The GenYES Experience
The GenYES experience as seen by each of the participants in the process.
GenYES Student
GenYES Parent
GenYES Advisor
Partner-Teacher
Administrator
IT Staff
Quotes
"While I truly appreciate the value of technology and the amazing capabilities it has brought to our lives, it is neither my forte nor my focus as a member of GenYES. My vision is for the improvement of education, and I very strongly believe that the collaboration between students, teachers and families created by the program is the key to building a model of learning that will strengthen our world as my generation (and those that follow) comes of age."
Emily McCartan - GenYES Student
The GenYES Student Experience
The GenYES student participates in a GenYES class or club at their school. In GenYES, students not only learn technology skills, but also collaboration and project management skills. They learn how to support the technology in their school, and how technology can be used in the learning process. They learn how to be mentors and leaders in their school by taking on responsibility for helping teachers use technology in every classroom.
In time, GenYES students start to work on Teacher Assistance Projects (TAPs), helping teachers throughout their school use technology in classrooms. These TAPs are requested by teachers when they need help with technology. TAPs can be simple tech support requests or requests for a GenYES student to help plan and create a larger curriculum technology project that the teacher wants to use in their lessons.
The extensive GenYES curriculum has activities that help GenYES students learn how to use the GenYES resources, and how to find valuable resources on the Internet to come up creative, useful solutions for their partner-teachers. By taking on responsibility for the authentic problems found as technology is integrated into lessons, GenYES students are empowered, and often find new self-esteem as they are rewarded and trusted for their expertise.
GenYES students often remain in GenYES their whole school career, learning more advanced technology and tech support skills and providing more service to their own school.
Quotes
"The most memorable part of the experience for both students and teachers was the collaboration process. The interaction between GenYES students and partner teachers was beneficial to both."
Jim Shireman
Instructional Technology Leader
The GenYES Advisor Experience
The GenYES Advisor is the adult who is in charge of the GenYES class or club. GenYES Advisors are usually teachers or library/media specialists. In some cases, GenYES Advisors are other staff members such as IT specialists, vice-principals, or district technology specialists.
GenYES Advisors are trained by the Generation YES staff before they start their GenYES classes or clubs, and receive unlimited support. They have access to the GenYES online tools to keep track of GenYES student projects and curriculum. They are part of a national network of GenYES Advisors, some for as long as ten years, who share their expertise with each other via the online GenYES Advisor Forums.
Not all GenYES Advisors are technology teachers, in fact, many successful programs have been delivered by teachers with little or no technology expertise. The most important ingredient for a GenYES Advisor is the ability to step out of the lecture role into that of a facilitator. The GenYES curriculum is designed to be a collaborative, project-based learning experience. It is meant to empower the student to find their own answers - with help from a skilled teacher. (Download this PDF introduction for GenYES Advisors)
Quotes
"Megan was always excited to go to GenYES on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I don't recall a time she wasn't excited about going to GenYES.
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 GenYES as well in the future."
Kathleen McNamara - Parent
The GenYES Parent Experience
Your student is participating in an innovative program that has been proven to improve student learning through the use of technology. In the GenYES class or club, your child will learn both technology and people skills. Using these skills, they will work on projects with a teacher-partner that will enhance their own learning experiences and those of other students in the school. Depending on your school, your student may also participate in tech support, community service and other leadership programs. Through GenYES, students understand the contribution they can make to their schools and communities.
Students often come away from their GenYES experience with a sense of empowerment and greater understanding of their active role in the educational process.
You may experience GenYES as less structured than other classes, however, this is not unusual for a project-based class. Your child is learning valuable skills not only in technology, but in project management and collaboration. These are not things they can absorb in a lecture, but must learn by doing. You may see your child try to do things, such as programming, that you would not expect for their age. Don't be surprised when they exceed everyone's expectations, including their own.
Quotes
"It was a wonderful learning experience for me!"
"[GenYES] helped me become more comfortable working with technology because I feel confident my GenYES students can help me out when I'm in trouble."
"This has been a wonderful experience for myself. I can't wait to use what I learned with my class next year!"
Partner-teachers responding to NWREL evaluation studies
The GenYES Partner-Teacher Experience
Partner-teachers can be any teacher in a school who works with a GenYES student. They may request GenYES student help for simple technology tasks, for troubleshooting, or for longer, more complex projects. Many partner-teachers are initially leery about participating in GenYES. Will it take too much time? Will it be a waste of time? Will the student be able to do anything useful? And even worse, some teachers are "volunteered" without their consent. It may seem like another one of the endless schemes that just take up time and result in nothing.
However, if you are a partner-teacher with a GenYES student you will be participating in a program that has been carefully designed and developed to meet your needs. Your participation time is minimal - GenYES students are there for you when and where you need them. In time, however, you may come to rely on the support that GenYES students can provide.
In fact, 95% of GenYES partner-teachers (over 12 years) report that they consider GenYES a good method for providing support and assistance to teachers as they integrate technology into their classes, reported a desire to continue participating in the program, and said they would continue to rebuild lesson plans to benefit from using educational technology.
The IT Staff Experience
If IT staff in a new GenYES school is not aware of the new program, then they may initially be leery of students playing a role in technology integration. There is much to be concerned about: security, logistics, whether students will break more than they can fix, and just simply time.
It is usually the case that IT staff are happily surprised to find that the GenYES program is more carefully designed and more conservative than they expect. GenYES is not about giving server passwords to untrained youth or trusting students blindly. GenYES curriculum teaches students how to help teachers in ways that support the professional IT staff, not undermine them. Students can do a great deal to help teachers, and can help alleviate some of the lower level technology issues, allowing IT staff to focus on bigger and more important tasks.
Quotes
"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."
"We had some terrific projects completed, and when other teachers saw what our students had done, they wanted to know how they could be a part of our program."
"The staff has been very positive in their feedback and the waiting list of kids wanting into the class is huge. I think this says a lot about how well it is going."
Teachers responding to NWREL evaluation studies
In many schools, IT staff enjoy the relationship with GenYES students who are eager to learn more about technology and want to help. Building a technology team that includes students creates many benefits. Many GenYES schools report less hacking by students, as GenYES students serve to diminish the "us vs. them" IT standoff found in some schools. Along with the GenYES Advisor, the IT staff can view students as a way to leverage their own talents to better serve the technology needs of the whole school. The GenYES Implementation Guide contains several chapters of best practices for GenYES students who provide technology support covering security, precautions, recommended policies, student management, and more.
The Administrative Experience
Administrators are crucial to the success of the GenYES experience. Administrative support of the program will reap great rewards, including increased technology integration school-wide, additional student support resources to help your technology program, increased student involvement in the educational goals of the school and much more.
This is not a "quick fix" solution to all technology problems - nothing that really works every is. But taking the time and making the effort to support GenYES is worth it. As a company and as dedicated educators we are committed to your success. We invite you to attend the GenYES training session and use the resources of the GenYES support staff throughout the term of the class. We are here to help you in the support of your GenYES program and your school. (Download PDF - The GenYES Administrator: Keys to Success)
