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Kids Build Computers -- and a Future
Discover 'What's in the Box?' Programs that teach students how to build,
repair, and maintain computers have become more commonplace as
school officials discover the growing need for workers with hands-on
technical skills. Learn about some of those programs in this
Education World story. Included: Four programs that
work!
Until this semester, all high school senior
Jonathan Hagar saw when he looked at a computer was a machine for
playing games and typing reports. He rarely though about what was
inside the cream-colored box. "Oh, boy. I don't know anything,"
Hagar remembers thinking the first time he opened a computer's hard
drive. By the time he finished fixing his first computer, however,
Hagar knew a great deal. Hagar and a few other students at the Sugar
River Valley Regional Technical Center (SRVRTC) in Claremont, New
Hampshire, took a course called What's in the Box? They found out
what makes computers tick -- or, in most cases, not tick.
SRVRTC director Jill Edson wrote a $15,000 grant to fund the course.
Students learn to repair computers and, in the process, have the
opportunity to become qualified as associates of the
Cisco Networking Academy. According to instructor Gary McKenney, the
program also saves the school district money. Students make repairs
that would otherwise be contracted out. McKenney conservatively
estimates that by repairing 60 computers donated by a local company,
his students saved the district almost $10,000. McKenney, who rarely
lectures to the class, says that most of what the students learn is
by trial and error. If there are problems he can't help them figure
out, there's always a manual lying around to refer to, McKenney
said. The problems the students deal with can involve anything from
hardware to software to cabling for individual computers. "We even
have some kids building computers from scratch," McKenney added.
GROWING NEED SPURS PROGRAM GROWTH
These days, the SRVRTC program is
hardly unique. Similar programs have become more commonplace as
school officials across the country discover the incredible
workplace need for workers who can repair computers. In a recent
New York Times article,
Schools Train Students To Staff
Computer Help Desks, Gerald C. Westfall, creator of a respected
student computer training project, estimated that 25 percent of
school districts in the United States have a formal computer
training program -- compared to about 2 percent just four
years ago. At
Marcus Whitman High School in Rushville, New York,
technology coordinator Paul Fletcher has watched that school's
technology club flourish during its brief three-year existence. The
formation of the club just seemed to be well-timed, Fletcher said.
The school district was about to acquire 170 computers through a
district-wide technology plan. A group of students expressed an
interest in learning how to build and repair computers. The two
endeavors simply merged. "It struck me that it would be a lot easier
if we built the systems ourselves," Fletcher said. Therefore,
instead of purchasing more-expensive already-built systems, the
school district saved about $23,000 by having technology club
members put together the computers from scratch. Fletcher, who until
a few years ago worked in multimedia in the private sector, said
workers with technology skills are badly needed in the workforce.
"There is a need for people with more hands-on skills," he said.
EVERYONE'S LEARNING!
Marcus Whitman High School senior Josh Stevens
wasn't sure what he wanted to do after graduation in June. After
hearing of the demand for computer technicians, he believes he might
have found his niche. Stevens remembers the first technology club
meeting he attended. A group of nine students spent five hours
rebuilding a computer. "I had never even taken one apart before,"
Stevens said. Club members now perform the same task in about a half
hour. Computers donated to the district and repaired by members of
the technology club are refurbished and returned to the community
-- preferably to low income families," Fletcher said. "It is
not a formally structured program. It is more of an experience-type
thing," he added. Because entrepreneurship is another important
aspect of the Marcus Whitman program, students are encouraged to
discuss problems directly with hardware or software suppliers. The
students are even giving pointers to their teachers. Stevens readily
acknowledged that teachers are often not the most computer-literate
people in the world. The most common question is why someone's
e-mail doesn't work, Stevens noted. The answer: "They are trying to
retrieve it from the wrong box."
BUILDING A FUTURE -- TODAY
In Massachusetts, the Malden School district, with the help of the
Massachusetts Department of Education, became a pioneer in
technology with the 1998 adoption of the non-profit program
Youth Tech Entrepreneurs (YTE). This program
prepares high school students for the future by helping them develop
computer businesses that benefit under-served communities today.
Students begin the YTE program in their sophomore year, making a
commitment to participate in the entire three-year program. During
that time, they attend classes and Saturday labs and participate in
after-school technology-based projects. According to the Web site,
the Malden students, who learn how to assemble and maintain
computers, have already saved the school thousands of dollars by
refurbishing donated computers. The program has been so successful
that it has spread to five other schools in eastern Massachusetts.
State education officials believe that, within the next five years,
more than 2,000 Massachusetts students in 25 schools will
participate in the program.
SERVING STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
In yet another program, a nationwide alliance has been formed under the
acronym StRUT, or Students
Recycling Used Technology. Through the program, founded in 1995 by
Intel Corporation and the Northwest Regional Education Service
District, students refurbish donated computers for use in the
schools. There are currently 21 StRUT sites in Oregon, with
additional sites in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Texas. One
of StRUT's goals is to work with businesses to reduce the barriers
preventing schools from accessing the Internet. The result: more
than 10,000 computers set up in classrooms and technology skills and
experience for nearly 1,000 students.
MEANWHILE, BACK IN CLAREMONT
Back in Claremont, the handful of students enrolled in What's in the
Box? wake from their slumber earlier than most students. The class
begins at 7:30 a.m.-five days a week. Jonathan Hagar, who admits he
was not computer literate before taking the semester-long course,
says the class is "fun." He also believes it will help him meet his
goals after graduation. In fact, Hagar, who can now format hard
drives, change directories, load programs, upgrade motherboards, and
eliminate viruses, already has a lot of relatives asking him to
troubleshoot their computers. Recently, three of the SRVRTC students
went to Concord, New Hampshire's state capital, to help upgrade
computers at a U.S. Department of Agriculture office. Because of the
students' assistance, the USDA donated 11 computers to the school
district, according to McKenney. "I am not surprised at how well the
class is going," SRVRTC director Edson told Education World. "There
is a huge future in the workforce for people with these skills."
ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES
- Computers 4 Kids Nonprofit educational initiative supplying computers to schools and organizations; donate, volunteer, or apply for a grant.
- PBS Kids: Techknow A cool cyberliteracy site for kids. Pass an interactive quiz and receive an official PBS Kids Web license, and learn how to judge Web sites.
- Wiz Zone Computers For Kids Inc. Courses for students aged from 3-93, Novice to Wizard.
Article by Ryan Francis
Education World®
Copyright © 2000 Education World
Please check out our other articles this
week:
03/13/2000
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