing pads is a big step, and you can help get them a bit further. Kokic has started an online fundraiser with a goal of $3,000, which would help ensure each student in the class would have one to use. It’s the sort of tool that will help prepare the kids even more than Kokic already is for future projects in the field.

“I’ve received emails from students in college thanking me for teaching them the computer skills and the problem solving skills needed to be a successful designer,” she says. “They learn that through hard work you are able to achieve your goals!”

If you’re able to contribute, be sure to check out the fundraiser.