GENERATION YES

Don't forget, the federal stimulus funding known as ARRA may be disappearing soon, including Title 1 and IDEA dollars.

As they say, "use it or lose it!"

GenYES and TechYES student technology programs are excellent ways to use the one-time ARRA funds. By creating student-centered, student-powered tech literacy and professional development programs, you are building local capacity and empowering students and teachers.

These are innovative, achievement-oriented programs that will benefit schools for years to come, meeting all requirements for EETT, Title 1, and IDEA.

GenYES and TechYES are permanent licenses - no renewal fees!

Here's how to:

• Read more about using ARRA funds for student tech programs
• Download a flyer on funding student tech programs with Title 1 funds (PDF)
• Use ARRA EETT funds for GenYES or TechYES
  

Watch TEDxRedmond welcome video

TEDx Redmond is shaping up to be a great event!

Generation YES is a proud co-sponsor of this first ever TEDx event created, planned, and run by youth for youth under age 16. TEDx Redmond will be held September 18, 2010 at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond WA. Check out this list of impressive speakers:

• Jessica Markowitz - created a non-profit helping Rwandan children, especially girls, go to school.
• Brennan LaBrie - the youngest reporter at the 2010 Winter Olympics and a seasoned journalist at ten years old.
• "The Pink Polka Dots"--Maddy Berkman, Sierra Alef, and Kelsey Josund - Founded "The Pink Polka Dots Guild" to raise money for pediatric brain tumor research at Children's Hospital in Seattle after losing a friend to the disease. Over the past four years, they've raised over $250,000 for the cause.
• Jordan Romero - the youngest person ever to climb Mt. Everest as part of his "7 Summits" project--the goal of climbing the tallest summit of each continent.
• Maya Ganesan - a published author, blogger, and poet, also competes in spoken word competitions.
• Alec Loorz - founded Kids vs. Global Warming, an organization dedicated to encouraging other kids to speak up about climate change. Alex has given over one hundred and fifty speeches, presentations, and keynote addresses and serves on advisory boards for several organizations.
• Priya Ganesan - varsity tennis team member and pianist is not only skilled in mathematics (she's received awards at statewide and regional math competitions), but is also a prolific blogger and writer.
• Austin Gutwein - founded Hoops of Hope in 2004. Hoops of Hope has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through basketball free-throw marathons. Hoops of Hope funds emergency relief in Haiti, provides backpacks for children and mosquito nets for houses, and building schools, clinics and water systems in countries ranging from Kenya to India.
  

Moderated by Adora Svitak, author, speaker, and the youngest TED speaker, TEDx Redmond will be an event like none other.

Speakers and attendees are all youth under the age of 16. There are still spaces available - more information and signups are on the TEDx-Redmond website.

Please share this information with the youth of Washington State!

NEW WHITEPAPER - We are happy to announce the release of a new whitepaper written by Jonathan D. Becker, J.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.

This whitepaper takes a comprehensive look at the research, policies, and practices of technology literacy in K-12 settings in the United States. It builds a research-based case for the central importance of "doing" as part of technology literacy, meaning more than just being able to answer canned questions on a test. It also explores the current approaches to develop meaningful assessment of student technology literacy at a national, state, and local level.

Download Assessing Technology Literacy: The Case for an Authentic, Project-Based Learning Approach (PDF)