TechYES TLC - Engaging, Project-based Student Technology Literacy Curriculum: Online activities and resources support middle school technology classes
FOR RELEASE June 2, 2009
Contact: Sylvia Martinez, President Generation YES
(888) 941-4369 x107
[email protected]
OLYMPIA, Washington, June 2, 2009 - Generation YES Corp., a leading publisher of student-centered technology programs, today announced TechYES Technology Literacy Curriculum, a new companion curriculum for the highly successful TechYES Student Technology Literacy Certification program.
TechYES Technology Literacy Curriculum, or TechYES TLC helps schools create relevant, engaging technology classes where students learn the 21st century skills they need to succeed in school and future careers. The curriculum is fully online, with customizable units and activities that teach students technology skills through fun and interesting activities. Targeted at grades 6 to 9, activities are aligned to the ISTE NETS technology standards for students. Combined with the TechYES Student Technology Literacy Certification, this new curriculum allows students to receive national technology literacy certifications by completing technology-infused projects. TechYES TLC will assist schools as they strive to meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) technology literacy requirement for all eighth graders.
Like all Generation YES programs, students are at the heart of the model. TechYES TLC includes a unit designed to prepare a group of student peer mentors to assist all students as they complete their technology-infused projects. Students are encouraged to use technology to become leaders in their schools and communities.
21st Century topics for 21st century students
TechYES TLC covers technology skills beyond most existing technology curriculum. Topics of special interest to students, such as video production, 3D modeling, animation and more are explored. Units include:
- Web safety, netiquette, cyberbullying, ethics
- Internet searching, copyright and citations
- Digital publishing - presentations, word processing, visual literacy
- Web publishing - websites and wikis
- Online collaboration - email, blogs, RSS, networks
- Media literacy
- Graphics - photography, drawing, art, animation
- Audio - editing, podcasting, music
- Video - production, editing, digital storytelling
- Computer programming
- Simulation and modeling
- Web 2.0
Sustainable - permanent license, no renewal fees
Each site license to TechYES TLC is a permanent license. There are no renewal fees and all upgrades are included. There is no limit to the number of student logins and student data can be archived at the end of every year.
Student and teacher online support tools
TechYES TLC includes student and teacher personal portals for easy access to the lesson plans, activities, and resources. In addition, online project tracking tools allow TechYES project planning and evaluation, while blogs and wikis allow students to document the success of their technology projects using 21st century tools.
Reports
TechYES TLC online tools offer access to customizable reports that track student progress towards technology literacy certification.
TechYES is research-based and a proven success
TechYES has been used in middle school classrooms in the United States and around the world for five years. In two independent evaluations, TechYES was found to be effective in teaching and assessing student technology literacy skills. TechYES appears on the website of several state educational technology departments as the only project-based technology literacy assessment available to middle schools. TechYES is also included in the The Partnership for 21st Century Skills Route 21 database of 21st century skills-related resources. The TechYES model was developed by Generation YES based on extensive research on the effectiveness of authentic, project-based learning, authentic assessment, peer mentoring, and student empowerment.
Premier partners
TechYES TLC includes a free premium subscription for Gaggle student email and recommendations for top creativity software applications for grades 6-9. Special activities and lessons are included for these "best of breed" applications. However, schools do not need to purchase any special hardware or software to use the curriculum. All activities are platform and OS neutral, and every TechYES activity contains suggestions for free software applications that may be used.
Partners include: CyberSmart! Education, Gaggle.net, Fablevision Learning, Inspiration Software, Inc., LCSI (Logo Computer Systems Inc), TakingITGlobal, and Tech4Learning, Inc.
Pricing and Availability
Permanent license - TechYES TLC is $2,500. No renewal fees. Future upgrades are included. TechYES TLC will be available from Generation YES in June 2009.
Generation YES
Generation YES programs teach and empower students to solve technology problems in their schools and communities. With a strong research base and 12 years of experience, Generation YES programs offer innovative solutions that engage students, benefit teachers, and support communities. Generation YES offers school-friendly online tools, innovative project-based curriculum, and customized support to schools seeking to include students as leaders, mentors, and collaborators in technology integration and literacy efforts.
Generation YES and TechYES are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Generation YES Corporation. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Learn more about TechYES TLC - Technology Literacy Curriculum.
