Overview
“I never knew there were so many opportunities in the field of technology. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer but after this program, I want to be a game developer. This program really opened my eyes and has made me think more about my future.” – City Student TECH CORPS High School Student
“TECH CORPS Ohio provides a great opportunity to get out and work in the community. It gives the volunteers a chance to introduce children to the world of technology. TECH CORPS Ohio has been a great experience for me and I can’t wait until next year!” – TECH CORPS Ohio Volunteer
These are the “faces” of TECH CORPS – students, teachers and community volunteers working together to ensure that students get a technologically advanced education today to compete in the technology-driven workforce of tomorrow.
- By the year 2010, jobs in the technical and mathematical fields are expected to increase by 67%;
- Eight of the 10 fastest growing jobs in the U.S. are computer related;
- Ohio is ranked 12th in overall high tech jobs in the U.S.
In communities where access and exposure to technology and technical careers is more limited, we must have collaborative and focused efforts to help bring these skills to students. TECH CORPS Ohio addresses this issue head on by improving and increasing the effective use of technology in schools and communities through its national and local programs and by recruiting, training and supporting tech-savvy volunteers to implement these programs.
TECH CORPS Ohio is the state chapter of a national nonprofit organization that strives for a technologically literate society in which all students have equal access to the technology programs, resources and skills to enrich their education and allow them to compete successfully in the global workforce. TECH CORPS Ohio is the only program of its kind in the state and distinguishes itself through its People, Programs, and Partnerships.
- TECH CORPS brings new technology resources to students and teachers through national and state programs such as Student TECH CORPS, Camp IT, Camp Terabyte, City Student TECH CORPS and Girl TECH CORPS.
- TECH CORPS Ohio recruits and supports the tech-savvy volunteers from the community to advise and assist schools and organizations in the integration of new technologies.
- TECH CORPS brings education and industry leaders together who share a common commitment to ensuring all children have access to the technology skills to enrich their education and allow them to compete successfully in the global workforce.
Since its launch in 1999, more than 400 TECH CORPS volunteers have given nearly 15,000 hours in volunteer time, assisting thousands of students and hundreds of teachers in 250 schools around Ohio.
PROGRAM GOALS:
- Effectively engage technology volunteers to provide K-12 students and teachers with equal access to technology programs, skills and resources;
- K-12 students’ acquire a valuable and measurable set of technology skills to help them succeed in the classroom today and ultimately begin to prepare them for the technologically-rich workforce of tomorrow;
- Students increase their knowledge about the exciting and varied career opportunities in the technology
- Increase the number of students pursing technology-related degrees, certifications and careers.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
Students will:
- increase their understanding and knowledge of how to use technology to expand their own learning;
- develop positive attitudes and perceptions about the relevance of technology to their educational, personal and professional success;
- acquire new technology skills critical to a successful future;
- increase their exposure to professions where technology and technology know-how are core.
Teachers will:
- increase their skill and confidence using technology effectively and meaningfully;
- receive technical advice related to using technology as a teaching & learning tool.
Volunteers will:
- use their technology skills to benefit students, teachers and schools within their community;
- develop positive and fulfilling relationships with teachers, students, and staff at the schools.
How TECH CORPS Ohio does it?
In order to offer TECH CORPS Ohio programs to students, schools and organizations at no charge, TECH CORPS Ohio seeks sponsors for these valuable initiatives. We offer companies, foundations, individuals the opportunity to underwrite a TECH CORPS program in their own backyard, in communities where their employees live, and/or in areas important to their corporate marketing efforts.
K-12 schools and youth serving organizations are invited each spring to apply to participate in TECH CORPS Ohio programs during the upcoming school year. After sponsorship is secured, TECH CORPS Ohio will work to recruit tech-savvy volunteers from the sponsoring organization or the community to work with the organizations to implement their TECH CORPS program. At the beginning of the academic year, TECH CORPS Ohio will conduct a Start-Up meeting for the organization and volunteers and train them how to customize the program to meet their students’ needs. TECH CORPS Ohio will continue to provide ongoing support to the organizations and volunteers. TECH CORPS Ohio also offers programs to students in its computer lab located in the Gateway Health and Wellness Center in Columbus, Ohio.
TECH CORPS Ohio in Action
East Guernsey Local School: Student TECH CORPS®
In a district with only one person to maintain a total of 400+ computers as well as do other tasks that Technology Coordinators perform, Student TECH CORPS® (STC) is described as an “on-time life-saver” for the district. Students meet in homeroom and are able to check the STC Help Desk which allows them to correct some of the technical issues without assistance.
Upper Arlington, Tremont Elementary School: Managed Volunteer Program
A TECH CORPS Ohio volunteer visited the school once a week to teach a group of students how to use various technology applications and tools. The students learned how to use FrontPage to develop a school website.
Cleveland Municipal School District, Charles Eliot Middle School: Student TECH CORPS®
In this district middle school students utilizes the Student TECH CORPS curriculum and certification program to enhance their skills in their Technology Career Pathways class.
Franklin County, Ohio: City Student TECH CORPS
Since 2006, the City Student TECH CORPS program has engaged 300 students from more than 100 middle and high schools around Franklin County.
National Recognition: Girl TECH CORPS
Eva Bradshaw, a TECH CORPS Ohio volunteer, received the George W. Bush Presidential Award for her volunteer work with Girl TECH CORPS. Eva has been a volunteer with TECH CORPS Ohio since 1999.
Columbus Public Schools, Champion Middle School: Student TECH CORPS®
Certified Student TECH CORPS® students provide “just-in-time” technical support to teachers in their building. Students complete tasks such as setting up equipment as well as troubleshooting common technical issues.
Investing in the Future
“TECH CORPS is a great program that has benefited our school immensely. Through it, we’ve been better able to utilize the technology tools we have. Our TECH CORPS Ohio volunteer has spent several hours helping students as they prepare projects for class. Also, this program has augmented our professional development for teachers; Joe has assisted several staff members who wanted to integrate technology into their curriculum but just needed a little expert advice. We’re happy to have it.” - Teacher
“While computers help you do more work more quickly, when there are problems with your computer, it takes those productive hours back from you. My job at work is to solve people’s computer problems so that they can get back to doing their real work. Volunteering at West High School gives my company and me an opportunity to donate those same skills to school systems, which do not have the cadre of computer professionals on call all day. Having me to call on for technical questions or problems has meant that my already-busy teacher partners can focus on their REAL mission.” - Volunteer
“We had participated in student intern programs in the past and were not pleased with the experience but I am so glad that we decided the get involve with the City Student TECH CORPS program. The students were well prepared for the experience and the staff was extremely supportive. We look forward to having more children assigned to us next year, this is a great program!” - City Student TECH CORPS Summer Employer
A critical focus of K-12 education in Ohio is to arm students with the knowledge and skills that they will need to be successful in the career of their choice. Today, that career almost certainly involves the use of computers and on-line technology. Ohio leaders consistently voice great concern over the quality and quantity of the workforce available to area businesses. This concern is especially high for jobs involving information technology skills.
TECH CORPS Ohio helps to ensure that today’s students and tomorrow’s workers are equipped with the skills needed to be successful and productive members of the community. TECH CORPS Ohio makes it easier for corporations to get involved in the community by providing the management and coordination needed to make it possible for volunteers to participate in the program.
The need for individual and private sector support of TECH CORPS Ohio’s mission has never been more critical. TECH CORPS Ohio’s challenge is to create the capacity to aggressively and systematically to ensure all children in Ohio have access to the technology programs, skills, and resources to enrich their education and allow them to compete successfully in the global workforce.
Return on Investment
TECH CORPS Ohio’s 10 year track record has been characterized by: (1) strong localized success supporting educational leaders; (2) a proven process of turning the time and talent of information technology volunteers into training, tech support and thousands of dollars of savings for K-12 schools; and (3) a groundswell of need expressed by schools and businesses to mobilize technology volunteers to bring this support and programming into their districts and communities.
- For Students, a hands-on entrée to information technology and a valuable skill set that will serve them well into their lives and careers;
- For Schools, technologically-literate students and a valuable potential technology support resource;
- For Ohio, a cost-effective way to ensure that students get a technologically advanced education today to compete in the technology-driven workforce of tomorrow.
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