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| Summer Training |
In early August,two weeks before the start of the school year, over 30 students representing each of the five district high schools gathered at Spring Valley High School to receive training as the newest members of their school’s new student TechB@r.
The TechB@r is the newest tech support for each high school run by high school students. The goal of the TechB@r according to Tami Lenker, Instructional Technology Specialist at Blythewood High school “will allow students to develop customer service skills, leadership skills, technology skills, and a strong work ethic.” Laura Coulter Instructional Technology Specialist at Westwood added “The purpose of our TechB@r is to create an environment where students help students. We start on Tuesday and are looking forward to a busy week with Chromebooks just rolling out. If we grow our own tech support staff, we teach our students valuable workforce skills and confidence, and we keep our ITS department sane.
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| Summer Training |
During the training sessions students worked on team building skills lead by the school ITS’. The training portion of the day included technical training led by Tommy Carter and Charles Hucks, the district systems engineers, and customer service training with Susie Neal and Pepper Busbee.
The students received training on the wireless network configuration, Chromebooks along with tips and tricks for windows devices. Susie Neal and Pepper Busbee worked with the students to develop and understand the importance of good customer support giving them examples of how to work with adults and students to solve problems and issues.
Even before school started these new TechB@r technicians began helping their schools with technology issues. TechBar students at Ridge View High School conducted technology sessions for parents during Open House and Orientation. At Richland Northeast, Spring Valley and Westwood High Schools, TechBar students helped the ITS’ with the rollout and distribution of Chromebooks. Blythewood High School TechBar students hit the ground running by helping their ITS work with teachers to solve technology issues as well as setting up Chromebook carts.
So you have Chromebooks in the classroom, now what? Come develop your Chromebook workshop time! Bring curriculum, ideas and brainstorm with others around the district to develop engaging workshop opportunities for your 2nd graders. You will explore 3 main topics and have time to discuss and create! You will be required to plan outside of class, implement your plan with your students and reflect. 
