UA Professor

UA Professor, George Lucas Work for Real 'Force' Behind Education

Dr. Milton Chen, GLEF executive director, works with George Lucas, creator of the

Dr. Milton Chen (standing), GLEF executive director, works with George Lucas, creator of the "Star Wars" saga, who has now created tools to promote innovative teaching efforts

May the Force be with you." This famous line refers to the driving force behind the "Star Wars" world of exploding planets and intergalactic wars. Now, George Lucas, the creator of the "Star Wars" film saga, is taking on the world of education and empowering what he refers to as "the most powerful force" in that world -- the teacher.

It was Lucas' work with education, not his more famous work in film, which caught the attention of Dr. Barrie Jo Price, UA professor in HES' Institute for Interactive Technology (IIT), and ultimately led to her being named to the advisory board of the George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF).

Price is one of only two higher education professionals to sit on this 12-member board that includes such education and business heavyweights as Cindy Johanson, PBS Online; Carol Edwards, NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education; John Gage, Sun Microsystems Inc.; Milton Goldberg, National Alliance of Business; Jacqueline Lain, Standard and Poors; and Peter Harris, president and CEO, San Francisco 49ers.

"This board works with the GLEF directors and staff to shape the content of all of its materials and presentations that will best impact public education directly," said Price.

"Dr. Price brings the 'voice of the practitioner' to the planning table," said Dr. Milton Chen, GLEF executive director. "Additionally, because of her national and international work, she can advise us on how to broaden the audience and reach the of our materials."

Founded in 1991 by Lucas, GLEF promotes innovative efforts of teachers to improve K-12 education, with a special interest in identifying those programs that integrate technology with teaching and learning. GLEF has documented the success stories in its newsletter, materials, books, videos and Web site, Edutopia at www.glef.org.

Screenshot of book cover - Edutopia: Success Stories for Learning in the Digital Age The latest project, a book and CD-Rom entitled, "Edutopia: Success Stories for Learning in the Digital Age," includes an article by Price and her IIT colleagues Drs. George Marsh and Anna McFadden. The article, "Versatile Handheld Computers Aid Mobile Student Teachers," details the ways that student teachers use the Palm and other electronic devices to improve classroom and data management and productivity in our mobile society.

Price's first contact with GLEF began a few years ago when she purchased GLEF materials for some of her work with schools in the United States and abroad. That led to e-mail and phone conversations with the GLEF staff about their shared views of the future of education.

"GLEF's vision and mine match so well. They studied the workshops and other projects I had done on the Web and saw I was advocating the same practices," Price said. This collaboration ultimately led to GLEF's invitation for Price to join their board.

Price said that while many education reformers focus on curriculum, testing and school management, Lucas and his foundation have put the focus on teachers and teaching.

"GLEF promotes project-based learning and broader forms of assessment that can dramatically improve student learning. Certainly, new digital multimedia and telecommunications can support these practices and engage our students," she said.

To accomplish this, Price said well-prepared educators are critical.

"Lucas believes, and so do I, that the most powerful force in education is the teacher. Nothing, not even technology, will ever compete with that," said Price.

"GLEF documents and disseminates information on the most exciting classrooms where these innovations are taking place. By shining the spotlight on these teachers and students, GLEF hopes that other teachers will be inspired to promote change in their own schools," said Price.

"Most of the time, the reason a teacher is not creative or innovative is because they haven't had a chance to see these innovations. Sixth grade teachers don't get to go see other sixth grade teachers. They're always in their own classrooms," she said.

"GLEF is trying to use all these materials (books, videos, Web site) as a way for teachers and people who work with teachers to take control of their own professional development. The foundation's message is very simple: Learning starts with students' passion. Find that passion and encourage them to follow it and great things will happen," said Price.

After all, Price points out, it worked for George Lucas.

"We all think of George Lucas now as this wonderful, talented creative guy, but in school he was bored and constantly daydreamed, not the ideal for many traditional teachers. It's this type of child that GLEF hopes to help innovative teachers to reach. Lucas thinks he was lucky. He found his niche," said Price.

"In our society and our global economy, we cannot lose those people like Lucas -- problem identifiers and problem solvers. "You don't solve a problem by getting a manual. It's the difference between memorizing facts and figuring out things."