School technology integration is
a complex challenge that is not easily addressed with a
single intervention. Although access to technology and
teacher training are important, other key elements are
necessary to ensure the effective use of technology in
schools. One such element is leadership, including that
of students. The TechWorld Charter School project of the
Advanced Technologies for Learning Laboratory (ATL) at
the Laboratory for Student Success (LSS), the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Educational Laboratory at Temple
University, seeks to cultivate leadership in high-school
students as they prepare for careers in information
technology (IT).
The project uses innovative methods to teach the skills involved in a
variety of technological areas, including Web
technologies, networking, and software development.
These methods are based on the framework created by the
National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET).
The NWCET—through extensive collaboration with IT
industry chief information officers, human resource
professionals, and managers—identified skill standards
in eight different career clusters in order to create a
common framework for IT career development programs.
The TechWorld Charter School in Washington, DC, has participated in the
project since early spring 2002, when a committee of
administrators selected a group of five students to
serve as IT training leaders for both their class and
school. The students were challenged to create a model
portfolio demonstrating their knowledge and skills in
one of the eight IT career clusters. Students could then
use the completed portfolio to apply for potential
employment and specific postsecondary school projects.
Johann Sarmiento, Director of the ATL, mentored a
selected group of students in their portfolio
development process and assisted in the online
publication of results.
Students enrolled in the design project presented a final snapshot of
their completed work to students during the first week
of June 2002. By sharing the knowledge and leadership
skills that they acquired through project engagement,
participants raised other students’ level of
understanding in this discipline. This model can be used
to inform others through replication and training in
their own school programs.
Project Supervisors:
Johann Sarmiento
ATL Director, LSS
Addie M. Johnson
Research Associate, LSS
Carolyn Jackson-King
Academic Officer, TechWorld Charter School
Student Participants:
Miles S. Burrell
Project Title: Database Development and Administration
Postsecondary School: Drexel University
Field of Study: Software Engineering
Jonn Campbell
Project Title: Web Page Development
Postsecondary School: Florida Tech or Purdue
Field of Study: Graphic Design/Architecture
Bryan Leach
Project Title: Technology Support
Postsecondary School: Bowie State University
Field of Study: Computer Science
John Woodland
Project Title: Graphic Design
Postsecondary School: Howard University
Field of Study: Architecture
Phillip Workman
Project Title: Object and Oriented Programming and
Event-Driven Programming
Postsecondary School: Undecided
Field of Study: Computer Science |
