January 2007 — News/In Brief
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Technology + Online + Industry + Partnerships
GenYES Founder Calls For Student Tech Input
A prominent industry voice says kids should play a role in the development and execution of technology plans.
CAN WE HELP YOU? Student contribution
can be key to the success of ed tech planning.
DENNIS HARPER literally wrote the blueprint on how to work with students to create technology plans. “From Vision to Action: Including Student Leadership in Your Technology Plan” is Harper’s eight-page report on incorporating student input into school or district technology planning, now available for free download from the Generation YES (Youth and Educators Succeeding) website that Harper founded.
A leading voice in education technology, Harper argues that if students are given the chance to shape a technology plan, they will feel a sense of ownership toward it, which makes school technology programs more likely to succeed. Planning together also gives educators and students a forum to discuss internet safety, online learning opportunities, and other issues related to technology acquistion, implementation, and use.
The GenYES program grew out of a grant designed to foster cooperation between students and teachers in the integration of new technology. To date, GenYES has worked with more than 50,000 teachers in teaming up with students, bolstering professional development efforts while giving kids experience problem solving and collaborating, not to mention allowing them to speak up about what equipment they want for their schools.
“From Vision to Action” offers six models on revising technology plans to allow room for student voices: students serving on committees; students as trainers and support systems for staff and teachers; students as tech support agents; students as resource developers—for resources such as help guides, video how-tos, and class websites; students as communicators; and students as peer mentors, peer reviewers, and peer leaders.
Harper wraps up the document with notes about offering students incentives for their participation in technology planning, and a worksheet for outlining goals and translating them into action steps.
