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Frequently Asked Questions

Program Logistics

  • How long does TechYES take? Hide

    TechYES takes about 20 hours of time for the student to go through the student guide, learn the technology it takes to go through two projects, create and evaluate the projects. More time may be required for students depending on their existing level of technology and how many peer mentors there are to assist individual students.

  • What does a typical timeline look like for an after-school program? Hide

    Typically, an after-school timeline follows the school year, beginning with recruiting the students in the fall and ending at least a month before school ends to avoid running out of time.

    If the students meet one hour a week, they can start in the fall with learning Internet safety and web critiquing skills in a few sessions and move on to learning about the technology available to them before the winter break. After the winter break, they should decide on their first project in January, and complete it in February or March. Then start on the second project and complete that by April or May.. You will have to work around your specific breaks and testing, and leave extra time for snow days, students that miss a session, and other unexpected occurrences.

    Many after-school programs start in January, and meet more often than once a week.

    There are many more details on planning and implementing after-school TechYES programs in the Implementation Guide that comes as part of the TechYES Starter Kit.

  • What does a typical timeline look like for a semester elective? Hide

    As part of a semester course, students can be assigned to work on the projects as a final assessment or final project. There should be class time devoted to the project process and introducing the Student Guide.

    If the class meets every day, TechYES can be introduced part-way into the class as a way to assess student technology skills using the project structure found in the Student Guide. The TechYES process typically takes about 20 hours, so it is not

    There are many more details on planning and implementing and assessment for in-class TechYES programs in the Implementation Guide that comes as part of the TechYES Starter Kit.

  • Can TechYES be the entire curriculum for a semester elective? Hide

    TechYES is not meant to be a full curriculum for a technology class. It typically requires about 20 hours to complete, and therefore is usually regarded as "supplemental" curriculum. For many teachers who are teaching technology classes, TechYES supports their project-based approach by helping students understand how to approach projects by breaking them down into simple steps. It may help to have a few lunch or after-school sessions where students can work on their projects for longer periods of time.

  • Can we do this as a quarter-long class or a rotation class? Hide

    Yes, TechYES can be used this way. Be sure to allow enough time for students to have time to work on their projects, work through frustrations, make mistakes and fix them. It may help to have a few lunch or after-school sessions where students can work on their projects for longer periods of time.

  • All our technology is integrated into the curriculum. Can I do TechYES as part of a class like social studies? Hide

    Yes, depending on the technology expertise of the teacher(s), you may want to partner with a technology specialist to come into the class to introduce available technology to the students. Peer mentors can also help students if available. It may help to have a few lunch or after-school sessions where students can work on their projects for longer periods of time.

    In these cases, it makes a lot of sense to have at least one of the projects tie into the class curriculum. Other ideas could be to have students create projects that teach the subject matter to younger students, create projects that could be put on a website for the community (such as a local history resource), or to tie projects into other school goals such as parent involvement (such as teaching family members how to use email.)

  • Should I send the Project Evaluation Forms in to your office? Hide

    No, the Project Evaluation Forms are for the TechYES student to record the evaluations done on his or her project.

  • Do I need to document the TechYES Certification process? Hide

    As you request Certificates for each student, you will be asked to verify that these students have completed the TechYES requirements. This online verification process will occur each time you request Certificates (or groups of Certificates). However, further documentation may be required by your school or district.

    If your school or district requires you to document student technology competency, you should decide what documentation you will save to verify that students completed the program. You may ask the student to cut the Project Evaluation Forms out of the Student Guide so that you have a record of the signed off project evaluation. However, it would be much better for the student to keep their Student Guide intact so they can take it home and keep it. If you need documentation, you might consider making copies of the Evaluation Forms, or keeping the TechYES Certification Checklist for each student on file.

Licensing

Being an Advisor

  • What do you mean by "Advisor"? Hide

    In a TechYES program, the Advisor refers to the adult in charge of the program. The Advisor has ultimate responsibility for the TechYES certification process and managing the logistics of the program at the local site. Depending on the site, the Advisor may be a teacher, community program leader, volunteer or parent. This role may be shared between several adults. We use the term "Advisor" to mean any of those options. The role of the Advisor is thoroughly explained in the TechYES Implementation Guide included in the Starter Kit.

  • What qualifications does an Advisor need? Hide

    Although TechYES Advisors should have some technology proficiency as they begin the TechYES program, it is not necessary that the Advisor be a "tech guru." It is, however, important to be familiar with the technology at the school or organization site, and know where to go for help. Since much of the TechYES program is about students finding answers on their own, Advisors should focus on facilitating that process.

  • I'm worried that I don't know enough about technology to be a TechYES Advisor. Hide

    There are qualifications that are more important than technology proficiency. It is important that Advisors:

    • Be open to saying, "I don't know, let's find out!"
    • Understand how to facilitate a dynamic, project-based environment.
    • Like and trust sudents.

    Advisors who are not proficient with technology can bring in guest speakers, recruit parents or volunteers who have those skills, and create an atmosphere where "not knowing" is part of every adventure. Peer Mentors are invaluable assistants who can develop areas of expertise themselves. An Advisor who is open to learning and willing to let others share the spotlight is an excellent model for Peer Mentors and students alike.

  • What does an Advisor need to do to prepare for TechYES? Hide

    The Implementation Guide and Advisor CD-ROM in the Starter Kit are invaluable resources for new TechYES Advisors. They include:

    • TechYES Quick Start Guide
    • Chapters on planning TechYES, deciding which model is right for your site and working with various stakeholders
    • Recruiting Peer Mentors
    • Research on aspects of TechYES
    • Reproducibles
    • Videos
    • Student and parent letters, contracts and more documents that can be modified for any site

  • I've just been told I'm the new TechYES Advisor, but I don't have any information or a password. Hide

    Please fill out a support request and we will get back to you quickly with more information. Please include your name, school name, and district name. Let us know if you have a full Starter Kit and what the product key is.

Getting Certificates

Projects

  • Can I require every student to do the same project? Hide

    This is not something we recommend. Allowing a variety of projects may seem like a lot of work, but this is why peer mentors are so important. One aspect of having a lot of projects is that students will learn from each other as they see each other creating and solving problems.

    If you think that your students will not be able to complete a wide variety of projects, a compromise may be to assign the first project in a more structured way, and then allow more variability in the choice of a second project.

  • Can I require that projects all meet some goal (such as teaching math?) Hide

    Yes. Many TechYES programs are also meeting other school or district goals such as improving math/science, parent and family communication, community involvement, or others.

    Projects can be completed in any language, as well ? another reason to find and train good Peer Mentors!

Peer Mentors

  • I'm not sure the students at my school or organization will be good Peer Mentors. Hide

    The Implementation Guide has complete information about starting and maintaining a Peer Mentor program. There are many options for running TechYES and you can choose the ones that meet your school's needs the best. You may opt for a smaller scale initial implementation to see if you can groom Peer Mentors in a way that works for you. Most TechYES sites have found that students respond very well to being given responsibility in a structured environment.

  • How much training does a Peer Mentor need? Hide

    Most of the time, peer mentors will be TechYES students, so they will not need to learn about the program logistics. The peer mentors should be brought together for at least one session to talk about their roles and review the Peer Mentor Guide found in the TechYES Starter Kit. Subsequent to that session, it is useful to have informal meetings with the Peer Mentors to talk about how they are doing and let them talk about their experiences. They will learn from each other's stories. The majority of the Peer Mentor training should be held informally, on the job, as they work with students. The training period for a Peer Mentor should include a lot of time spent with more experienced Peer Mentors or the Advisor until they are ready to become more independent.

    There is a much more extensive discussion of Peer Mentor training in the Implementation Guide in the TechYES Starter Kit.

  • How should I incentivize Peer Mentors to keep participating? Hide

    TechYES Peer Mentors should be treated like other student leaders at your school. Recognition, certificates, course credit, community service credit, and other privileges should be offered whenever possible.

Starter Kits and Student Guides

  • Do I have to register my TechYES Starter Kit? Hide

    The registration process will provide you with a password that will allow you to log into the Advisor section of the TechYES web portal, and to request TechYES Certificates when your students complete the TechYES requirements. After you register, you will be emailed a password for this account.

    The information you provide at registration allows us to provide you with good service and support, and to make sure we can send your TechYES Certificates promptly.

    The Advisor page of the portal will help you register your new TechYES Starter Kit. Your product key can be found on the first page of your TechYES Implementation Guide (the binder with the large checkmark on the cover).

  • I only gave out 20 Certificates last year and have extra Student Guides; can I use them next year? Hide

    Yes, extra Student Guides can be used in subsequent TechYES programs. The ability to receive Certificates does not expire. However, once your 30 Certificates have been issued, you must purchase more Student Guides to get more Certificates. Each Student Guide represents the ability to request one TechYES Certificate.

  • Someone gave me some Student Guides; can I run TechYES and get the Certificates? Hide

    No, you must have the Starter Kit to be able to issue TechYES Certificates. The Starter Kit contains important information in the Implementation Guide and the CD-ROM that you must have to run a TechYES program.

  • Can I make copies of the Implementation Guide? Hide

    No, the Implementation Guide is copyrighted material and is licensed to the one site that purchases the TechYES Starter Kit. Copies may not be made, except for specific sections of the Guide that are clearly labeled. These sections contain handouts and reproducible materials that can be used at the single purchasing site.

  • Can I just purchase Student Guides without the Starter Kit? Hide

    If you purchase Student Guides without a Starter Kit, you will not be able to register them and you will not be able to log in and get Certificates. The Implementation Guide contained in the Starter Kit contains important information about how to run the TechYES program. Since this is a certification program, it is important that Advisors understand the process and requirements for TechYES Certification.

Evaluation of Proficiency

  • Where is the test? Where is the checklist of tech skills? Hide

    Some educators looking at TechYES may be wondering where we hid the list of technology skills every eighth grader should master. Look no further. There is no such checklist.

    Tech skills are like a camel, a horse designed by a committee. Traditional approaches to computer literacy instruction diminish the intellectual and creative potential of this most powerful knowledge machine. When faced with the challenge of preparing students to be technologically literate by the end of eighth grade, teams of well-meaning adults embarked on a process of determining what an eighth grader should know. This inevitably leads to the construction of a bottomless pit of arcane tech skills in checklist form.

    Schools have the option of purchasing curriculum that turns using scrollbars into a four-year scope and sequence. Proclamations that all children will use a mouse leads to the inevitable questions, "One or two button"? "With or without a scrollbar"? Worst of all, such curricular approaches are needlessly technocentric. The focus is on the learning of isolated tech skills rather than on the application of tech skills to learn everything else.

  • How do I know what the students know if there is no test? Hide

    TechYES embodies a belief that teachers are best suited to make decisions regarding the educational needs of their students. No rubric can replace a teacher with an intimate knowledge of his or her students. Peer editing and collaboration contribute to a productive learning context for students and frees teachers from extra marking. TechYES models and embraces peer editing in an authentic context.

    Rubrics offer students a minimum standard they must transcend to satisfy someone else's assignment. TechYES students demonstrate technological fluency by constructing personally meaningful projects. These projects value audience and purpose, a quality lacking in more traditional forms of assessment.

    TechYES students will show what they know by constructing projects that reflect that knowledge.

  • Can I add other evaluations (such as keyboarding speed) to the program? Hide

    Yes, the local advisor or teacher is in full control of the certification process. Registering online at the TechYES web portal gives the teacher full access to tools to request certificates for qualified students. If there are additional local requirements that must be completed before you decide that TechYES cerfitication is given, you simply ask for certificates when your students have satisfied those conditions.

  • My state uses different standards than the ISTE NETs, can I still use TechYES? Hide

    Over 45 of 50 states in the United States have adopted, adapted, or referenced the ISTE NETs standards in building their own technology standards. Since local control is at the heart of the TechYES process, there is no problem with adapting the certification requirements to meet these standards.

  • This "authentic assessment" seems really time consuming, is it really worth it? Hide

    Extensive research done with authentic assessment practices shows that this type of assessment gives a far better picture of actual student understanding than typical testing practices. In addition, the immediate, personalized feedback that results from authentic assessment means that the student can see where they need to improve and can fix the problems.

    In fact, because there is no time needed to be set aside for testing and test review, authentic assessment may save time by focusing on the actual work students are doing.

    The TechYES Implementation Guide contains a chapter on the research supporting project-based learning and authentic assessment, and several chapters on how to do this type of assessment.