WHY JOIN AND PARTICIPATE?
How does my school join STLP?
Schools may join and become state recognized by sending an email to
Elaine Harrison Lane elaine.harrison@education.ky.gov
Visit the STLP web site at: http://www.education.ky.gov
What do STLP Schools and Coordinators do?
Schools empower students to learn and use technology to achieve.
Schools appoint an STLP Coordinator to support and guide the students.
Students create projects, products or provide services.
The projects can be carried out before, during or after school.
Schools may integrate STLP projects into the school coursework.
LMS and school and district technology coordinators can support the program.
STLP Coordinators may participate in training and annual events.
STLP Coordinators are asked to review the Code of Conduct with students.
Why would I want my students to participate in STLP?
Students' technological skills increase impacting the Technology Program of Studies skill sets which impact post secondary choices and opportunities.
STLP allows students to come together, share, learn and achieve.
STLP is project driven. Projects should be selected by need and interest.
Students and teachers learn from other performing students.
The school gains recognition with an active program.
Students gain team building and leadership skills by creating, and achieving projects.
Projects reflect: community service, entrepreneurial and instructional projects, training others, and assisting with technical issues in the school.
Students participate in student involvement categories, produce products based upon interest and skill.
Parents and the community are active partners.
How do I participate in STLP?
There is no cost to register your school to be state-recognized.
STLP is open to all students. STLP can be before, during or after school.
Restricting membership is not part of an active recruitment and retention process.
Registration to become state-recognized is open year round.
Important Steps to Begin STLP
1. Secure a person to be the STLP Coordinator/coach. Some STLP schools have more than one teacher helping to support the students' projects, products and services. Many parents and community persons support STLP.
2. Some districts do offer a stipend to coordinators/coaches. 3. Gain the endorsement of the Principal, Superintendent, and District Technology Coordinator (DTC)/CIO, District or school technology persons.
4. Communicate to parents and the community by marketing the program in the school and community.
5. Open STLP to all students. STLP is for ALL interested students, so your STLP should reflect your school's population. Use a variety of on-going approaches to recruit. Try to attract students who are "naturals" with technology, but make sure all students get a chance to join. Data shows these students benefit: ones new to the school; ones not doing well in class, ones who do not have a computer at home, ones with special needs, ones who speak another language, and ones who rarely receive a teacher's positive attention. Work to recruit new members, especially girls in the upper grades. Your STLP should have members from across the school's population.
6. Your STLP should be multi-age and multi-grade over time.
7. Do not exclude students. Do not allow your schedule or the student's schedule or transportation problems limit your STLP. This means, be clever and creative on how, when, and where students can help the school and community. Not all students must be involved in all projects all at the same time.
8. STLP is project driven. Projects may spring from classroom core content classes, after school or community needs. Let where students are during the day, and what projects they have an interest in, drive some of the projects in the program. Projects may arise from a need in the building or community.
9. Publicize your meetings. Let students know when and where the meetings will take place. Some meet during a class; some meet before or after school.
10. Have you joined the STLP School Listserv? Your students may join the STLP Student listserv. Join both at http://www.uky.edu/Education/kylists.html
11. Discuss the STLP Mission and Goals. Talk about the structure of your STLP. Structure is centered on the goals the group wants to accomplish. There is no one way to structure the STLP. Make the structure fit your school and community needs.
12. Consider the Technology Program of Studies for students, the teacher technology standards, the school's consolidated improvement plan, and the needs and interests of the students and the community when planning projects, products and services. Student-designed projects, products and services drive STLP and impact learning and the school and community.
13. Some projects may lead to a service for the school or community; and some may make a profit and are entrepreneurial; or teach others; some are very technical in nature. These projects can be shared at a school event, and/or a district or fall showcase.
14. Decide at what levels to be involved (Local, district, regional showcase, statewide event). Decide what categories students will excel and compete in fall and state.
15. Decide what events (regional or state) your STLP will attend.
16. Continue to market the program year round.
17. Contact Elaine Harrison Lane anytime you have any questions.
Recruitment of STLP Students
Recruitment of students allows for the program to grow and be diverse. Diversity helps strengthen the program. Below are ways to recruit:
Announcements first weeks of school
Be flexible with student schedules
Continuously sign up students (open enrollment)
Dance sponsored by STLP
Everyone has a chance
Flyers around building
Grade level talks
Help in classrooms
Interest levels shape the program
Join Lego, robotics, programming, ThinkQuest or other related contests
Kid-vine (let the kids tell the kids)
Learning opportunities draw in students
Multi ways to meet
Newspapers and posters
Organize program early in year to capture students
Parent recommendations
Queue parents
Recycle old computers
Summer camps
Teacher recommendations and advisor/advisee groups
Uniform T-shirts
Very pretty certificates and logo lapel pins
Web links to invite students
Xtra attention, nametags, duties
Yearly awards and rewards
Zero in on Student Technology Standards (TE POS & NETS)
What does a coordinator do when so many students want to join STLP?
STLP is for all that show an interest. STLP coordinators will need to work with principals, TISs, parents, other staff, and community persons to help each group (projects, product, service) have guidance from an adult. Other older students can also help lead the younger students, as well.
Not all students need to meet as a large group, since STLP is not structured like a club with defined meetings, but rather structured to accomplish goals of STLP. Cluster the students into groups based upon the work they do.
The STLP Coordinators will need support from the school district when more than 50 students want to be part of the program.
No interested student should be turned away. Coordinators could help those students find and develop a meaningful projects, products or services to accomplish.
Marketing the STLP Program
Marketing the STLP program helps the school gain recognition, support of the community and strengthens the program.
Assembly presentations
Board meetings
Community involvement
District news
Educational showcase for incoming students
Featured newspaper and cable stories
Go for the Gold or Silver School Award
Help in classrooms
Inside Kentucky Schools KET show featuring STLP
Join anytime
Kentucky STLP State Championship
Lunchtime PowerPoint
Make posters, videos
News cast credits
Open enrollment
Presentations to classmates
Queue teachers needs
Radio station announcements or podcasts
School announcements and signage
Trainers in the school
Unite to Read Project
Visuals of past projects and events on display
Web Page
Xtra announcements
Yearly awards
Zoom in on projects, products and services
What is the Code of Conduct for All STLP Students?
Students' behavior (spoken language, body language, actions) shall reflect upon their school and provide a positive image of STLP.
Students are to be active participants.
Students are to follow all instructions of the chaperone(s) and STLP Coordinator.
Students spending the night for an event are expected to observe curfews, hotel rules and chaperone rules. All school rules apply at STLP events.
Students shall not be in possession of tobacco, alcohol, drugs or weapons.
FIVE LEVELS OF STLP INVOLVEMENT
Students have many opportunities to be involved with STLP. These levels of involvement help the STLP schools reach higher levels of learning and collaboration.
School Level
The foundation and most important area for STLP is the school level.
Schools decide what projects, products and services the group will offer the school and community. These day-to- day, week-to-week activities/projects allow students to gain technology and leadership skills.
District Level
A. Many districts plan for events that bring all schools together. These events may be a district showcase, STLP awards or a learning camp. The district showcase of student technology skills allows parents and community persons to witness the empowered and talented students.
B. Some districts have a district team of students, which are students representing each school in the district. The district level STLP group helps plan and advise district STLP events or may carry out district projects. These students may be part of a district help desk, as well.
Regional Showcase Level
A. Local universities plan events that are unique to the college. These events held on a campus allow students a chance to witness college life and plan for future post secondary education. Students come to the event to compete in two categories: showcase projects and engineers.
University partners for past events: Murray State, Western, Eastern, UL, UK, Morehead, Thomas More, Hazard Community College, Northern Kentucky and Georgetown.
B. In some areas of the state showcases are at a center or convention center, due to large numbers participating, or sponsorships of the event.
State Level
A. Invited STLP Engineers will provide tech support to endorsed STLP events.
B. Schools across Kentucky are invited to participate in the annual STLP State Championship. The best projects/services based upon high scores from regional showcase events; completed products; and performance categories are competing to be selected as the Best in State. Guest speakers, the technology playground and the annual awards program are highlights of the competitive event.
C. Some schools might attend and/or present at any state conference and represent STLP.
National Level
A. Showcase projects, which are selected as the Best in State, may be invited to present at the student showcase at NECC in Denver, Colorado June 27-30, 2010. These schools would be representing Kentucky on the national level. Engineers may be invited to NECC 2010.
B. Some schools might attend and/or present at any national conference and represent STLP.
C. Schools may be involved with a global project such as ThinkQuest.
TIPS FOR THE COORDINATOR/COACH
1. Base the projects students select to undertake on the need and interest of the students, school and community. The best projects come from the passions and interest of the team.
2. Look to see how the Technology Program of Studies can be woven into projects, products and services, so students can demonstrate technology skills.
3. Create projects, products and services authentic in nature. Students should be able to express that the project is making a difference in the school and community.
4. Select the best projects, products and services for competitions (fall & spring).
5. Follow the handbook and rubrics in the handbook.
6. Given coordinators schedules and STLP membership, schools may participate at the school, district, regional and state levels of involvement.
7. Check with the principal and the CIO/DTC to decide how best to finance the levels of involvement the school will undertake.
8. Many schools are supported by KETS and local funds; parent group, and businesses.
9. Some schools must raise money to attend events or stay overnight.
10. Look at sharing a bus within the district to go to fall showcase or state in the spring.
11. Talk to your principal early to secure money for a bus and any overnight stay.
12. If unsure about any issue, contact Elaine Harrison Lane
Elaine.harrison@education.ky.gov 502.564.2020 x 236
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM OF STUDIES
Kentucky Department of Education Technology Program of Studies (TE POS) was approved in the spring of 2006.
Technology competency was added to the high school graduation requirement for 2012.
STLP projects, products and services can help students gain technology skills.