If we want students to succeed in a global economy, we need to provide them with access to technology in the schools. This may be via BYOD or school purchases. Either way as more and more schools are able to purchase devices, they are now struggling with models to put in place to support the hundreds of devices being used by students and staff.
A well thought-out model for instructional and hardware support is necessary for success. This includes the development of Student Support Teams to create and maintain a successful 21st Century environment. These support teams are made up of students who will provide instructional and hardware support around 21stCentury tools, skills, and hardware. They are great for students because they help them to begin developing a passion and expertise in using and teaching technology skills which they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. They are great for schools, because it allows them to utilize their best resource to support instruction…their students.
While schools realize the importance of the development of such teams, they often struggle with where to begin in launching such a team. Some technology-rich schools are creating Student Support Teams called iSquads designed to improve a school's capacity to integrate technology into teaching and learning.
Come Up with a Plan -
Download the iSquad Student Tech Support Team.doc to begin developing your vision for your iSquad. To see what some other schools plan to do visit iSquad Fact Sheets.
Download the iSquad Student Tech Support Team.doc to begin developing your vision for your iSquad. To see what some other schools plan to do visit iSquad Fact Sheets.
Develop a Common Definition of What A Student Support Team Is At Your School -
Student support teams vary from school to school. What will your Student Support Team be?How will you develop a common language in your school to share with students, staff, and parents. Once the definition is set be sure to use it in all flyers, correspondence, posters and other materials.
Student support teams vary from school to school. What will your Student Support Team be?How will you develop a common language in your school to share with students, staff, and parents. Once the definition is set be sure to use it in all flyers, correspondence, posters and other materials.
Designate a Student Support Team Adviser(s) -
Your school should designate a Student Support Team Adviser fully responsible for the implementation of the program. This will include recruiting students, determining the schedule for meetings, teaching students, ordering shirts and/or lanyards for team members and more.
Your school should designate a Student Support Team Adviser fully responsible for the implementation of the program. This will include recruiting students, determining the schedule for meetings, teaching students, ordering shirts and/or lanyards for team members and more.
Determine When Teams Will Meet -
Think about when your Student Support Teams will meet. Does this program occur during or outside of school hours? Here are some options that schools are implementing:
Think about when your Student Support Teams will meet. Does this program occur during or outside of school hours? Here are some options that schools are implementing:
Before or After School Program: Teams meet before or after school 1 – 3 days a week.
--Schools allocate funding to compensate the Student Support Team Leader.
Lunchtime Program: Teams meet during lunch 1 - 5 days a week.
--The Student Support Team Leader has a schedule where student’s lunch periods are working period for the Team Leader and the Team Leader has a lunch break before or after the students.
Saturday Program: Teams meet on Saturdays for a select number of hours.
--Often teams meet on select Saturdays across the year and special field trips (i.e. Sony Wonder Museum
--Schools allocate funding to compensate the Student Support Team Leader.
Cluster / Special / Talent Program: Teams meet during the week as a scheduled class.
-Because this program emphasizes career development, leadership, and 21st Century Skill development, many schools have incorporated a Student Support Team class as an elective in their school program.
-Because this program emphasizes career development, leadership, and 21st Century Skill development, many schools have incorporated a Student Support Team class as an elective in their school program.
Establish a Trouble Shooting Ticketing System -
Put a ticketing system in place that allows school members to report issues anytime from anywhere that can be accessed by the Student Support Team Advisor and Student Support Team members. Google forms is a terrific and free tool for this and all data is time stamped and populated directly into a spreadsheet. See this Sample Ticket Report form for ideas of what you may use at your school.
Put a ticketing system in place that allows school members to report issues anytime from anywhere that can be accessed by the Student Support Team Advisor and Student Support Team members. Google forms is a terrific and free tool for this and all data is time stamped and populated directly into a spreadsheet. See this Sample Ticket Report form for ideas of what you may use at your school.
Determine Services Your Student Support Team Will Provide -
There are numerous types of services your Student Support Team can provide. Ensure you have clearly laid out what this will consist of at your school. The answer to this question should be derived through conversations with staff and teachers. You may also choose to start simple and grow in the services you provide over time.
There are numerous types of services your Student Support Team can provide. Ensure you have clearly laid out what this will consist of at your school. The answer to this question should be derived through conversations with staff and teachers. You may also choose to start simple and grow in the services you provide over time.
Think About Your iSquad’s Goals and Benefits? -
Schools should have a clear and distinct awareness of the goals and benefits of having an iSquad. Think about what your goals and benefits are. You can visit iSquad Goals and Benefits to take a look into goals and benefits realized by other schools with Student Support Teams.
Schools should have a clear and distinct awareness of the goals and benefits of having an iSquad. Think about what your goals and benefits are. You can visit iSquad Goals and Benefits to take a look into goals and benefits realized by other schools with Student Support Teams.
Access a Bank of Lessons -
Faculty advisors have created a bank of iSquad Lesson to implement with Student Support Teams. These are hands-on lessons that take place in 45 minute periods and address a variety of topics from customer service to connecting laptops to the internet, to setting up a SmartBoard and using the help menus in Word, PowerPoint and Excel. To gain access to this private space you must request membership and indicate the reason you are interested in joining.
Faculty advisors have created a bank of iSquad Lesson to implement with Student Support Teams. These are hands-on lessons that take place in 45 minute periods and address a variety of topics from customer service to connecting laptops to the internet, to setting up a SmartBoard and using the help menus in Word, PowerPoint and Excel. To gain access to this private space you must request membership and indicate the reason you are interested in joining.
Professional Development -
See if professional development is offered in your area to help schools set up a Student Support Team.
See if professional development is offered in your area to help schools set up a Student Support Team.
Visit Other Schools with Student Support Teams -
Find out who already is running Student Support Teams in your area and set up a visit to one or two of these schools. At the school you can speak with the person running the program and ask to sit in on a meeting with the Student Support Team. You should have questions prepared in advance to ask them. You may want to bring a couple students with you on the visit. At the NYC DOE some ways you can find out who has Student Support Teams is to ask your Borough Instructional Technology Specialists which schools in your area have attended iSquad professional development.
Find out who already is running Student Support Teams in your area and set up a visit to one or two of these schools. At the school you can speak with the person running the program and ask to sit in on a meeting with the Student Support Team. You should have questions prepared in advance to ask them. You may want to bring a couple students with you on the visit. At the NYC DOE some ways you can find out who has Student Support Teams is to ask your Borough Instructional Technology Specialists which schools in your area have attended iSquad professional development.
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