Home PublicationsL&LIssuesVolume 27 (1999-2000) October (No. 2)

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A program in Kentucky teaches students about technology so they can help troubleshoot and maintain school technology, help teachers create technology-based lessons and projects, and train their fellow students, teachers, and other children and adults to use hardware and software.

Years ago, an eager student in school would jump up to erase or wash the blackboard. At that time, the blackboard was the best technology a teacher had. Today’s enthusiastic student is just as eager to assist at school.

The state of Kentucky has captured the potential of those eager students by creating a statewide initiative that empowers students to use that energy with state-of-the-art technology: the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP). In this program, students learn to use and maintain technology. They help with hardware and network maintenance, electronic lesson design, and technology instruction, as well as conduct community-based activities. (See “Background on STLP”.)

I just recently discovered STLP, and what a wonderful discovery it was! When I discovered STLP I thought it would just be another computer technology program that would be boring, but I soon found out that I was wrong!

—Jessica Speegle, James E. Bazzell Middle School,
Allen County, Scottsville, Kentucky

Access

A school must open its STLP to all interested students. No interested student may be excluded on the basis of race, gender, or level of technology skill. This requirement may help increase technology skills among females and minorities thereby increasing their employment opportunities. We want all students in Kentucky to have chances at technical jobs in the 21st century. STLP can provide those opportunities for all students.

I made the choice to join STLP because I was interested in learning more about the way that computers could help me in everyday life.

—Brandi Leigh Brawner, James E. Bazzell Middle School,
Allen County, Scottsville, Kentucky

Mission and Goals

The mission of the STLP is to advance individual capabilities, to motivate all students, and to create leadership opportunities through the use of technology. The goals are:

1. to develop activities that enhance the academic, social, and emotional growth of participating students;
2. to provide leadership opportunities to students;
3. to foster multi-age collaboration by forming innovative learning partnerships;
4. to form learning partnerships between students with different technology skills;
5. to develop activities that benefit communities; and
6. to develop instructional activities that integrate technology, benefit the school, and support the Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS).

The Kentucky Department of Education also did not want geographic barriers to stop students from learning from each other. To achieve this goal, STLP schools use videoconferencing, e-mail, and the Internet to share their experiences. The program provides an avenue for our greatest resource: our students’ energy and talent.

Activities

STLP activities are developed by students to fit the technology needs of the school and community and to meet the state’s STLP goals. No two schools’ programs are the same. They may share some common activities, but because needs differ, programs differ.

Activities are categorized as instructional, technical, or community. An instructional activity might involve STLP members teaching students, parents, and teachers to use a particular piece of software. Or they may design a lesson that uses HyperStudio, PowerPoint, or a WebQuest.

I have assisted in Microsoft Office Adult Classes. While teaching these classes I came to know what it is to teach others about technology. In the adult classes I learned how importantit is to be able to work with a computer in the work force.

I also helped teach second- and third-grade Girl Scouts about technology. I really realized how important it is to know about technology and how even second and third graders need to know how to type and search the Internet.

—Susan Young, James E. Bazzell Middle School,
Allen County, Scottsville, Kentucky

Whatever the activity, STLP students are grouped in four main categories:

starters: students with a beginning interest in technology

trainers: students with a natural talent to use software and teach others to do so

liaisons: students who will present the activity to others

providers: students who know the ins and outs of hardware and can troubleshoot

These categories account for the multiple intelligences, learning styles, and varied talents of our students. All these students work together to make an STLP function in our schools.

Raising the Bar

As STLP continues to emerge in school districts, what has been put into place to increase outstanding STLP activities? One thing is opportunities to share those ideas and activities throughout the region and state. Students come together at a regional STLP showcase and demonstrate what they are doing in their schools and communities. Community members, legislators, and members of the news media are all invited to the showcases. STLP members stand up proudly to discuss their activities. The STLP state and regional advisory councils believe these showcases increase sharing of curricular content, student interactions, and technical learning.

We feel STLPs can help schools incorporate the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students either by instructing teachers and students how to use the hardware and software listed in the standards or by providing real situations in which students can acquire the skills necessary to become proficient with technology. (For information on NETS, go to www.iste.org/standards.)

While there at [the Kentucky Education Technology Conference (KETC)], I was an STLP volunteer. My job was to give information to schools that were interested in starting an STLP at their school. This experience helped me realize how important the STLP program is. These groups of young students wanting to join STLP were what our future technology depended on.

—Brandi Leigh Brawner

While applying for KETC, I learned how to use a computer [to make] a résumé and [answer] application questions. This . . . let me know what to expect [from] a real-life job interview and application process. I really appreciate the time and effort spent just on me to help me get to know about my own leadership and learning capabilities.

—Susan Young

To further increase the types of activities students are carrying out in schools, STLP students are invited to attend KETC, held once a year in Louisville. More than 6,000 teachers, administrative personnel, exhibitors, and parents witness STLP involvement at this major event. At the 1999 conference, STLP students acted as state showcase participants, conference associates, technical writers, cyberreporters, videographers, or junior system engineers. The showcase students explained a project they are doing with their school or community. Some examples include school curriculum projects using technology as a tool, Web pages designed for schools and community agencies, and entrepreneurial activities. The conference associates helped with registration and other conference areas, taught software, or ran errands. The technical writers produced a document describing how to run a conference and who might attend. (Technical writing is an area of language arts studied in our schools. School and state department of education personnel think it is important to create real-life opportunities for students to apply the skills being taught.) Cyberreporters interviewed and wrote about featured speakers, exhibits, and sessions. They then posted these pieces on the Web for all to read at www.kenton.k12.ky.us/KETC99. Those unable to attend could read about the vital points of the conference on the Web from the students’ viewpoint. At the 1998 conference, mentors from such magazines and newspapers as Education Week, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Family Living—Computers Made Easy helped students. Student videographers worked with other students to produce a live news interview show in the exhibit hall on the hour. After the live show, they produced videotapes to be used in other locations of the conference. The junior system engineers are the most technical group. They were selected to help wire and set up the conference. They came into the big, barren convention center and made all the electronics happen.

The first chance I had to experience STLP was at a technology conference in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I was stunned at all the computers and technology that was crammed into the big building. Everything I could imagine that had to do with computers was in that building. I felt like a kid in a candy store. That day I found out that STLP was not only a Student Technology Leadership Program, it was a program that got a group of well-taught students together into one building and combined some powerful technology!

—Jessica Speegle

These nearly 600 student positions are evenly divided among the state’s regions, giving all students equal access to conference opportunities. STLP students can attend the conference for a small fee if they are not attending as part of an invited STLP group. In addition to helping run the conference, students also attended the technology training sessions and walked through the exhibit hall. The students returned to their schools to share the learning and excitement. The Future The Kentucky Department of Education knows that for a school to continue with the STLP program, recognition is a must.

STLP students at the 1998 Kentucky Education Technology Conference. Photo by Rick McComb.

Keeping more than 500 schools involved in this program requires nurturing and maintaining. “Musts” include continued use and development of various training materials, maintaining a dynamic Web page, and using the STLP Internet mailing list to its maximum function. Help desks staffed by trained STLP providers are being established throughout the state. (Currently, a few already exist. Read more at www.kde.state.ky.us/oet/customer/stlp/providers.asp.)

In May 1999, two BellSouth-sponsored scholarships were given to STLP participants Allison Grant and Allen Cook. (Visit www.bellsouthcorp.com/bsf to learn more about Bell-South’s involvement in education.) Many unique recognition programs are being planned by the State STLP Advisory Council and were presented to STLP schools at KETC 1999, including a “Friends of STLP” award (www.kde.state.ky.us/oet/customer/stlp/friendsaw.asp).

Recognizing the outstanding projects students have completed is vital to keeping the mission alive and growing. Engaging students; reaching reluctant, at-risk, and shy students; and helping schools give to the community is what STLP is all about. The STLP is making Kentucky proud!

STLP has done many things for me. It has encouraged me to work more with technology and helped my abilities to grow and flourish. Usually I’m a rather quiet person. However, STLP has challenged me to speak in front of groups of people. Whether I’m showing a PowerPoint presentation or teaching others how to manipulate new computer programs, I am now more comfortable doing these things. I have also become a leader among my fellow students. Many times a day I am asked to assist someone with a project. Also as a member of STLP, I have had the opportunity to attend KETC two years in a row. These experiences have exposed me to the latest technological advancements and computer applications. I am very glad to be an active member of STLP in my school.

—Eric Fisher, James E. Bazzell Middle School,
Allen County, Scottsville, Kentucky

The STLP coordinators must be commended for the time, effort, and energy they offer. Without these coordinators, reluctant, shy, and minority students would not be part of STLP; students would not be emerging as leaders; and STLP would not be happening across the state.

Copyright © 1999, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). All rights reserved.