Generation TECH logoGeneration TECH - Curriculum Overview

The 8 units of study in the Generation TECH curriculum cover both technical and communication skills necessary to troubleshoot, fix, and maintain technology found in a school setting. These units are taught in coordination with the troubleshooting activities the students perform at the school. The 8 units contain 39 activities which take varying amounts of time, from a single period to multiple days. These activities total approximately 70 hours of classroom instruction, and are flexible so that teachers can adapt them to the local situation and schedule. All students will be exposed to troubleshooting, time management, peer mentoring, resource development, problem solving and will have the opportunity to develop competency with numerous computer programs and procedures.

Generation TECH Activity ScreenshotUnits

The Generation TECH curriculum gives the Generation TECH teacher or advisor a leveled, multi-semester curriculum to teach from. Starting with computer basics, students learn the technology, people, and troubleshooting skills needed to be an effective part of the technology support team in a school. Every unit contains multiple activities adaptable for use in schools with any type of hardware or software.

  • 8 all new units of study with over 70 hours of instruction
  • Units take advantage of new online tools for a dynamic classroom experience
  • All units include supplemental resources, handouts, and links for teachers and students
  • Units provide scalable activities for beginning and advanced students
  • Curriculum supplemented with blog entries and podcasts

Certifications

Some students (or teachers) need vendor-specific certification. To meet this need, Generation YES has partnered with Enterprise Training Solutions to offer online training in Microsoft Office, Flash, Photoshop and other applications, web development, desktop publishing and more. These training courses offer teachers and students an easy and convenient way to learn applications or prepare for A+ and other certifications.

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Units of Study

Unit 1: Communication

  • Generation TECH Tools
  • Introduction to Generation TECH
  • Communicating with Others
  • Communicating and Learning
  • Organizing Information
  • Teamwork
  • Listening and Note Taking Skills

Unit 2: Hardware

  • Understanding Computer Components
  • Component by Component: Going In Depth
  • Boot-up and Information Flow
  • Putting it to Work: Disassembling and Reassembling a Computer
  • Comparing Computer Hardware

Unit 3: Software

  • Getting Started: Bits and Bytes
  • The Operating System and the OSI Model
  • Installing an Operating System
  • The Operating System: The Ultimate Traffic Cop
  • Application Software
  • How Do I... ? Using Help to Learn More

Unit 4: Problem Solving

  • The Art of the Interview
  • Help Desks and Job Tickets
  • Practicing the Client Interview
  • Fixing Problems for Total Customer Satisfaction
  • Escalation and Follow-up

Unit 5: Researching Solutions

  • Finding Solutions: The Best Sources
  • Solutions: Going Beyond Vendors
  • Solutions: Contacting the Vendor
  • Peer Inventory of Knowledge

Unit 6: Housekeeping

  • Maintaining Hardware
  • Keeping Computers Healthy
  • Maintaining Multiple Computers

Unit 7: Projects and Creating Learning Resources

  • Generation TECH Projects
  • Project Planning
  • Producing Effective Tutorials
  • Presenting Information
  • Creating Online Resources
  • Media in Instruction

Unit 8: Portfolios and Closing Activities

  • What is a Student Portfolio?
  • Building a Portfolio
  • Showing the Impact of Student Tech Support