Research-based Technology

Literacy

Sylvia MartinezPresident, Generation YES

Youth & Educators Succeedingwww.genyes.com

Generation YESYouth and Educators Succeeding

GenYES – Students teach teachers about technology & provide tech support

TechYES - Student technology literacy certification through peer mentoring

TechYES Science - Student technology literacy through science projects

Empower students by including them in the process of improving education

Create project-based experiences that change student's lives

Increase student leadership in school and community

Improve the use of technology in the school as a whole

Research validation of the positive impact of student empowerment and inclusion

Technology Literacy Is Part of Technology Integration

Technology integration is hard

10 years of research shows:

teachers need more structured, predictable help

sustainable

replicable

not reliant on one person

We make it easier with research-based materials, resources and support systems

TechYES - Student Technology Literacy Certification

Designed for grades 6-9

Project-based, constructivist

Flexible for varied schedules

Develops 21st century skills

Builds sustainability through peer mentoring

Local control, national certification

Student materials lead students through process

NEW - TechYES Science. Technology literacy through science projects

TechYES GoalsAssist schools in meeting the NCLB goal of ensuring every 8th grader is technology literate

Link the required projects to school curriculum and the community

Provide a vehicle for students to take responsibility for their own learning

Provide leadership and mentoring opportunities for students

Close the digital divide

LogisticsStudents are required to do two projects that meet criteria correlated to ISTE NETS

Gather -- Organize -- Construct -- Share3 stage evaluation - self, peer mentor, advisorProjects can be personal, for a class, or community

Peer mentors and students meet to tutor and evaluate in class, before/after school or lunch

Advisor monitors tutoring and evaluation sessions

Peer mentors meet for training and group activities

Advisors upload names for certificates

Peer MentorsKey to student ownershipAllows more varied projects, languages, technologyRelieves advisor/teacher of overwhelming evaluation dutiesProvides student leadership opportunitiesTechYES Peer Mentor Training Guides and training plan included

Verizon funded - 45 middle schools, 10,000 students participating. Study targeted underserved Hispanic and Asian populations in Calif. Central Valley.Schools implemented TechYES with from 20 - 300 7th gradersOne advisor and 5 peer mentors were trained in a half-day workshop.A few after-school programs.Some in a tech elective class. Most schools do not have a required tech class. Largest school had all 7th grade social studies classes participate with a peer mentor assigned to each class.

Case Study - CA Technology Literacy Project

Student Technology Skill LevelsKnows well or expert (according to TechYES Advisors)

SoftwareHardwareNetworkNet SafetyWeb Eval.

Tech SkillsTutoringEvaluatingLeadership

Peer Mentors SkillsKnows well or expert (according to TechYES Advisors)

Advisors reported gains in their own confidence and ability to teach in a constructive, collaborative way

Reinforces best practices for technology

Gives teachers a flexible structure to work within

Supports the project process

Supports use of existing technology INTEGRATED into life and school

Independent evaluation at www.geny.org/verizon

Case Study - CA Technology Literacy Project

You May Ask...

Where is the skill checklist?

If everyone is doing something different, how do we know what they know?

If you don’t give them all the same test, how do we know what they know?

Do we have time for all this authentic assessment?

The state wants numbers

?

The Trouble with Checklists and Tests

Immediately out of date

Never enough, yet drive student work to lowest common denominator

Tied to applications

Checklists drive the assessment multiple-choice tests prescribed projects

The people who make these lists don’t know your kids, your context, your culture, your community

Tests signal the end of learning

Automated “Performance-based” Assessment Not an authentic use of technology

Fake environments

Office, office and more office

Is only a test - where do students learn? What happens when students don’t pass?

Not integrated into everyday life and schoolwork

No real feedback to student when they need it

Skills do not transfer

Authentic Assessment Deep and rich research-base

Allows more complex projects and supports the project process

Allows wider range of projects, languages, abilities

Tied to 21st century skills

New ISTE NETS standards includes creativity. Can you test for creativity?

If you need numbers, review sample projects and score them

More Than Tech Literacy - A Base to Build On

Stakeholders

Evangelists

Publicity

Students - 92% of school population

What did you DO today?

Gateway to parents and those who pay the bills

Positive messages about kids

Fend off steady diet of media hype, scare tactics and misinformation

Research-based Technology Literacy Certification

Should support your vision of technology literacy

Integrated into the rest of the school

Students must show literacy on real, existing technology that they actually have access to in real life

Must TEACH, not just test. There is no such thing as “just assessment.”

Should lead to deeper experiences and opportunities for students

Contact Information

Sylvia Martinez

www.genyes.com

sylvia@genyes.com

TechYES Student Portal

www.techyes.net