Generation Y - Classroom Profiles

U.S. Department of Education Expert Technology Panel "Exemplary" Rating Of Gen Y

"... the course is supported with an array of resources (some online) for coordinating teachers that can be adapted for different school settings serving all populations using virtually any hardware/software infrastructure." " The course materials have been used successfully from upper elementary through high school levels and include materials for administrators, partner-teachers, coordinating teachers, and parents."

Generation Y is designed to be both comprehensive and flexible. Based on the experience of hundreds of widely varying Gen Y classrooms around the country, the curriculum can support your unique school situation.

Elementary

Middle School

High School

Trade Centers

Library/Media Centers

Pre-service teaching programs

The curriculum is designed to support approximately 70 hours of intense classroom activity. At the secondary school level, this can be done in a single semester. Leveling suggestions, alternate activities and special resources can be found in the curriculum guide to adapt the course for a year long experience, or a "club" schedule.

Elementary
Typically, in elementary schools, a single Gen Y class runs the entire year. This gives the younger students a more leisurely pace, and accommodates the usual implementation of an after or before school class. Students as early as grade 3 have successfully completed the class, although they are usually recommended by teachers as being independent enough to handle it.

We have found that a before or after school class works well since there are usually already enough pull-out programs going on during the school day. With a 60 minute session 3 days a week, the class will have a full Gen Y experience and be able to complete their projects over the year.

• Curriculum is adapted for elementary levels and timeframe. Every unit has suggestions for leveling the activities and special resources for elementary classes.
• Gen Y students can work with partner-teachers at any grade level.

Middle School
Middle school is an especially rewarding age range to deliver Gen Y classes, as the students are extremely capable with technology, and at the same time, searching for who they are. Presenting them with a positive, constructive option of being a fully valued member of a learning community can bring out qualities in students that might otherwise be hidden.

Scheduling a Class
In middle school, Gen Y is most effective as a semester requirement or elective. Daily instruction plus in-class time to work on projects ensures that the students are actively engaged and working. The curriculum is aligned with the ISTE NETS for students standards, and exceeds them in most areas. If your district or state has a required technology class, Gen Y can meet this requirement. Generation YES has aligned the Gen Y objectives to the required technology standards in certain states; contact us to find out if your state standards have been aligned.

Extending the Gen Y Experience
Is is common for Gen Y graduates to retake Gen Y a second time (or more!). The Gen Y program can be tailored to allow for extended project and more in depth technology learning. Every time a student take s the class they can work on a new project, and learn more about technology, teaching, and the school's technology needs. To create more challenging projects with teachers and administrators Gen YES also provides a formal Gen Did program.

High School
High schools across the country have delivered successful Gen Y classes. This curriculum has been used in technology classes as an alternative to the "spreadsheet/database/word processor" classes for students who can show mastery of those subjects. It also can serve as a complementary course to highly technical classes, as Gen Y is specially designed to focus on the "soft" skills that are so important in the workplace today.

Scheduling a Class
In high school, Gen Y is most effective as a semester requirement or elective. Daily instruction plus in-class time to work on projects ensures that the students are actively engaged and working. The curriculum is aligned with the ISTE NETS for students standards, and exceeds them in most areas. If your district or state has a required technology class, Gen Y can meet this requirement. Generation YES has aligned the Gen Y objectives to the required technology standards in certain states; contact us to find out if your state standards have been aligned.

Extending the Gen Y Experience
Is is common for Gen Y graduates to retake Gen Y a second time (or more!). The Gen Y program can be tailored to allow for extended project and more in depth technology learning. Every time a student take s the class they can work on a new project, and learn more about technology, teaching, and the school's technology needs. To create more challenging projects with teachers and administrators Gen YES also provides a formal Gen Did program.

Trade Schools/ School to Work Programs
Gen Y classes are extremely effective in these schools. Project-based learning can show students that academics are relevant, and can spark interest in teaching as a career. Students will learn to use technology from a teaching and learning standpoint.

Library/Media Centers
Gen Y classes often are held in the schools' library or media center. As schools do away with the traditional computer lab, the library may have a concentration of computers that the Gen Y class needs.

If this is your situation, it is often helpful if the librarian or media specialist is included in the Gen Y training session so that they can understand the goals and unique format of the class.

Preservice Teachers
An exciting new model for Gen Y is the extension of the collaboration partnership to preservice teachers. Nine colleges of education have piloted a program that has Gen Y and Gen DID students providing preservice experiences for future teachers.

More information about this research can be found here.