TechYES Student Technology Literacy Certification Study Released
Improves Technology Skills and Closes Digital Divide
Olympia, Washington, June 28, 2006 –In a study just released by the independent evaluation group Westside Research Consortium, the TechYES model of student technology literacy certification was found to be an excellent way to ensure that middle school students are technology literate and an effective strategy for bridging the digital divide.
This study is the largest assessment ever to address the area of technology literacy for middle school students. Forty-five participating schools covered the Central Valley of California and included over 10,000 student participants. The use of the TechYES model allowed schools build a sustainable, effective technology literacy program without requiring the purchase of new hardware or the implementation of a new course in the school day.
Designed for grades 6-9, the TechYES model satisfies the International Society for Technology and Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S) and provides schools with a proven methodology for meeting the federal government’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandate that calls for every eighth grade student to be technology literate.
TechYES calls for students to learn and demonstrate technology skills through projects that the students design to benefit their own schools, communities, or personal needs. Peer mentors are trained to help teach skills and assess student projects as part of the TechYES process. By including students in the tutoring and project assessment, TechYES allows many varied projects to be completed with a minimum level of teacher technology expertise and supervision. In most of the studied schools, only one adult teacher or advisor managed the program for an entire school, sometimes ranging up to 300 students.
“TechYES is an excellent structure for teaching technology literacy to all students. I find the student guide to be excellent and the use of peer mentors offers opportunities for students to improve their leadership skills and self-confidence,” said one TechYES adult advisor.
This evaluation was conducted as part of the Verizon California Technology Literacy Project. Funded by Verizon, this project supported 45 middle schools in the central valley of California as they ran a student technology literacy program based on the TechYES model. The goal of the project was to offer schools with underserved student populations a chance to implement a student technology literacy program that would improve technology skills for students and attempt to close the digital divide.
Primary Research Findings
The TechYES model can narrow the digital divide
- Teachers/advisors overwhelmingly agreed (97%) that TechYES helped bridge the digital divide in their schools with primarily Hispanic and Southeast Asian populations.
- 100% of TechYES advisors agreed that TechYES is an effective way to ensure middle school technology literacy.
The TechYES model can improve academic as well as technology proficiency and has other benefits for all student participants
- The advisors believed that TechYES students dramatically increased their knowledge and skills in software, hardware, network use, Internet safety and netiquette, and evaluating web resources through participation in TechYES. A paired t-test indicates that the perceived change in students' knowledge and skills is significant (t = 8.075, p < .0001).
- Students generally commented on how they enjoyed being able to use technology, of "finally getting to use computers to make PowerPoints and movies", "learning things besides just playing games" and "how to learn about making a website." Many students liked "just the fact that you chose your own topic" because they "liked being able to do a project on a famous football player" or "making a PowerPoint of fashion."
The TechYES model helped participating teachers/advisors build their own skills in teaching technology using project-based, collaborative methods.
- The advisors felt more confident about their own ability to teach technology, their own technology skills, use of project-based learning, collaborating with students and authentic assessment after their TechYES experience.
TechYES Peer Mentors experienced growth in both technology skills and affective skills
- Advisors saw growth in peer mentors' skills as effective leaders and tutors.
- Student peer mentors believed that TechYES allowed them to greatly improve their skills in technology, tutoring, project/student evaluation, leadership, academics and interpersonal interactions.
Middle school students can be relied on as tutors and evaluators
- Approximately 70% of advisors agreed or strongly agreed that the Peer Mentors were essential to TechYES success and that middle school students are mature enough to be successful Peer Mentors.
- Student peer mentors valued their role in the TechYES program, believed that middle school students were mature enough to take on that role, and enjoyed being mentors.
Conclusion
The evaluation study concludes, “Overall the project impacted the students, peer mentors, and advisors in very positive ways by improving their ability to use technology and communicate this knowledge to others.” The full report is available at https://www.geny.org/verizon
Summary report (2 pages) (PDF)
Generation YES Corp.
Generation YES works with schools all around the world to plan, implement and enhance student technology programs through consulting, innovative curriculum and research-based support services. (https://www.genyes.com)
Generation YES and TechYES are registered trademarks of Generation YES Corp. All rights reserved. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
Contact:
Sylvia Martinez, Generation YES
(888) 941-4369 x107
