Articles from newspapers, magazines and journals that promote implementation of student IT skills and careers.
Date & Source |
Article |
March 16, 2011 Redwood Times |
SoHum MOUSE Squad goes to Senior Center Teen members of the SoHum Mouse Squad provide assistance to community elders at the Healy Senior Center. Read more... |
March 15, 2011 By Emily Alpert |
Hi, You've Reached Tech Support, This Is Your 12-Year-Old Try telling students to make their own podcasts when microphones won't work. Forget about tapping into the web for lessons if nobody can connect. And typing is a dead end if computer keys skedaddle. All that could foul up classes at Innovation Middle School in North Clairemont, where every kid has a laptop. But Innovation is trying out a tactic that is, well, innovative. Instead of running to the school district for every broken key, Innovation is teaching kids how to fix their computers themselves. Read more... |
January 7, 2011 2011 Winter ICT Educator Conference |
Jan Half Interview MSCA Director Jan Half gave an interview about the MOUSE Squad program. It is posted on YouTube. |
December 18, 2010 By Rachelle Chong |
INSPIRING OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE DIGITALLY LITERATE – THE FUN WAY "... In the MOUSE Squad, two boys had built a small robot car and were learning to program the car to move forward, stop, turn right, stop and then curve back. These students become tech support squad for the teachers in the school. " Read more... |
December 14, 2010 By TICALivision |
MSCA Videos Improving School Climate - In this first part of two videos, Silicon Valley middle and elementary school MOUSE Squads share how their student technology support programs have motivated and empowered students, teachers, and staff. You will hear passionate principals, students, and technology directors as they share how the MOUSE Squad helps to leverage resources and increase the communication and relationships amongst the students, curriculum team, and technology staff. Understanding the Curriculum, Support, and Costs - In this second part of two videos, students, teachers, principals, and district technology administrators share the nuts and bolts of the MOUSE Squad program. Both the after school elementary and the elective-based Middle school MOUSE Squads share similar online and hands-on curricula as well as providing site-based technology support during and beyond the school day. Hear about unique partnerships between the district technology and instructional staff at the sites and how the program empowers all involved. |
December 7, 2010 By Maegan Martens |
TUSD receives grant money to enhance school technology The Turlock Unified School District is planning to use the money to emphasize one main goal — building a focus program for a technology career pathway. To do that, they are spending the money on three things: a student tech leadership program called the Mouse Squad, increased monitoring in student information systems to identify at-risk students, and increased technology professional development for staff. Read more ... |
October 30, 2010 Bulldog Gazette |
What is The MOUSE Squad? An interview with Coronita Elementary's MOUSE Squad. Read full article... |
September 22, 2010 MOUSE.org
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Year End Summit and Recognition Reception and SF Meet-up MOUSE Squad of California organizes 2 well received spring events, Year End Summit and Reception and SF Meet-up. Read more... |
September 12, 2010 By Susan Fisher and Doug DeFrees, members of the IBM Volunteer Outreach Council (IVOC) |
A win-win for students, teachers, technology, and IBM volunteers The IBM Volunteer Outreach Council (IVOC) has published a story about MOUSE Squad at several Silicon Valley schools and organizations and the financial and volunteer support provided by IBM and its employees. This story, also published internally at IBM, is one of a series of stories featuring organizations the Council has helped. Read full article... |
June 6, 2010 Silicon Valley Mercury News |
Cassidy: Mouse Squad kids repair computers and build life skills So I'm at the punch bowl during one of those end-of-the-school-year events that roll around with stunning frequency this time of year when I see this guy headed straight for me with that unmistakable obsessive networker look in his eye. And sure enough, he's reaching for a business card as he launches into his elevator pitch about how he took his enterprise from almost nothing to a robust organization, about how his work has changed his life while improving the lives of others, etc. Did I mention the guy was a freshman? In high school? Meet Michael Wraa, president of the Aragon High School Mouse Squad club. Read full article... |
April 27, 2010 Comcast Newsmakers |
Comcast Newsmakers Interview with Jan Half (video) An interview held in April, 2010 by Jack Hanson on Comcast Newsmakers with MOUSE Squad of California Director Jan Half |
April 13, 2010 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) |
ACTE Announces Career Ready Definition The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) today released a paper titled "What Is 'Career Ready'?" that outlines three broad sets of skills students need to be career-ready: core academic skills, employability skills and technical skills. Read full article... |
February 05, 2010 The Daily Journal |
Computer problem? Hire a MOUSE When a computer goes down, there are really only two viable options for handling the situation: Yell at and/or break the computer or call for help. Eighth grade students at The Bayside S.T.E.M. ACADEMY in San Mateo began offering faculty a third option this week: Student labor. Twenty-two eighth grade students started this year as part of the MOUSE Squad - one of the tech classes offered at S.T.E.M. teaching students not only how troubleshoot computer issues but also how to work with adults in a business environment. Students spent the first part of the year learning all things computer. This week, a letter went out to faculty introducing the new in-house tech support team. Read full article... |
February 1, 2010 School Library Journal |
Students to Help Teachers Better Use Tech The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) believes that when it comes to technology training, we should look no further than a terrific resource already in the classroom—students. That’s why Microsoft and the Corporation for National and Community Service has launched a new initiative that empowers middle and high school students to help teachers and staff better integrate tech into schools... ...Called START (Service & Technology Academic Resource Team), the program will combine five existing projects such as GenerationYES!, in which students help teachers come up with compelling assignments using technology, and MOUSE, where students act as tech support in schools, and bring them together under one umbrella. Read full article... |
January 21, 2010 Edutopia |
Tech Without Support: IT Snags Hamper Schools' Technology Use "...Nearly half of educators surveyed by the National Education Association said insufficient support impacted their use of technology. The result: Tech support may be setting the speed limit for how fast new technology makes it into classrooms. And it's hardly a racecourse for some. It's not that having a tech person is new; it's that technology has rapidly become integral to education, from keeping attendance records to using digital video to teach Chaucer, and the demands on that one person have multiplied exponentially...." Read full article... |
November 18, 2009 MOUSE News |
MOUSE Squad of California Students Participate in "Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age" hosted by Google Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age brought together 200 of the nation’s top thought leaders in science and technology, informal and formal education, entertainment media, research, philanthropy and policy to develop recommendations for using digital media for education reform. Read full article... |
July 22, 2009 Blog by Darren |
Student Interns Wire Up School's Computers Instead of turning to costly vendors or overloading district support staff, Twin Rivers brought in high school interns to help prepare the technology-focused junior high, which is fitted with computers at all 32 student desks in all 35 classrooms. And the results have district staff and the teens smiling about the partnership. Read full blog... |
July 22, 2009 The Associated Press |
Sacramento district hires teenagers for tech work MCCLELLEN, Calif. - The Twin Rivers Unified School District is saving money by hiring high school interns to help solve their computer troubles this summer. Several high school students are earning $8 an hour helping to get the computers at a technology-focused junior high in shape before the new school year. The Sacramento Employment and Training Agency sponsored the internships. Officials say the interns are gaining work experience and the district is getting the job done faster and for a steep discount. The idea grew out of a pilot program at Foothill High School, which last spring started a student-run IT help desk called MOUSE Squad that offers the district computer support while training students. |
| March 3, 2009
A research survey and report conducted by: eSchool News, School Dude, COSN |
2008 Survey: The Unique Challenges Facing the IT Professional in K-12 Education As an information technology professional in K-12 education, you have quite a challenge...possibly one of the greatest challenges since the first computers were introduced to your schools. You are forced to manage this growing phenomenon of too much IT stuff without enough staff. Budget constraints, changing technology and board requirements impact the abilities of school IT staff. Read full report.... |
| March 2, 2009
eSchool News |
School IT support: Overworked...and understaffed The figures pulled from his district's help-desk logs tell Charlie Reisiger that his technology team spends about 70 percent of its time fixing faulty machines or grappling with software questions from teachers and administrators. That doesn't leave much time for other activities, such as planning new projects or helping teachers weave technology into their instruction. Read full article.... |
| January 4, 2009
San Mateo County Times |
Aragon High students show tech savvy Students at Aragon High School in San Mateo are showcasing their expertise in technology. Recently, members of the school's MOUSE Squad program helped set up computers for workshops at the Innovative Learning Conference in San Jose. They also gave presentations this past spring at the Computer Using Educators conferences in Palm Springs and Palo Alto. "Community building is key," Candy Bandong, faculty adviser for the squad, said. "It's not just about technology. It's about how we work in teams while we help out." MOUSE is a South San Francisco-based nonprofit focused on student technology leadership. |
| November 22, 2008
InformationWeek |
Down To Business: Does Tech Expertise Matter To Tech Organizations Anymore? Companies increasingly are aligning their IT with suppliers, partners, and customers, employers are looking for people who can manage relationships and excel as part of far-flung teams, not just hammer out internal system and project requirements...." Read full article..... |
| October 23, 2008
The Business Week |
It Pays To Be Friendly "...A new study concludes that social skills can be a better predictor of future earnings than test scores are...." Read full article..... |
| September 1, 2008
InformationWeek |
Your Views On Education: It's Everyone's Business "Judging by the thoughtful e-mail I received, the responsibility for transforming teaching methods, academic curriculums, and delivery tools falls to us as a society, not just to the education establishment...." Read full article..... |
| July 3, 2008
The Business Week |
Fed-Up Techies "...in a typical one-month period, 56% of tech workers had to troubleshoot at least one food-related computer mishap...." Read full article..... |
| June 2008
Edutopia Magazine |
Tech Without Support: IT Snags Hamper Schools' Technology Use Schools get creative when untangling PC problems. "...Schools in Chicago, New York, and California use the Mouse Squad, a program that trains students to be their school's tech troubleshooters -- installing operating systems, setting up printers, performing hardware-related tasks, and learning industry-standard processes for resolving support requests. Ted Bongiovanni, director of programs at Mouse, says schools that use a Mouse Squad save about $17,000 a year in tech support...." Read full article..... |
| June 11, 2008
eSchool News |
Teachers: Give us better tech training, support New report reveals continued barriers to using technology for classroom instruction. Read full article..... |
| June 8, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle |
Information Technology: The Next Generation The Web's second wave has created a wealth of new opportunities for IT professionals. "...And as job descriptions and responsibilities evolve along with all the new Internet practices, individuals with the ability to learn new skills and consider a wide range of positions are going to have plenty of opportunities here in the Bay Area in the next few years...." Read full article..... |
| April 8, 2008
InformationWeek |
Downturn Be Damned, Info Tech Jobs Surged Ahead Last Quarter U.S. IT jobs are up 12% from a year ago, though concerns about a slowdown loom over the upbeat government data. Read full article..... |
| Spring 2008
Channel 13 News |
Davis High School MOUSE Squad Video clip of local news report on Davis High School's MOUSE Squad. See full video.... |
| August 01, 2007
eSchool News |
Wanted: More IT workers "Employers across the nation are finding it increasingly difficult to fill information technology (IT) positions, mainly because of a shortage of qualified entry-level and advanced employees, according to industry experts...." Read full article..... |