My Students

Computers are the key to teaching 21st century skills to high school students. From creating successful presentations to Internet searches, blogs, and videos, students ability and confidence to use computers begins with their exposure to this everyday piece of technology.

Our high school offers an environmental science research program to students in grades 9 through 12.

As part of this program, students focus on individual research projects that they develop, complete and present while honing research, technology and literacy skills. The one thing that all students that participate in science research at our high school have in common is that they want to learn more about their environment. It can be challenging to encourage this curiosity at an urban high school with little access to green space, but our science research program has taken that challenge on and continues to expose urban youth to outdoor opportunities. Through field experiences both inside and outside the city, students begin to ask questions about their surroundings. New research questions blossom and students begin to create formal proposals and embark on original research projects throughout their high school years, a truly unique experience.

My Project

Lack of access to computers, no Internet, no word processing or presentation software are common issues that urban students face. Our school has laptop carts that are a shared resource with limited availability. Having a set of designated laptops available for research students to use in class and during their free periods would be an incredible opportunity. In our research class, students are using laptops on a daily basis to complete literature searches, write background papers and proposals, create PowerPoint and poster presentations of their research projects and share videos and pictures of their research experience with other students.

Having laptop computers available for student use seems like a basic right in this age of technology, but having worked with students at my school, I know that is not the case.

I want to be able to offer the access and skills training for this technology which helps build confidence in young learners.