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TechREACH E-Newsletter
"Learning Anim8or was fun - I could be creative,
construct my building any way I wanted, I could even pick the color."
- TechREACH Student
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Spotlight:: Will Bull
We would like to introduce CTC Americorps*VISTA member and TechREACH Alliance Project (TAP) Coordinator, Will Bull.
As the TAP Coordinator, Will works to provide technology literacy training and refurbished computers to low-income families
via partnerships with schools, DSHS, Wilderness Technology Alliance,
and TEConnections. Middle and high school students from 10 after school
clubs will refurbish and distribute over 100 computers this year. Most
recently, the TAP girls club at North Middle School in Everett
distributed six computers to families. Students helped families set up
and learn to use their new computers. Recipients were offered three
free months of dial-up Internet from WebBand.com if they attend follow up training.
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Summer Program Results
This year, TechREACH summer workshops served more students than ever. Seventy-eight TechREACH students participated in a two-week summer technology workshop focused on animation. Students learned Adobe Flash, Movie Maker, and Pivot to create short animated films using their own artwork and storylines.
TechREACH
extended its reach by offering additional summer workshops and training
for Department of Education GEAR UP Programs in Eastern Washington.
These fee-for-service workshops on digital photography, animation,
and/or 3-D modeling, provided training for instructors from five rural
communities.
Once again, summer program results were strong. A
majority of students reported that the workshop increased their
interest in technology, made them want to take more technology classes
in high school, and increased their interest in a technology career.
Over half of the students indicated an increased interest in math.
Michael Crow's mother, Julissa Crow, gave us special thanks, "This program has really helped boost Michael's confidence and social skills. It really helped his academics, as well."
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Program Update
Across Washington, 25 TechREACH Club Leaders are leading
hands-on, STEM activities with over 240 middle school students in 21 clubs.
Students in Western Washington are using a 3-D modeling software called Anim8or to learn about architecture and design their own
buildings.
TechREACH recently trained Eastern Washington club leaders on a new curriculum,
Podcasting 101. Students are writing a script and recording audio
podcasts using Audacity. Students will edit their podcasts, add music, and
publish their podcasts on the Internet. |
Acknowledgments
This
year, TechREACH received grants from two new funders.
The Qwest Foundation provided a $7,000 grant to support club activities at Ochoa
Middle School in Pasco. The grant, presented by Qwest Foundation
representatives Jane Nishita and Kirk Nelson, provides science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) role models to students via a speaker bureau,
along with instructional materials and parent workshops.
The Taproot Foundation awarded TechREACH a grant for Key
Messages & Brand Strategy. A team of volunteers from the marketing field
are examining TechREACH's current marketing materials and interviewing
stakeholders to develop stronger program messaging.
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Get Involved
If you are passionate about STEM learning opportunities for youth, get involved in TechREACH! You can support a TechREACH club by providing:
- Club sponsorship
- Computers
- Digital and video cameras
- Software
- Science equipment
- Funding for field trip transportation
- After school snacks and student incentives
TechREACH is a program of the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Donations are tax-deductible, and TechREACH publishes the names of program donors on its Web site and printed materials. Contact Karen Manuel to get involved or donate online. | |
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The
mission of TechREACH is to increase middle school students' interest in
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through hands-on
high-quality curriculum, mentoring and teacher professional development.
TechREACH
TAP
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