AT&T and the City of Phoenix have teamed up to produce an exciting new initiative for local students -- kindergarten age to high school. The City's Youth & Education Programs Office has developed a new community service learning curriculum combining the best that technology now offers. With the curriculum - called "AuThenTiCITY" - students and educators will be better able to: * learn about their communities * think critically about complex issues * work together as active problem solvers and * access useful technology AuThenTiCITY teams traditional teaching methods like paper and pencil lessons with the latest geographic software tool - GIS (or geographic information systems). A GIS is composed of mapping software, geographic data, and an "explorer" feature that guides students through their investigation. It allows students to ask and answer questions by creating and analyzing high-quality computer maps. While the "doorway" subject is geography, many more subjects can be covered with the curriculum - topics political, social, economic, environmental, geological, historical, and technical. Until recently, these tools were only in the hands of professional GIS users. Thanks to AuThenTiCITY, Phoenix students and educators can benefit too. For more information about AuThenTiCITY, contact: Deborah Dillon Youth & Education Programs Office City of Phoenix 200 W. Washington St., 12th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 ddillon@ci.phoenix.az.us