According to research, Project-based learning It can improve student retention and engagement. In addition, project-based learning is well suited for support 21st century skills, including critical thinking and self-direction. “One of the most important skills of the 21st century is learning how to do it Figure out things independentlyBacon confirmed. The Genius Bar at Ossining Middle School matches students’ interests while providing them with them Related skills To move and adapt to The ever-changing technology landscape.
Encourage agency and independent learning
And the learning didn’t stop at the computer batteries, according to Bacon. Learning how to repair something they use every day with their own hands sparked the interest of the students. Bacon and the network specialists brought a few broken Chromebooks to a lunchtime training session and took them apart. “(The network specialist) actually showed every piece, every wire, what it is and what it does and how to untie it,” Bacon said. The kids were able to take all these broken appliances and collect the different parts and use them to repair other appliances.
The Genius Bar’s success has evolved from an informal lunchtime group into an after-school club where students can learn more about Chromebooks and repair. Students learned how to perform appliance repairs for their peers. Students learn to be independent, Bacon said. “Instead of going upstairs and having someone do it, they can do it right there in the library,” Bacon added.
Last year, Bacon received a grant for a 3D printer, and the Genius Bar students said they would meet after school to assemble it. “I thought to myself, ‘They’re 11 and 12 years old, and that’s $2,000 worth of stuff,'” Bacon said. “But the reality is that people will rise to the level given to them.” With the help of a technology teacher, the students assembled their own 3D printer. Since then, they’ve also bundled microphones for podcasting and a mixing board.
Involve all students, not just the high achievers
Students, regardless of their academic level, have found value in the Genius Bar program, including those who need additional educational support and English language learners. Bacon attributes this to the fact that technology doesn’t just impact high-achieving students. “We were all using technology,” she said.Some students learned how to log into Chromebooks for the first time, while others eagerly took apart their computers. “(Appliance repair) is not a skill that we necessarily teach in school every day,” Bacon noted. “Unfortunately, kids have these amazing skills that… They don’t always get along academically With the things we do. So this space allows children to shine in repairing, understanding and seeing how things are put together.” As a result, some Students now aspire to technology-related careersWhile others simply value practical knowledge.
21st century skills and high school
The Genius Bar’s impact was so great that students advocated for a similar program at the high school level. They proposed an elective to the high school principal, who agreed to offer an approved course. Bacon helped the students present their proposal to the Board of Education, leading to the launch of the Genius Bar chapter at Ossining High School for the 2023-24 school year.
“We want them to be able to manage the help desk — the student help desk,” said Omar Sar, who teaches the high school’s Genius Bar class. “We are also working in partnership with the technology department to have students learn the basics of troubleshooting computers, and fix some of the small issues that students and some teachers are having with their technology devices.” The class also includes the Google Level 1 Certification that teaches students proficiency in Google Classroom tools such as Gmail, Drive, and Calendar.
Saar’s goal is to encourage students to do so Think creatively about technologynot only as consumers but as critical thinkers who can shape it. “We started talking about Artificial intelligence technology and its impact on students “And our communities,” Saar explained. “They are discovering that technology, like everything else, needs guidance. It needs to be set on a path that will help, because if not, technology can be disruptive.”