Gen Y - Program and Curriculum Guide

Section I: Chapter 1: The Gen Y Way
Summary: As an introduction to the program and curriculum guide, this chapter introduces the "big idea" of Generation Y.

• Program Description
• Benefits of Gen Y
• The Gen Y triad - teacher, student, and partner-teacher
• Gen Y projects
• Professional Development with Gen Y

Chapter Excerpt:

Program Description
Students represent more than 90% of the K�12 education population, and they likely possess 95% of the technology expertise in the school. Unquestionably, they are 100% of the reason why schools exist.

The question is how to harness and share the students' technology expertise. Through a federal Technology Innovation Challenge Grant (TICG), a model of technology infusion and staff development has been developed to show how students can partner with educators to improve student learning (see diagram).

Traditional professional development models have teachers learning technology skills with the hopes of improving student learning. The Gen Y program trains students with technology and pedagogical skills to help improve teachers' teaching and, therefore, student learning. The Gen Y program is a schoolwide strategy that provides teachers with the on-site, any-time support for producing technology-infused lessons. As the program takes hold in a school, hundreds of these trained students (student change agents) work with teachers in a variety of technology-related solutions.

By using the Generation Y model, schools help infuse technology throughout the curriculum by partnering students with teachers to develop information and technology skills; develop research, technical writing, presentation, teaching, and leadership skills; and develop lesson and project plans that meet academic standards and the International Society for Technology Education's National Education Technology Standards (ISTE NETS) for teachers and students throughout the school.

The Gen Y course is the major component of the program. In this class, students learn the technological, social, and pedagogical skills they need to carry out their responsibilities in this innovative staff development program.

Next: Chapter 2: Understanding the Program

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Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5