MAP field trips help students explore real-world technology

All the students enrolled in the Media Arts Program (MAP) traveled to the Fort Miley Ropes Course in San Francisco on Sept. 18. The purpose of the ropes course field trip was to encourage to students to work together, overcome personal challenges and achieve their goals, such as building trust and team-bonding.

“We were asked to do things like walking across a tightrope, boosting someone over a wall, walking across a log suspended high in the air, or zip lining,” said sophomore Antara Rao. Rao also said she felt the field trip was successful in encouraging teamwork between classmates.

The students left school before school at 7:30 a.m. and returned at 3:30 p.m. The event was hosted by the University of San Francisco’s Pacific Leadership Institute. The course itself is located near Golden Gate Park.

“It was a really nice day, excellent weather, and the ropes course was just fabulous,” said MAP coordinator Kerry Mohnike. Mohnike also participated in the ropes course along with the other teachers in MAP.

MAP began last year and focuses on skill development in multimedia fields such as digital film, graphic design, computer animation and web design. The program includes five different trips to get the learning out of the classroom and into the real world, such as visiting the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, embarking on a scavenger hunt in San Francisco and traveling to Los Angeles for a behind-the-scenes look at Universal Studios and FOX Studios in May.

All of these trips are intended to expose the students to the applications of technology as well as to give them opportunities to use the skills that they learn throughout the year.

“I felt the ropes course was enjoyable and it was good for the Media Arts Program,” said junior Kent Paisley. “Besides, I love any excuse to get out of class.”