Generation www.Y
General Overview
Generation www.Y (originally Generation WHY) is a Technology Innovation Challenge Grant
project of the Olympia School District in Olympia, Washington. Generation www.Y employs a highly
innovative format to increase the integration of modern technology into the
school curriculum. Students are trained in the
use of computer technology and in basic pedagogical skills. These students are then
paired with teachers of traditional subjects to produce collaborative projects which are
incorporated into lesson plans. After graduation from the program, GenY students may
provide educational technology instruction for pre-service teachers, serve as staff in community computer labs,
continue helping teachers update their lesson plans, or provide other forms of community service.
Core outcomes
A number of specific outcomes are targeted directly by the Generation www.Y model:
Student Computer Literacy
Generation www.Y students are expected to gain fluency in a variety of computer and pedagogical skills,
including the use of email, internet use, web searching, web page construction, child safety
and netiquette on the internet, graphics and presentation software, working in collaborative
teams, project planning, and assessment of classroom projects.
Technology-Enriched Lesson Plans
Teachers participating in the program are expected to increase their integration of
telecommunications technology in their lesson plans and courses, not just during the Generation
www.Y semester but on an ongoing basis. Projects created by the Generation www.Y students in
collaboration with their teacher partners may be used repeatedly in future semesters, and may
be regularly updated or extended by students and/or teachers for use in general classroom
instruction.
A Collaborative Community of Learners
Both the Generation WHY students and the teacher-partners are expected to learn and practice
skills related to collaborative teaching and a learner-oriented, participatory, project-focused
educational approach. This experience is intended to foster communication and teamwork skills
across diverse levels of age and experience as well as among participants of differing cultural
backgrounds. By working in teams with teachers to produce technology-enriched lesson plans,
students hopefully develop a sense of ownership of the school and the learning process, as well
as developing an understanding of how productive work is accomplished in a team environment.
Likewise, teachers may have a new experience while working with students as productive partners
and team members, rather than merely as objects of the educational process.
Extended outcomes
In addition to the core outcomes above, the Generation www.Y model includes a number
of long-term goals and optional components which may or may not be directly addressed in a
particular time frame in a particular school:
Computer Literacy for Working Educators
Teachers paired with Generation www.Y students are expected to gain increased familiarity,
skill and comfort with the use of educational technology. However, direct training of teachers in
computing skills is NOT a goal of Generation www.Y. In fact, the model is designed to decrease
the necessity for teachers to become expert in computer use, allowing teachers to focus on teaching
while students themselves become the prime movers of technological innovation in the school. In
this model, teachers focus on how technology can improve lesson plans, while students handle the
details of software applications. Teachers may or may not choose to learn a lot about the
technology details, but they are expected to gain increased awareness and acceptance of the possible
uses of technology in education.
Computer Literacy for a New Generation of Teachers
Generation www.Y students are hosting educational technology courses for preservice
educators in teacher training institutions. As a result, pre-service teachers are expected to begin
their teaching careers more prepared to integrate technology into their own teaching.
Improved Learning for All Students
The Generation www.Y model is intended to rapidly increase the integration of modern computer
technology into the K-12 classroom, by teaming students who have technology skills with educators
who are trained in pedagogy and specific content areas. The model does not specifically target math
education, language arts, or any particular content area of the traditional curriculum, and cannot be
expected to have an immediate impact on achievement in specific subjects. At the
present time, computers and "engaged learning" methods are still relatively new, and it is as yet
unclear how these tools can best be used to achieve the ultimate goals of education -- improved
student learning. However, to the extent that Generation www.Y is able to "jump-start" the evolution
of educational technology and collaborative learning in the classroom, over time this should
translate into improved teaching and a positive impact on learning and achievement outcomes.
Community Service
Some graduates of the Generation www.Y program serve as staff in community computer labs,
where they assist other students as well as family and community members with increased access to modern
information processing and communication tools. Others have continued to partner
with teachers in their district to produce technology enriched lesson plans; some have gone on to
help district or state administrators or other community organizations to make better use of information
technology.
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