Generation Y - Success Stories

students

Federal, state and local agencies are investing billions to equip schools with computers and modern communication networks, but only one-third of our nation's teachers feel well prepared to use computers and the Internet in their teaching. National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education. Teacher Use of the Internet in Public Schools., 2000.

Generation Y has successfully been implemented in hundreds of schools around the United States. Gen Y classes impact students, teachers, and the climate of the school in positive, powerful ways.

Parent Testimonials

"Megan was always excited to go to Generation Y on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I don�t recall a time she wasn�t excited about going to Generation Y. This program has real value not only for skill reasons but for other personal growth reasons as well. I want to thank you for this opportunity for Megan and sincerely hope that other kids have the opportunity to experience Generation Y as well in the future."
Kathleen McNamara � Parent

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Teacher Testimonials

"We just had staff development at wms and of course I included students (Tech TAs who were with me last year and/or Gen Y/Gen did kids). It was terrific and once again, teachers were excited and motivated to make changes in their lessons by including some of our new programs. I am convinced they would not have been inspired if the delivery process had been just adults (specifically me). Also, we were able to accomplish so much in just two hours. As exciting as I can be, the students were the drivers of this process. The dream lives on!"
Seven year Generation Y Teacher commenting on a technology workshop for the staff.

"By implementing the Generation Y program at my school, my third grade students became leaders and mentors for teachers, other students, their parents, and local business leaders in our community."
Kathy Brookshire
Gifted Education Teacher
Meridian, Mississippi

"The sense of a learning partnership with students and not being afraid to use the technology (even if we don�t know everything about it) has given teachers a closer relationship with students."
Brian Morris
Teacher
Olympia, Washington

"Many of our teachers have had student partners over the years, yet each student partner brings a fresh new perspective and new talents, which create a new synergy. As a result, our teachers increasingly take advantage of the technology available in our school to help students learn in new and different ways."
Ann Marie Ratliff
Librarian
Olympia, Washington

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Administrator Testimonials

"The most memorable part of the experience for both students and teachers was the collaboration process. The interaction between Generation Y students and partner teachers was beneficial to both."
Jim Shireman
Instructional Technology Leader
Federal Way Public Schools
Federal Way, Washington

From a Regional Service Center - The regional service center near Green Bay, Wisconsin (CESA 7) writes in its newsletter that Generation Y lets them integrate technology to improve student learning in ways that work for teachers, students, and tech leaders.

Gen Y Empowers Students as "Teachers"

Students in some CESA 7 school districts, from elementary school to high school, are learning about technology and then teaching their teachers.

Sound a little backwards to you? It is, but it�s working! It�s being accomplished through a program called Generation Y (Gen Y.)

Gen Y is a research-proven methodology designed to infuse technology throughout the school. Students work with teachers to bring effective technology into the classrooms and libraries. The resulting collaboration provides the students with project-based learning and the teachers with on-site, sustainable professional development.

Gen Y is being funded by a grant from TEACH Wisconsin and is currently under implementation in 12 area districts, with 10 more scheduled for startup in January.

Kristi Glesne, the lead Gen Y teacher for Washington School District, got involved because she loves how "it puts technology in the hands of the students" and "supports those teachers that are techno-phobic" thus creating a "better learning situation for all students!"

Ryan Kamien, Mishicot School District�s lead Gen Y teacher, has always been interested in technology and likes "the fact that we are empowering students to use their knowledge and creativity to benefit teachers as well as future students."

And how do the kids feel about being involved in Gen Y?

"My kids are SO excited about Generation Y," says Kristi, whose whole class of 4th and 5th graders are involved. "They cheer when Gen Y is on the schedule and beg for it when it�s not."

Ryan�s Mishicot middle school students are responding well. "After showing them how to use the technologies, they have been able use their own imaginations to soar with the possibilities. It is very neat to watch."

Both Kristi and Ryan see clearly how Gen Y will enhance their fellow teachers� abilities to incorporate technology into their curriculum. "The kids (who are quickly becoming experts) can take care of a lot of the "grunt" work for the teachers. The #1 complaint from teachers is that we don't have the time to do all of these wonderful things for our students. Implementing Gen Y helps take that worry out of the picture!" comments Kristi.

Ryan sees how Gen Y will enhance the "ability of our teachers to use technology [in a way that] interests the students and makes it easier for the teacher."

What kinds of projects are the students helping teachers accomplish? Ryan�s Gen Y students are currently working with their partner social studies, science and language arts teachers to create web pages that enhance projects and activities that the teachers already have in place. According to Ryan, though, " I see lots more options to come. It�s amazing, how with a little direction and guidance, where these students are able to go!"

If you�d like information about how to implement a Generation Y project in your school or district, contact Roxann Nys, CESA 7 Interactive Learning Services.

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Elementary School Partner Teacher Quotes

"It was a wonderful learning experience for me!"

"[Generation Y] helped me become more comfortable working with technology because I feel confident my Generation Y students can help me out when I�m in trouble."

"I feel this is a great program. My partner was very well versed in the material she was teaching me and was very supportive throughout the project. Thanks again."

"This has been a wonderful experience for myself. I can�t wait to use what I learned with my class next year!"

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Secondary School Partner Teacher Quotes

"My only regret was that I didn�t have enough personal time, inside or outside the classroom, to practice and further develop what my Generation Y student had taught me."

"The kids gain so much confidence over the semester. They have been able to help us school wide with computer deployments and setting up profiles. They have been very valuable."

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Success Stories From Gen Y Schools

Student working with teacher.

Empowering Students as Agents of Change - Students at Delmar Elementary School in Maryland can�t wait for the school day to end and the Generation Y class to begin. Paid for by an EETT (No Child Left Behind) federal grant, the Generation Y students are learning valuable leadership and technical skills. See and read more on how Generation Y is improving Delmar Elementary here.

Overview of Gen Y Implementation - Two Arizona elementary schools offer an in-depth view on how they implemented the Generation Y program. Complete with videos and thorough explanations of student work, teacher work, assessment, and reflections this page offers a wonderful look into the program. This documentary was provided by a partnership between Apple Learning Exchange and the two elementary schools. Check it out!

Gen Y Student to speak on Youth Panel

Miguel GuerreroCongratulations to Miguel Guerrero of Foster High School for being selected as one of only eighteen students in the nation to be a participant in the AT&T; Young Leaders Program through The America Connects Consortium. Miguel will be working with other youth around the country and will participate in a structured program of leadership activities over a 6-month period beginning in September 2002, culminating in an online panel discussion on Youth as Leaders in February 2003. A Young Leaders conference will be held in Washington, D.C. in early October and all other activities will take place at the Young Leader�s home community technology center. In addition, each Young Leader will work with a coach from his or her CTC who will attend the conference, benefit from professional development activities led by YouthLearn, and interact with fellow coaches while working with the Young Leaders.

For More information check out The America Connects Consortium

Miguel was nominated for his involvement at High Point Career and Technology Center and Delridge OnRamp, both in West Seattle. Miguel participated in a Generation Y Teen Teachers project over the summer where he and three other teens designed and ran a technology program for youth in the Delridge neighborhood. Miguel has also begun developing Web sites for Non-Profit organizations.

Again Miguel, congratulations, we are very proud of you!

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One Day In May

Dennis Harper
May 10, 2001 � Olympia, Washington, USA

It is an hour before school starts at Washington Middle School (WMS) and the halls and classrooms are busy with activity. I'm sitting in a small office preparing to meet a group of Australian educators who have come to see the Gen Y model in action. This school has a remarkable track record of technology infusion, having had a GenY class for 5 years and also runing the Gen Did, Gen SCI and Gen GIT programs. On this one morning the following things were happening all around me...

Two Gen Y teachers have a group of about 25 students working on their nearly complete projects. Some students are putting the finishing touches on their particular technology so their partner-teachers could deliver yet another technology-infused lesson. Some partner-teachers are in the room helping their Gen Y student complete the online Final Report. More than 25% of WMS has taken Gen Y either at WMS or in elementary school. More than 200 students have signed up for next fall�s 25 Gen www.Y seats.

Another instructor is facilitating a group of 23 Gen Dids (students who have already completed the Gen Y class). About half the students are working with preservice teachers from The Evergreen State College. For years, Gen Dids have participated in a variety of activities aimed at helping future teachers understand how technology can be infused into the curriculum. Today, some Gen Dids are helping preservice teachers create a technology-infused lesson that they will deliver as part of their student teaching experience. Other Gen Dids help critique web pages their preservice partners have created. Gen Dids not working with preservice teachers are doing advanced lessons with WMS teachers and administrators, community service projects, and learning advanced technology skills such as PHP programming.

Another group of Gen Dids who have been in the program multiple times (referred to at WMS as Gen Well Dones) are doing an interview with a reporter from The Olympian newspaper about the virtual tour of the state capitol building they created as a group project. This team of 7th and 8th grade students worked with the Capitol Museum staff to create the project using QuickTime VR to enable students from throughout the state to "walk through" the state capitol building. With the recent earthquake centered in Olympia this web site now takes on special significance since the capitol building is now closed to the public and this virtual capitol is the only way to see the inside of the building until reconstruction occurs. This Gen Well Done class has completed numerous advanced projects with community organizations including the technology training of the staff at the State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Yet another group of students is preparing to deliver the daily WMS Channel Two news program. This process involves writing scripts, shooting video, and performing a live broadcast using sophisticated technology. This morning�s show looks as impressive a network news production and includes recent weather maps, sports video, computer graphics, and live web cam feeds from around the campus.

Finally, there is a group of students who are utilizing ArcView GIS software to accurately map out district schools so police and fire departments can operate more efficiently in case an emergency arises. This is an ongoing project with the Olympia Police Department which has seen Gen Dids help train officers in the use of sophisticated technology.

All this is taking place well before the regular school day begins. Hundreds of students are volunteering to come to school to use their technology expertise to improve schools and student learning.

The Australian educators have come and gone. They were impressed by the intensity of the students, and the atmosphere of productive work that they saw in every corner of the school. Even more impressive was the attitude of the teachers. Every one we met on the tour was enthusiastic and obviously having as much fun learning as the students.

As I pass through the halls of WMS I bump into even more excited students and teachers. One student helped me write a grant for an after-school program to train urban youth to produce digital video. Other students I recognize as trainers and presenters at various local and national conferences. An English teacher stops to tell me how excited she is at the project that she and her Gen Y partner-student have just completed. It occurs to me that this is what education is all about - the excitement of learning being shared by a thriving community of practice.

The before-school activity is just the start of what happens with technology at the school. There are 45 sections of technology requirements or electives throughout the day. A ratio of 3 students per computer allows for each student to go hand-on two hours per day. Every teacher in the school integrates technology fully into their lessons. About one-quarter of each teacher�s students is a Gen Did who has been trained to provide continual technology support for teachers. At the end of the school day, Gen Dids monitor the school�s computer labs for students to utilize in their learning process. This could mean completing class assignments, helping teachers or parents learn technology skills or improving their own expertise.

Although every school doesn't have this level of technology availalbe to students, WMS didn't have this at the start of the Gen Y program either. The committment to including students in the process has paid off for this school, and is working in other schools all across the country. Traveling around the country I see the energy students can bring to the goal of truly meeting the potential of technology to improve student learning.

Your school can start on this path as well, by implementing the Gen Y program and holding to the dream of technology infusion throughout the school. Empowering students and teachers to become full partners in the education process is not an easy or painless path, but the experience of those who have tried it shows that it is worth it.

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