Generation YES

Generation YES (Youth and Educators Succeeding), is a U.S. non-profit organization that works with schools around the world to empower underserved students and ensure that technology investments in education are both cost effective and meaningful. Dennis Harper is the founder and CEO. Generation YES programs focus on student centered, project-based learning "experiences that impact student's lives and increase student involvement in school and community through the use of technology. In addition, all Generation YES programs improve the use of technology in the school as a whole."

This article is about the U.S. non-profit organization. For the Irish youth movement, see Generation Yes.
Generation YES
TypeNon-profit
IndustryEducation
FoundedOlympia, Washington (1995)
HeadquartersTumwater, Washington
Key people
Dennis Harper, Founder & CEO. Victoria Bawn, President
ProductsSee program listing.
Websitewww.genyes.org

History

Generation YES was founded by Dr. Dennis Harper in 1995 when he was a technology director for the Olympia, Washington school district. He wrote a United States Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant proposal to develop an initiative to involve children in the acceptance of technology in curriculum.[1] The grant was approved in 1996 for five years, concluding in 2001.[2]

Currently, the organization is a 501(c)(3) supported by schools and partnerships with other organizations to develop customized student technology programs.[2][3]

Programs

Today, Generation YES provides K-12 schools across the U.S. with two foundational programs. GenYES (originally known as Generation www.Y and Generation WHY) has students assist teachers as they integrate technology in classrooms. These students are denoted as Student Technology Leaders. Student Technology Leaders are then partnered with teachers to support efforts to integrate technology in classrooms by doing hardware and software support and even designing professional development.[4][5]

TechYES focuses on students completing project-based learning activities demonstrating their technology literacy and Common Core competency. In this program, Student Technology Leaders assist other students with the technology elements and initial assessments of projects.[6]

According to Generation YES, more than 1,000 schools are currently using their programs.[7]

Awards and recognition

In 2000, GenYES was awarded one of two "Exemplary" designations by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Educational Technology Expert Panel.[8] The ED then wrote a publication about Generation YES and its status, reporting that,

Reviewers were impressed by the creativity of [GenYES in] creating a role reversal in which students help support the school's technology infrastructure and partner with teachers in curriculum development.[9]

In 2003 Generation YES was named "Rookie of the Year" at the EdNET Industry Awards. Founder Dennis Harper has also received numerous accolades due to his work related to Generation YES.

The company and its programs have been featured in numerous important education publications, technology industry magazines, and academic journals. Edutopia, a respected progressive education magazine published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, has interviewed a www.Y program support specialist in 2001,[10] and subsequently featured Generation YES twice.[11][12] Other publications, including Educational Leadership[13] and T.H.E. Journal,[14] Curriculum Review[15] have highlighted GenYES as well.

In 2005 the Encyclopedia of Distance Learning wrote that,

Generation YES... prove[s] that the nearly 50 million students in our schools are ready to become our nation's most plentiful and critical resources for educational reform and improvement... Students in GenYES have worked magic... they have made schools places that students want [original emphasis] to be...[16]

References
  1. "GenYES History and Philosophy". Generation YES. n.d. Archived from the original on 2007-03-18. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  2. Stefanie Olsen (April 26, 2006). "When digital kids rule the classroom". CNET News.com. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  3. Gwen Solomon (June 16, 2003). "Great Expectations, Limited Resources: 12 Tips on Doing More with Less". TechLearning. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  4. Karen Thomas (August 6, 2001). "Students tutor teachers in tech". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  5. (nd) GenYES. Generation YES website. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  6. (nd) TechYES. Generation YES website. Retrieved 7/13/07.
  7. "About GenYES". Generation YES. n.d. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  8. "Exemplary & promising educational technology programs (2000)". Learning Technologies Division, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. September 8, 2000. Archived from the original on 2006-01-02. Retrieved 2006-01-18.
  9. "Generation www.Y: Exemplary and Promising Educational Technology Programs 2000" (PDF). Learning Technologies Division, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. March 15, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-01-12. Retrieved 2006-01-18.
  10. James L. Smith (9/1/2001). "James Smith on Teacher Preparation". Edutopia. Archived from the original on June 22, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. John Blyler (June 2005). "Angels in the Network Architecture". Edutopia. ISSN 1552-9029. Archived from the original (– Scholar search) on January 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-01-18.
  12. Sara Armstrong (September 1, 2001). "Turning the Tables -- Students Teach Teachers". Edutopia. ISSN 1552-9029. Archived from the original (– Scholar search) on January 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-01-18.
  13. "Students teaching teachers". Educational Leadership. 54 (6). March 1997. ISSN 0013-1784.
  14. "Keeping Tech Support in Step with Technology". T.H.E. Journal. Technological Horizons in Education. November 2005. ISSN 0192-592X. Archived from the original (– Scholar search) on July 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  15. "Generation Yes enlists students in teacher tech training: an interview with Greg Partch". Curriculum Review. 43 (6). October 1, 2003.
  16. Boettcher, J., Justice, L., Schenk.; et al. (April 2005). Encyclopedia of Distance Learning. Idea Group Publishing. pp. 1914–1916. ISBN 1-59140-555-6.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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