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Leadership
and Achievement through Technology Initiative:
Camp prepares students to become technology mentors
 Making
pizza isn’t a high-tech activity, but it was just the break
20-plus middle school students needed after a vigorous week
immersed in technology-related projects. The group spent
July 7-11 together at Student Technology Leaders Summer Camp
learning how to help increase the use of technology in their
school classrooms come September.
The one-week camp was part of HFM BOCES’ Enhancing Education
through Technology program, designed to create technology
mentors among teachers and students in participating
schools. These digitally-savvy students hope to tutor fellow
students in technology-related projects, while assisting
their teachers in learning and using new technology as a
teaching tool. The program helps meet the federal goal that
all students will demonstrate technology literacy by the end
of eighth grade.
 It
was a busy time for the students, according to program
coordinator Dominick Baggetta. “The pizza project was a fun
break at the end of a pretty intense week,” Mr. Baggetta said.
The camp agenda involved the completion of two
technology-related projects and their evaluation. The
students learned how to assess their own work, then how to
tutor and evaluate other students’ projects. They also
learned how to be a helpful resource for teachers looking
for ways to use technology as a teaching tool. Once the week
was over, the students were certified as Student Technology
Leaders (STL), ready to assist teachers and their peers in
finding new ways to learn with technology.
 Student
Technology Leaders are part of a state-wide network of
students committed to helping their schools prepare for a
world that uses more and more digital technology every day.
All middle school students in New York State will be
required to demonstrate their technology literacy by
completing two original, creative projects that involve
technology by the end of 8th grade.
Mr.
Baggetta explained that the technology projects could fit
into any subject area, or may relate to several subjects. A
student technology leader will assist the student in
developing their ideas, and offer guidance in carrying out
the project. In addition, the STL will help evaluate the
projects to determine if they meet all the requirements for
certification.
For further information, contact HFM BOCES Enhancing
Education through Technology Coordinator
Dominick Baggetta,
or Coordinator of Instructional Services
Stacy Ward.
To learn more about the Enhancing Education through
Technology program, click
here. |
