eLeaders Technology (Students of the 21st Century) Program

eLeaders is a new program that is a volunteer position. (As the teacher, I accepted a new non-paying position (newly created) in the district, in addition to my teaching position. I am the Curriculum Integration Technologist (and this is not a funded position, or funded club...all needs are out of pocket expense). We help teachers integrate technology into their curriculum/lessons, and students create authentic, and original lessons.

eLeaders are students that volunteer to take the initiative in technology. They are utilized to troubleshoot, maintain building technology, as well as, educate teachers, and students on it's use.

First, Flip Cams for training purposes
Flip Cams used to video train (teachers, and students), for cross training of other students, teachers, and new eLeaders coming into the program. Also, eLeaders use footage for training, Spec. services students, when they are teaching them technology uses, and helping them with authentic projects. (example: iMovie: Steps In A Process - eLeaders assist a class of students with special needs complete a video of "the steps in a process" and then create an iMovie)

Secondly, eLeaders as troubleshooters.
During the day, technology inevitably has "problems." eLeaders come to the rescue. Once a request is received they are sent to different classrooms, or (utilized in their current class) to help fix problems with computers, SmartBoards, cameras, overhead projectors, and cables. When called, they may take a camera (hopefully a Flip Cam) with them to document the problem, if they are unable to fix it. The Flip Cam is then brought to me, other eLeaders in the building, or the Technology Specialist for our building for suggestions to fix problems.

Thirdly, eLeaders as videographers
eLeaders take Flip Cams to any event to capture for either, a presentation they would like to give, OR for use with SMS Video Productions School News (eLeaders = 12, SMS Videographers = 60+). They load the footage onto a laptop, or desktop (iMac), and are responsible for editing the Flip Cam video in iMovie, to produce a final Newscast for the student body.

Fourth, eLeaders as In-service Providers
eLeaders offer a variety of in-service courses for teachers, and their peers. Utilizing the Flip Cam they offer one course training teachers how to use the Flip Camcorder. They have a comprehensive presentation with a lesson plan embedded, requiring the teachers to use the cameras for their in-service. Example: Teachers are asked to take the Flip Cam, move around the building, and video anything that could be an "adjective," or work together and create a video that shows "verbs," in action. The teachers return to the classroom and eLeaders show them how to load the video from the Flip Cam to the computer, edit, and produce a final product. This becomes a sample lesson for teachers to integrate into their lessons (for students to do), and they have a complete example for students.