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Generation YES Express Winter 2010
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Greetings,
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It was an honor to be on Tech & Learning magazine's list of the 30 most influential people in educational technology over the past 30 years. The magazine is celebrating its 30th anniversary, something I remember well since I was one of the original editors of the publication when it was called Classroom Computer News. I guess this means that I am getting old!
Of course, this is certainly an honor, but I am really more excited about the next 30 years. The recognition that schools must utilize students' energy and proclivity with technology to take on more of the responsibility for transforming schools is becoming more widespread. So lets bring on the next 30 years - it is going to be a fun ride!
Forward...Dennis
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TechYES Technology Literacy Achievement Data Aligned to NETS-S |
You want quantitative data? We've got quantitative data! The TechYES model of project-based technology literacy has always been aligned to the ISTE NETS-S. Now Generation YES has gone a step further by developing a system that provides a proficiency score for all the NETS-S performance indicators and standards. These scores are based on a research-based and validated performance-based assessment methodology. Click here to download a description of the new TechYES assessment along with sample student, school, district, and state level reports. |
SMHS GenYES Rocks! Student techs showcase their talents (video)
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The GenYES students at Shadow Mountain HS in the Paradise Valley School District in Arizona produced this entertaining video showcasing how they collaborate with many teachers throughout the school. Check it out at their Vimeo site.
Here's what they say: GenYes is the ultimate tech group at Shadow Mountain High School! We
simply rock when it come to new tech and learning! In addition to tech
support for teachers and students, we are implementing educational and
social gaming in the media center, telepresence communication with
students, academia, scientists across the globe, developing interactive
Wii walls and more!
See more videos showcasing Generation YES programs at schools from all levels and subject areas on the Generation YES Vimeo channel.
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Maple Avenue Middle School students strive for TechYES
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Students at Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga, NY got some well deserved attention from their local newspaper, The Saratogian. "Sixth-graders in Tom Coons' computer class linger after the bell rings,
asking for passes to come back during their study halls and lunch
periods.The reason?They're excited to use mini Flip
Mino video recorders, digital photography, PowerPoint and computer
animation to create projects that will earn them national recognition
through "student technology literacy certification."Maple Ave. is one of 45 schools participating in the New York State Student Technology Leaders (NYSSTL) grant, funded with state EETT funding.
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What do the Virgin Islands and Anchorage have in common? Student empowerment!
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Virgin Islands and TechYES Generation YES founder Dennis Harper just returned from the Virgin Islands to launch TechYES into all the middle schools of the St. Thomas/St. John School District. This is part of a long partnership - Generation YES was developed through a five-year U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant (1996-2001) and the U.S. Virgin Islands was one of the early partners. Virgin Islands schools continue to use the GenYES program to this day.
Anchorage and GenYES Jumping from the Caribbean to Alaska, the Anchorage School District established the GenYES model in three middle and three high schools starting in January. In three days of intensive workshops, both students and GenYES advisors were prepared to assist faculty and staff of all six schools. Students are already helping teachers throughout the school day learn new applications and produce resources to use in their classrooms. Plans are in the works to expand GenYES into all 18 secondary schools in this large and diverse district.
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START it up!
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We've been working with a terrific
group of folks on an initiative called START - Service & Technology
Academic Resource Team. All the members of the team are working to
combine service learning and student-led support for technology in
schools.
Led by the Corporation for National Service (CNS)
with financial support from Microsoft, groups such as Generation YES,
MOUSE, CREATE, SWAT, and others have been working together for a couple
of months. Our mission is to figure out how to create more visibility
nationwide for student service learning in technology.
The START core team will initially be six schools.
GenYES school Winston Churchill Middle School from the San Juan School
District in California joins Tupelo Middle School (Tupelo, MS), Lower
Eastside PS 515 (New York), East Garner MS (Garner, NC), Parkway West
HS (Philadelphia), and Forest Park HS (Woodbridge, VA).
 The announcement in Washington DC featured a talk by Karen Cator, the new director of educational technology for the US Department of Education.
She then led a student panel in a discussion about how powerful the
intersection of technology and service learning can be. GenYES teacher
Jeff Darrow, from Winston Churchill MS flew out from California to
participate and we are extremely proud that Jeff and his students are
representing us in this effort. His district, San Juan, has several
GenYES schools, all doing wonderful work. So Jeff was not only
representing his school, but his district and all the GenYES schools
across the country.
Click here to see the video from Winston Churchill MSCoverage of START in the School Library Journal
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Upcoming events
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NCCE - Northwest Council for Computers in Education. Seattle, WA March 2-5, 2010. We will be coordinating a large group of GenYES students from districts all over Washington. These students will be taking photos and recording video, providing session support and general tech support for conference attendees. Stop by our booth at the entrance of the exhibit hall and meet some of these next-gen tech wizards!
CoSN - Consortium for School Networking - Washington DC. Feb 28 - March 3.
Constructivist Celebration @ MACUL - March 10, 2010. Pre-conference workshop on computers, learning, and creativity. Free creativity tools for every attendee! PETE & C - Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference. March 21-24 - Hershey, PA. Sylvia Martinez will be presenting on Student Leadership and Citizenship for the 21st century.
CRSTE Cyber Conference - online sessions and presentations from Feb 21-Mar 5. Sylvia Martinez will be presenting March 27 on Student Technology Leadership.
NAIS - National Association of Independent Schools, San Francisco, CA - Come visit us at Booth 239. March 24-26. Keynote! ACEC - Australian Computer Education Conference, Melbourne, Australia, April 6-9. Sylvia Martinez will be a keynote speaker.
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