Most of us know that if you need something on your laptop or tablet sorted out and explained quickly and simply, you go to an expert, like your child. But who’s the go-to person for your expert?
Enter the Student Tech Mentor Program at Silas Wood. Tech savvy students turned mentors are learning how to tackle small and easy to solve Chromebook issues that can stop some of us in our tracks. “Chromebooks have apps and extensions that can greatly enhance your tablet experience,” said the District’s Senior Computer Network Engineer Mr. Seth Levenberg. “Some of these extensions modify code on the page that's being presented, and today were learning to identify and remove the so-called "bad" extensions to restore students' Chromebooks back to a usable state.”
The program at Silas Wood, and soon to be available at Stimson, will have a table set up each lunch period for these new tech mentors to be available to help their fellow students with ‘tech’ issues, along with charging stations for students to top off their Chromebook's power. "This is a great opportunity for our student tech mentors to learn valuable skills that they ordinarily would not get in a classroom setting,” said Silas Wood Principal Steve Toto. “Students will be provided with training that gives them an under-the-cover look into how tablets and their apps and extensions interface, and that opens many new doors of opportunity.”
One of the extra benefits emerging from this program is students who are drawn to helping others. “I like to help people, especially with some of these newer technology issues,” said 6th-grader Marisa Bobal. “Sometimes I help my family with their Apple questions and here at Silas Wood I’m learning how Chromebooks work. I want to be able to show other students how Chromebooks can really help them in school.”
For student Victoria Isernia, learning new technologies allows her to pay forward what she’s learned. “I love it when you’re showing or explaining something to someone and you can see that moment that they get it, and then they can share what they learned with other people.”“Helping Mr. Levenberg are Silas Wood teachers Mr. Glassberg and Ms. Berger, both of whom are very tech savvy themselves,” added Principal Toto. “We’re excited that our students will be given the opportunity to help their peers and serve as leaders of this new initiative."
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