Tech- Savvy Students

"Creating Tech Wizards" by: Beth Breiner

The Technology Wizard Program, located in the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Pennsylvania, is a unique program that has been designed to help students grow in technology. This program is unlike any other program out there. It is designed to transform the delivery of professional development and change traditional instructional practice by cultivating a cadre of student leaders equipped to provide teachers with technology training and support. It was designed to not only let technology- savvy students’ thrive, but is also used as a learning resource for teachers in the classroom. In the first year of the program, only 6th and 7th graders were enrolled. This ensured growth in the program. But by the second year, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders were eligible to enroll. Each Principal in the area was asked to nominate 2 teachers from their school to be advisors to the Tech students. The teachers who were nominated were then asked to nominate students for the program. These students had to demonstrate a proclivity for technology. They also had to be willing to not only participate in the program, but also lead the program at times. This program was ready to launch in October 2007, with about 26 students enrolled. Towards the end of the program, the students were asked to make a commercial like film to show to each of their individual schools. The film was designed to persuade other teachers the benefits of using technology in the classroom. The students worked on both MAC computers, and PC’s. They were given video training for this assignment. Each student brought back to their classrooms: 3 concepts they have learned in the program, and 2 they would like to learn. This convinced teachers that the program was working, but there is still so much room for growth. By the end of the program, all of the technology wizards participated in or led at least two professional development trainings with teachers. This program has been a huge success, and I think we can learn so much from this program.

I would love to use this type of program in my classroom. I think when you give students the opportunity to become teachers, they feel a sense of importance, and become motivated to learn. I would love to have my students create video assignments based on our topics in class. I would mostly use this with older students, like junior high or high school students. They could create videos in a Political Science or Government class. They could create commercial like videos persuading their ideas. They could use this video project to express how they feel, and why they feel that way. I think this program is such a wonderful way to get kids involved and exited about technology. Technology is such a wonderful idea in the classroom, and it is becoming the future of education. When we give students the opportunity to lead these types of programs, I believe it can get everybody in education involved and motivated about learning.