February 2007 - 8,376 subscribers
What better way to start off our February GenYES Express than to talk about the Virgin Islands! In the winter of 1988 my family and I traveled from Helsinki University in Finland to take an associate professor's position at the University of the Virgin Islands. During my five years in the Virgin Islands I helped established a virtual distance learning program connecting many Caribbean nations and an educational technology masters degree program. I also started the Caribbean Computer Users in Education (CCUE) that remains an ISTE Affiliate. Generation YES now has four full-time employees in the Virgin Islands who help with student-powered technology integration. Check out what students are accomplishing the Generation YES way at the CCUE website (https://www.ccue.net) or better yet, given the rough winter many of you are having, travel to the Virgin Islands and give them a visit!
Forward.....Dennis
What's New at Generation YES
21st Century Learning Center - After-school Programs for the Digital Generation
Generation YES is working with 21st Century Learning Center coordinators to implement student-centered technology programs that are engaging and exiting for this digital generation. Based on the successful TechYES model, participating students learn how to produce powerful technology-rich projects that help teachers, peers and parents - all goals of the of this U.S. Department of Education program. https://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html
Generation YES 2007 Calendar
We still have a few of our 2007 desktop calendars available. This year's calendar was produced from beautiful photographs taken by two Liberian children who had never seen a camera before. Children all over the world are capable of so much if we give them the tools and the avenue for expression. Click here to request a free copy of the calendar, just write "2007 calendar" in the comments section of the form. https://genyes.com/scripts/form.php
Generation YES at CoSN and California CUE
There are two opportunities to visit with us in March, both in California. The California Computer Using Educators (CUE) Conference is the statewide educational technology conference. Come by booth number 514, in Palm Springs March 1-3 and say hello. Hopefully it won't SNOW like last year--it was very strange to see snow on the palm trees!
For the first time in a long while, the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) conference will take place in San Francisco, far away from its usual spot in Washington DC. Both Dennis Harper and Sylvia Martinez will be there, so come by and say hi (March 28-30).
Dennis Harper at Liberia Event in DC
Generation YES founder and CEO, Dr. Dennis Harper made it across the country through ice and snow to attend the Liberia Private Sector Investment Forum in Washington DC. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf gave the luncheon keynote. The new President (the first woman president in Africa) is a supporter of the Liberian Renaissance Education Complex (LREC) that Dr. Harper is spearheading as a key to attracting investors to this poor West African nation. See https://liberiaschool.org for updates and ways to contribute to this effort.
Student Showcase
Paradise Valley, AZ Shows off Projects
Five schools in this Phoenix suburb started the GenYES program this school year. The first round of student projects helping teachers has been completed. For example, at North Ranch Elementary in Scottsdale, a fifth grade GenYES student worked with a third grade teacher and her students to create a New World Explorers movie by combining video and resources from UnitedStreaming with costumed third graders providing narration. The end result is a wonderful resource that made history come alive for the third grade. We are working on getting permission to post the video, since it contains some copyrighted material but believe us, it's terrific!
TechYES Continues to Narrow Digital Divide
Two large California middle schools join schools throughout the nation by showing their students are technology literate. Christa McAuliffe MS in Lodi and El Monte JHS in the Cutler-Orosi saw a total of 436 7th grade students become nationally TechYES certified. Students in these schools completed technology projects meeting ISTE NETS standards and NCLB mandates for 8th grade technology literacy.https://www.genyes.com/techyes
https://www.genyes.com/techyes
Be Part of the "Our World 2007" Survey
This survey is intended to take the pulse of how youth in different parts of the world think and feel about issues of cultural, social, and economic identity both on the national and global level. The survey has been translated to various languages so more youth from different parts of the world can participate. Please promote the survey to as many young people (ages 15-24) as possible in all regions of the world. The survey is in 9 languages and can be found at:https://www.ourworldgce.net/currentactivities.htm.
News You Can Use
ISTE NETS Update
In 1998, the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS) were released. Over time, many states (and countries) have come to use the NETS as a baseline for their own technology standards. Since 1998 is about a billion years ago in Internet-time, it's definitely time for a refresh. The latest draft can be found here: https://www.iste.org/nets-refresh
We are proud that the two biggest changes, creativity and collaboration are key concepts that we incorporated into TechYES, our student technology literacy certification model over 3 years ago. These student-centered ideals are the core of the Generation YES philosophy, and we congratulate ISTE on recognizing their importance. https://www.genyes.com/techyes
ISTE NETS Update Part II - Your Chance for Input
ISTE is asking for input from educators around the world about the proposed changes to the ISTE NETs standards. This is a chance for student-centered educators to have their voices heard about creating standards that reflect the promise of technology and the power of putting it into student hands. Your opinions are needed:
https://www.iste.org/nets-refresh (Scroll down to Online Input and Feedback)
Regional Laptop Leadership Summits
The Anytime Anywhere Learning Foundation is offering a series of Regional Leadership Summits for educators interested in bringing 1:1 computing to their schools. At Leading 1:1 - The Essential Blueprint for Superintendents and Principals, veterans of successful 1:1 schools will discuss planning, funding, curriculum, professional development and sustainability issues.
For more information, go to https://aalf.org/Events/cf_summits.aspx
SAFE Center - School IT Safety Resource
eSchool News and ISTE have partnered to produce a new website dedicated to "physical and IT safety for schools". The SAFE Center includes guidelines for disaster preparedness, a clearinghouse of various plans, and a resource library. Additional materials will be added regularly.
https://iste-listserver.iste.org/t/14825/139150/392/0/
Web News Supplanting Print
Educators are increasingly turning to online news sources for classroom use, turning away from newspapers and television news. According to a study by Carnegie-Knight Task Force at Harvard University, 57% of teachers use Internet-based news in the classroom with some frequency, compared to 31% using national television news, 28% using daily papers and 13% using local television news. Among teachers now making use of news, 67% indicate "the Internet has made news use in the classroom easier and better." Source:https://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2007/01/29/newspapers_lose_ground_in_web_savvy_schools_study/
BONUS - FREE Technology Planning Guide
If you missed it in the last newsletter...
We had a HUGE positive response to our new whitepaper:From Vision to Action: Including Student Leadership in Your Technology Plan. We hope you took a look at it, but if not, there's still time to get it!
The whitepaper was featured in the January 2007 issue of THE Journal: 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..." Read the rest at https://thejournal.com/articles/19917
Or just download the whitepaper from the Generation YES home page at: www.genyes.com for free. This helpful 8-page guide contains research, sample language, practical suggestions, 6 models of student involvement, and a planning worksheet. Print it out and give it to your favorite tech committee members!
That's All For This Issue of the Generation YES Express
We hope you've enjoyed this email newsletter. If you have stories to share or news clips about technology in education, student empowerment, or funding for technology, please send them our way and you might see them in the next issue! https://www.genyes.org/about/contact
