GenYES - Success Stories
Testimonials
- Parent
- Teacher
- Administrator
- Regional Educational Service Center
- Elementary School Partner Teacher
- Secondary School Partner Teacher
Failure of Traditional Professional Development Means We Need Innovative Solutions!
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.
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Stories from GenYES Schools
- Maryland Elementary School
- Arizona GenYES Schools Star on Apple Learning Interchange
- Dr. Dennis Harper - Notes on my visit to Washington Middle School
GenYES has successfully been implemented in hundreds of schools around the United States. GenYES classes impact students, teachers, and the climate of the school in positive, powerful ways.
"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
"We just had staff development at WMS and of course I included students (Tech TAs who were with me last year and/or GenYES/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 GenYES Teacher commenting on a technology workshop for the staff.
"By implementing the GenYES 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
"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
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 GenYES lets them integrate technology to improve student learning in ways that work for teachers, students, and tech leaders.
GenYES 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 GenYES.
GenYES 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.
GenYES 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 GenYES 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 GenYES 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 GenYES?
"My kids are SO excited about GenYES," says Kristi, whose whole class of 4th and 5th graders are involved. "They cheer when GenYES 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 GenYES 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 GenYES helps take that worry out of the picture!" comments Kristi.
Ryan sees how GenYES 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 GenYES 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 GenYES project in your school or district, contact Roxann Nys, CESA 7 Interactive Learning Services.
Elementary School Partner Teacher 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."
"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!"
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 GenYES 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."
Success Stories From GenYES Schools
Empowering Students as Agents of Change
Students at Delmar Elementary School in Maryland can't wait for the school day to end and the GenYES class to begin. Paid for by an EETT (No Child Left Behind) federal grant, the GenYES students are learning valuable leadership and technical skills. See more on how GenYES students are making their mark at Delmar Elementary.
Overview of GenYES Implementation
Two Arizona elementary schools offer an in-depth view on how they implemented the GenYES 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!
One Day In May 
- by Dennis Harper
It is an hour before school starts at Washington Middle School (WMS) in Olympia, Washington 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 GenYES model in action. This school has a remarkable track record of technology infusion, having had a GenYES class for over 8 years. On this one morning the following things were happening all around me...
- Two GenYES teachers have a group of about 25 students working on their nearly complete projects. Some students are putting the finishing touches on theirs so their partner-teachers could deliver yet another technology-infused lesson. Some partner-teachers are in the room helping their GenYES student complete the online Final Report. More than 25% of WMS has taken GenYES either at WMS or in elementary school. More than 200 students have signed up for next fall's 25 GenYES seats.
- Another instructor is facilitating a group of 23 GenYES veterans. About half the students are working with preservice teachers from The Evergreen State College. Today, some of these students are helping preservice teachers create a technology-infused lesson that they will deliver as part of their student teaching experience. Other GenYES students help critique web pages their preservice partners have created. The other half of these GenYES veteranas are doing advanced lessons with WMS teachers and administrators, community service projects, and learning advanced technology skills such as PHP programming.
- Another group of GenYES students are being interviewed by 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 GenYES 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. In an ongoing project with the Olympia Police Department, GenYES students 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. Everyone 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 GenYES 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. Every teacher in the school integrates technology fully into their lessons. At WMS, every teacher knows that about one-quarter of each class is made up of GenYES students who know how to provide technology support for teachers. At the end of the school day, GenYES graduates staff 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 available to students, WMS didn't have this at the start of the GenYES program either. The commitment 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 GenYES 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 magic wand, but the experience of those who have tried it shows that it is worth it.
Dennis Harper
