Generation TECH has been carefully designed to support student tech support programs in middle and high school. Tested by years of use in real schools, the program contains elements that make it unique and provide depth and experience even to schools just starting up a new student technology program.

At the beginning of the school term, the teacher and student design a "Learning Contract" that covers the class term. This provides a big picture for the student to work towards all term. The contract is then broken down into manageable, assessable projects, each taking 2-3 weeks. These projects result in the creation of TECH Learning Resources. These resources can be simple or complex depending on the skill level of the student. Each student is also expected to keep a journal documenting their own learning in the course. This provides self-reflection and writing experience related to technology.

The Generation TECH online tool suite contains a home page for each student that links to these elements. Each student keeps track of their progress on this site, and uses the site as the main archive and portfolio of their work. The site is available from any Internet browser and is password protected.

The Generation TECH teacher has a teacher home page that summarizes the class and student activity and links to assessments for each element. This allows for easy review and assessment of the student elements.

Contract
Projects
TECH Learning Resources
Journal

Contract
At the beginning of the class term, Generation TECH students develop a learning contract describing an overall learning objective and project for the entire term. The contract provides explicit academic learning objectives for student that guides work for the entire term.

The student and teacher then break the contract down into manageable projects that students complete in 2-3 week periods. The contract contains a time line and assessment system that is co-established with the teacher. These projects assure that progress is maintained and measurable goals are met throughout the class term.

The Generation TECH support web site has online tools to create and store these contracts. Support is given to meet these standards; quality process is modeled, benchmarks are set and numerous examples given of competent, quality work.

Projects
In completing the contract, students design and produce several projects. These projects result in the creation of technology learning resources that assist themselves and others in the school learn, use and maintain technology. Learning resources can be lesson plans, annotated web links, or tech help guides. All learning resources from all Gen TECH projects nationwide are archived in a searchable Gen TECH database.

Tech Learning Resources
Students as part of their projects create technology learning resources. These learning resources are an invaluable resource to schools as they are uniquely useful for the specific hardware and software found on the school site. Examples of TECH learning resources include how to guides for installing software, guides on how to use software or hardware, instructions for rebooting servers, step by step instructions on how to create web pages, digital movies, charts and spreadsheets, or anything that students and teachers decide is important for the school.

Annotated Web Links - links that the students have found that support their projects. These links will be annotated as to why these links are useful, and why the site is recommended.

TECH Help Guides � documents or web pages created by a student that explain how to do something to someone who has never done it before.

TECH Lesson Plans � documents or web pages that explain how to teach something to a class.

All learning resources created by Generation TECH students are archived in the Generation TECH database and searchable for use in all Gen TECH schools.

Journal
Journaling is a key component of the Generation TECH curriculum. Journaling encourages the communication and documentation skills necessary to communicate technical skills and plans to others. The student and teacher review the journal periodically as part of the contract assessment plan. The journal not only provides a record of achievement, but also practice in communication skills that is often lacking in technology courses.