Maggie Kartanowicz
February 28, 2004
SLM 521- Buddy Phillips
Journal Article Review #1

Starr, Robert C. (February 2004). People’s Court. Technology Focus. Retrieved 2/9/04, from http://www.asbj.com/2002/22/2202technologyfocus.html

 
    The article I read, “People’s Court”, concerned a judge, Brian MacKenzie, in Michigan, who sought to educate his community on the court system. Due to his

limited funds, Judge MacKenzie asked for assistance from a group of middle school students at Walled Lake District, a school acknowledged for its extensive use

of  technology in the classroom.   The sixth and seventh graders worked together with a Web development firm, Sequoia Services Group, the district court, and the

Oakland County information technology department to design a Web site.  The students were chosen on the basis of their proficiency with computers and

Web-building, along with their ability to work well in a team environment.  Missed classroom assignments were to be completed by the students.  The seven

students who participated in the project initially observed many civil and criminal cases in order to become familiar with how the court system worked.  The Web

site was launched in 1999 and now contains a virtual tour of the courthouse, general descriptions of the court and details of each of the divisions, information on

traffic tickets and fines, and a section called “Ask the Judge”.  Judge MacKenzie and the principal of the school feel the students far surpassed their expectations.

    I was impressed while reading this article at the judge’s sensible resolution to the issue of educating his community about the court system. So often we hear of the

tremendous waste in our county, city and federal government.  It was refreshing to read about a judge who took a novel approach rather than waiting for money

allocation from the county.  The students in the school received a tremendous education in both the court system and Web site development.  This authentic learning

experience far exceeded anything these students could have learned from a textbook, lecture or computer application.  I commend all of the parties involved, the

judge, Sequoia Service Group and the district court for working together to make this project such a great success.  I would love to see other schools implement

this kind of project by working with outside organizations and creating genuinely