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Youth and Educators Succeeding
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November 2008
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Dear ,
A couple weeks ago I spent a week in Indonesia and Malaysia working with educators in the Ministries of Education to establish the Malaysian and Indonesian Student Technology Leaders program (see related story below).
In 1983/84 I was on the faculty of the National University of Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur. There I established the first program to prepare teachers to integrate technology into Malaysian schools. Of course, I had to go back to see if the computer lab was still there. Gone were the Atari 800 computers, but as this photo shows, teachers continue to use the lab.
When in Indonesia, I couldn't help but think that president-elect Obama attended schools here for four years while growing up. My own children spent much of their education attending local schools throughout the world. Not a bad preparation for life!
Forward... Dennis
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New Video -- TechYES in Action
Lots of people tell us that they love TechYES and our philosophy of project-based technology literacy assessment. But they need to figure out ways to show others that this kind of authentic assessment is possible and really works! So, here it is, TechYES in Action. This is a short video showing real students and schools using the TechYES model. It explains how student technology literacy assessment is not only possible, but superior to standardized tests in technology. Let us know if this is the convincing argument you've been hoping for! >>TechYES in Action Video
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Malaysia Student Technology Leaders
The Malaysian Ministry of Education has established 250 "Smart Schools" with a 2:1 student to computer ratio and lots of modern technology and applications. Malaysia also has 90 vocational schools where ICT is a major course of study.
Generation YES is partnering with Indonesia-based LabTech to establish the Malaysian Student Technology Leaders in each of these 340 schools. Based on the successful New York State Student Technology Leaders, pilot studies will commence in January in both Smart Schools and vocational institutions. Students will use both the GenYES and TechYES models to make maximum use of their technology investment.
If you are interested in finding out how to establish your own Student Technology Leadership club, contact us online or give us a call!
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Cobb County Georgia Schools Implement TechYES Science
All 419 6th grade students at Lindley 6th Grade School will complete two technology-infused science projects to show they are technology literate. Using the new TechYES Science program, a team of 40 student mentors will work with the science teachers to help all the school's 6th graders complete the projects. These peer mentors will also assess the projects to ensure they meet both ISTE and Cobb Country technology standards. In addition, 390 7th grade students at the Lindley 7th and 8th grade campus are working on TechYES certification with the help of 40 peer mentors at that school. Science and technology literacy - the perfect partners!
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Students, Teachers, Parents and Administrators Speak Up!

Announcing Speak Up 2008: Oct 27 - Dec 18, 2008
Since inception, Speak Up, the national online research project
facilitated by Project Tomorrow, has collected the viewpoints of over
1.2 million students, educators and parents on key educational issues
and shared them with local and national policy makers.
This is your opportunity to have your students, teachers, administrators and parents participate in the local and national
dialogue about key educational topics including: technology use, 21st
century schools, science and media/information literacy.
For registration information, click here.
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New York City Educators...TechYES Purchasing Made Easy!
New York City Educators - Now you can get TechYES and TechYES Science easily through the "one-click" FAMIS e-catalog system. Download this PDF for item codes and instructions. TechYES is the ONLY project-based way to meet New York requirements for 8th grade technology literacy assessment. We'd be happy to share stories of other New York City schools already using TechYES with great success. Codes can also be found online through our partner, Tech4Learning - click here (and scroll down).
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Futurework 2020 - Jobs of the Future Contest
Futurework 2020
is a new contest for students in Middle and High School. Winning
entries will be creative descriptions of new jobs that will be
available in the year 2020 that are not available today.
Futurework 2020 is sponsored by the Thornburg Center for Space
Exploration, a new venture by ed tech pioneer Dr. David Thornburg. The
Center's mission is to inspire students and improve STEM education
through the design and implementation of an international multi-year
elective or after-school program on Space Exploration.
Contest Deadline: Jan. 31, 2009 >>More details here
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Working with Tech-Savvy Kids article in Educational Leadership
This month in Educational Leadership - Working with Tech-Savvy Kids (abstract) by Sylvia Martinez and Dennis Harper. (page 64)
Today's students are increasingly savvy about the role technology plays in modern life.
Yet schools are not keeping up. Students can be valuable resources in
the areas of training and support. Five models have emerged that
balance the benefits of service learning and leadership with the needs
of schools struggling to integrate technology: students as committee
members, students as trainers, students as technical support agents,
students as resource developers and communicators, and students as peer
mentors and leaders.Sorry, but this article is not available online!
However, this topic is a workshop session or keynote available from Sylvia Martinez. Give us a call if you'd like to find out more.
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Constructing Modern Knowledge - Summer Institute Announcement Computer-rich learning adventures for creative educators to feature Herbert Kohl and Deborah Meier
The second annual Constructing Modern Knowlege Summer Institute is now open for registration! The 4-day institute will feature some world-class speakers and lots of time for educators to work, play, and explore with technology. Be sure to register soon, with this speaker lineup in a small, initimate setting, this event will sell out fast!  
NEW - MATH/SCIENCE EVENT. A one-day Constructing Modern Knowledge event will be held in January in Philadelphia and focus on math/science and technology. This will be held as a pre-conference of the Educon 2.1 "unconference" at the Philadelphia Science and Leadership Academy. Register for one or both - spaces are going fast! More information here
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