Generation YES

Infobox Company
company_name = Generation YES
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = Olympia, Washington (1995)
location = Tumwater, Washington
key_people = Dennis Harper, Founder & CEO. Sylvia Martinez, President
industry = Education
products = See program listing.
homepage = [http://www.genyes.com www.genyes.com]

Generation YES (Youth and Educators Succeeding), is a U.S. technology education corporation that works with schools around the world. Dennis Harper is the founder and CEO. Their programs focus on student centered, project-based learning "experiences that impact student's lives and increase student involvement in school and community through technology. In addition, all Generation YES programs improve the use of technology in the school as a whole."

History

Generation YES was founded by Dennis Harper in 1995 when he was a technology director for the Olympia, Washington school district. He wrote a government grant proposal to the federal government Technology Innovation Challenge Grant program, to develop an initiative to involve children in the acceptance of technology in curriculum. [cite web | url = http://genyes.com/about/history | title = GenYES History and Philosophy | work = Generation YES | date = (n.d.) | accessdate = 2007-01-19 ] The grant was approved in 1996 for five years, concluding in 2001.cite news | url = http://news.com.com/2009-1041_3-6065108.html | title = When digital kids rule the classroom | author = Stefanie Olsen | work = CNET News.com | date = April 26, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-01-18 ] .

After 2001, the program became a privately-held company funded by revenue from licensing the curriculum to schools. [cite web | url = http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2003/06/morewithless.php | title = Great Expectations, Limited Resources: 12 Tips on Doing More with Less | author = Gwen Solomon | work = TechLearning | date = June 16, 2003 | accessdate = 2007-01-20 ] Sylvia Martinez serves as president.

Generation YES is closely affiliated with Kijana Voices (formerly known as Generation Y), [cite web | url = http://www.geny.org/verizon/ | title = Verizon California Technology Literacy Project | work = Generation Y Foundation | date = 2006 | accessdate = 2007-01-18 ] a nonprofit organization promoting technology access for students worldwide.

Programs

Today, the company provides K-12 schools across the U.S. with technology programs. GenYES (originally known as Generation www.Y and Generation WHY) has students assist teachers as they integrate technology in classrooms. This program provides curriculum to elementary and secondary teachers, who in turn teach technology skills to students. These students are then partnered with a different teacher to support their efforts to integrate technology in their classrooms.cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2001-08-06-students-tutor-teachers.htm | title = Students tutor teachers in tech | date = August 6, 2001 | author = Karen Thomas | work = USA Today | accessdate = 2007-01-18] [(nd) [http://genyes.com/programs/genyes/ GenYES] . Generation YES website. Retrieved 7/13/07.]

TechYES focuses on students earning a certification by completing project-based learning activities demonstrating their technology literacy. In this program schools purchase access to a website with links and discussion forums for students. In the classroom students mentor other students, who are in turn illustrating their technology literacy through hands-on learning projects. Their student mentors help guide these projects. [(nd) [http://genyes.com/programs/techyes TechYES] . Generation YES website. Retrieved 7/13/07.]

According to Generation YES, more than 1,000 schools are currently using their programs. [cite web | url = http://genyes.com/about | title = About GenYES | work = Generation YES | date = (n.d.) | accessdate = 2007-01-19 ]

Awards and recognition

In 2000, GenYES was awarded one of two "Exemplary" designations by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Educational Technology Expert Panel. [cite web | url = http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ORAD/LTD/newtech_progs.html#genwwwy| title = Exemplary & promising educational technology programs (2000) | date = September 8, 2000 | work = Learning Technologies Division, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education | accessdate = 2006-01-18 ] The ED then wrote a publication about Generation YES and its status, reporting that,

:Reviewers were impressed by the creativity of [GenYES in] creating a role reversal in which students help support the school's technology infrastructure and partner with teachers in curriculum development. [cite web | url = http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edtechprograms/generationy.pdf| title = Generation www.Y: Exemplary and Promising Educational Technology Programs 2000 | date = March 15, 2002 | work = Learning Technologies Division, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education | accessdate = 2006-01-18 ] .

In 2003 Generation YES was named "Rookie of the Year" at the EdNET Industry Awards. Founder Dennis Harper has also received numerous accolades due to his work related to Generation YES.

The company and its programs have been featured in numerous important education publications, technology industry magazines, and academic journals. "Edutopia", a respected progressive education magazine published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, has interviewed a www.Y program support specialist in 2001, [cite web | url = http://www.edutopia.org/php/interview.php?id=Art_815 | title = James Smith on Teacher Preparation | author = James L. Smith | work = Edutopia | date = 9/1/2001 | accessdate = 2007-01-20 ] and subsequently featured Generation YES twice. [cite journal | url = http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1281&issue=jun_05 | title = Angels in the Network Architecture | author = John Blyler | date = June 2005 | journal = Edutopia | id = ISSN|1552-9029 | accessdate = 2006-01-18 | format = dead link|date=June 2008 – ^{[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3A+intitle%3AAngels+in+the+Network+Architecture&as_publication=Edutopia&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]} ] . [cite journal | url = http://www.edutopia.org/php/article.php?id=Art_797 | title = Turning the Tables -- Students Teach Teachers | author = Sara Armstrong | date = September 1, 2001 | journal = Edutopia | id = ISSN|1552-9029 | accessdate = 2006-01-18 | format = dead link|date=June 2008 – ^{[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3A+intitle%3ATurning+the+Tables+--+Students+Teach+Teachers&as_publication=Edutopia&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]} ] Other publications, including "Educational Leadership" [cite journal | title = Students teaching teachers | journal = Educational Leadership | volume = 54 | issue = 6 | date = March 1997 | id = ISSN|0013-1784 ] and "T.H.E. Journal", [cite journal | title = Keeping Tech Support in Step with Technology | url = http://www.thejournal.com/articles/17610/ | journal = T.H.E. Journal. Technological Horizons in Education | date = November 2005 | id = ISSN|0192-592X | accessdate = 2007-01-18 | format = dead link|date=June 2008 – ^{[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3A+intitle%3AKeeping+Tech+Support+in+Step+with+Technology&as_publication=T.H.E.+Journal.+Technological+Horizons+in+Education&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]} ] "Curriculum Review" [cite journal | title = Generation Yes enlists students in teacher tech training: an interview with Greg Partch | journal = Curriculum Review | volume = 43 | issue = 6 | date = October 1, 2003] have highlighted GenYES as well.

In 2005 the "Encyclopedia of Distance Learning" wrote that,

:Generation YES... prove [s] that the nearly 50 million students in our schools are ready to become our nation's most plentiful and critical resources for educational reform and improvement... Students in GenYES have worked magic... they have made schools places that students "want" [original emphasis] to be... [cite book | author = Boettcher, J., Justice, L., Schenk., et al | title = Encyclopedia of Distance Learning | publisher = Idea Group Publishing | date = April 2005 | page = 1914-1916 | id = ISBN 1591405556]

References

Related links

* [http://www.genyes.org GenYES] website
* [http://www.kijanavoices.org Kijana Voices] website
* [http://www.techyes.net TechYES] website