Overview

This chapter looks at the often forgotten stakeholders in our schools the students. Students make up more than 92% of most K-12 school systems yet they are seldom meaningfully involved in school reform or the professional development of teachers. Recent research in the United States shows that 54% of American schools involve students in the maintenance of computers and network infrastructure, students carry out only 4% of professional development in technology. This chapter looks at both the Generation Y (Gen Y) model, which accounts for most of this 4%, and a comprehensive review of research support for student voice, perspectives, and involvement.

1. The Generation Y Model

The Generation Y (Gen Y) program has been implemented in over 500 schools throughout the USA for students in grades K-12. Begun in 1996 with federal Technology Innovation Challenge Grant (TICG) funds, it has received more than 10 million dollars in funding in its six-plus years of implementation serving both inservice and preservice teachers. While promoting the effective use of technology in schools, Generation Y develops student leadership, and fosters a collaborative, constructivist learning community between student and teacher. Students and partner teachers learn how telecommunications, the Internet, multimedia, and presentation tools can enhance lesson plans and support a standards-based curriculum. Generation Y achieves this by giving students experience with educational technology, communication skills, and information literacy, allowing students to act as responsible partners with their teachers in building new curriculum materials and new teaching and...