| Silver
Beach Elementary School
Service-learning
Project: Technology Tutors
Early
in the fall, during library class time, students in grades four and five
are given the opportunity to apply to be Tech Tutors. This job involves
helping Primary teachers, with their classes, when they come to the computer
lab. The students must explain, why they would like to be a Tech Tutor
and agree to keep up with their class work when they are in the lab. Eight
students from each class are selected based on their letter, their teacher's
approval and an attempt to keep the group gender equitable.
The students in each class are responsible for assigned classes during
the week. They talk with the Primary teacher and find out what lesson
the students will be participating in and if they need to set anything
up for them. The students are also "on call" to help trouble
shoot problems on other computers around the school.
Tech Tutors are given special training in application software, printer
connections and other technical issues. They also learn about helping
younger students and how to direct them rather that do things for them.
Another element of this program is our Senior Citizen training. We have been doing this program for 6 years.
This past year we have held sessions for over 75 seniors and taught them
how to do basic skills on the computer. The Tech Tutors won an award in
1999-The Golden Rule Award- for their volunteer service to our school
and to the community. They have
also received the "Heart and Hand Award" from the Whatcom Volunteer Center,
the "Best Practices in Community Relations Award" from the Fourth Corner
Uniserve and a national award for exemplary public relations activities
from the National Public Relations Association.
This program has been featured in national publications such as
the ASCDA and in a program shown to all school administrators from the
Tech Alliance. We have been the recipients of many Bellingham School District Awards
as well and featured in our local news media on many occasions.
We
are proud of our Tech Tutors, who sometimes miss recess in order to help!
Comments from teachers indicate that the program is working, well.
This
program was created and implemented by Darlina New, Library Media Specialist
at Silver Beach Elementary.
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