TechYES featured in Rocky Mountain Telegram
Thirty students took their first step Saturday to becoming technology brainiacs during the first of eight sessions at an area middle school. Phillips Middle hosted the first session of an eight-week technology program for its sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. The program, Phillips Tech-YES, teaches the students how to incorporate technology into their everyday lives. >>read the article (PDF)
TechYES Success Stories
TechYES teachers and advisors talk about how the program works in their school.
"We know this is the direction if we are to truly have technologically literate students. TechYES is going to help us in just the way you imagined the program should work. Yes, that good. Thank you." - Denis Fitzgerald, Principal, Hale Middle School (part of the Freedom to Learn laptop program), Michigan
TechYES projects support school-wide use of technology - in every subject area
"I am amazed at what the potential some of our students had and was hidden! Not only do they love doing this, but they love helping others as well. My noon-time lab is now full every day! Several other teachers are requiring projects and we are able to combine our needs and the kids love talking about their ideas with each of their teachers. I think they feel they know they can do it and know how to get help. I love this." - Cindy at Wawona MS
"Our first student has completed two projects. She has created a graphic arts display. She used Adobe Photoshop to create some Computer Wallpaper and experimented with some special effects on photos. She then used PowerPoint to create a looped display to show her work. Her second project was a report on the planet Venus using PowerPoint." - TechYES Advisor, Evergreen Elementary, Washington
"Our 6th graders first project is a "Hypertext Literacy" project using PowerPoint. They are creating a suspenseful story with multiple endings, similar to the 1980 "Choose Your Own Adventure" books.
"We have started TechYES by working on math projects, and many students are creating games for primary students. I have four peer mentors, and they are helping teach technology skills to all the other students. The students love what we are doing and I am amazed by the project ideas they have come up with." - Carrie Newby, Concrete School, Washington
Peer Mentors are significant assets and future leaders
"Our peer mentors have really stepped up: Not only are they mentoring
weekly in the computer lab, but they are also creating powerpoints and
projects to help me with my presentations to the 7th grade students." - Sue at Sonora ES
"The TechYES program is being presented to three sets of students on a 12-week rotation. The chosen mentors in each of the rotations and I have worked closely together answering questions, helping students to edit their projects, and evaluating the finished projects." - California TechYES Middle School Teacher
"My peer tutors presented the booklets, went over all the ethics and explained to the best of their ability to my small class of 37. Other students were respectful and listened carefully. Then we went to the computer lab. The tutors broke the class into small groups and had their kids sit near them. For 60 minutes, every single kid was super engaged. I walked the room and said, 'I do not know.' The peers took over. It was amazing and I have had 8th graders come to me asking to participate." - Sheryl at Dunlap ES
"Peer mentoring works great. It took a little getting used to for the students and for me - we're all used to the questions coming to me! What a nice change to direct those to the peer mentors." Sherry at Coarsegold ES
TechYES allows personal expression and engages students
"We have viewed powerpoint presentations consisting of
30+ slides. (One had a presentation of 120 slides! He's heavy into
baseball and so diligently put together a comprehensive presentation of
all national baseball leagues and biographies of his favorite players on
each team!). We've also learned much about hunting, paintball, and
hockey--to name a few--through movies that were constructed and shared.
Some students have made outstanding brochures and business cards. All
and all I'm pleased with their efforts." - California TechYES Middle School Teacher
Students use real software and hardware
"The 7th and 8th graders are working on multiple projects using the Tech4Learning software, ImageBlender. One is creating a digital storybook on her poetry and another is creating a digital storybook on the history of the town of Denair." - Joseph Machado, Denair Middle School, California
It's the right way to teach and assess technology
"TechYES is very flexible--it fit right into our school's culture of high
tech, high standards, and performance-based assessment. I was able to have
120 students, half of our 6th grade, complete their TechYES Certifications
in about 12 weeks." - Marilyn Piper, Washington Middle School, Olympia, WA
