 Librarian Paige Rowse | Librarian: Paige Rowse, Needham High School Library Inspired by the American Library Association’s Teen Tech Week, Needham High School is hosting our second annual Teen Tech Week program! We have a number of tech-related activities available for student participation both in the library and beyond. It is our hope that students will engage with new technology in a meaningful way as well as think more conscientiously about how they engage with technology and social media every day. This year, we are taking that a step further by embracing this year’s ALA theme of “Be the source of change”. Collaboration is a key component for success in our daily workshops and weeklong activities. |
Teen Tech Week at Needham High features a variety of activities Overall, this program is a result of collaborating beyond the library that includes the technology center and the Da Vinci Workshop (a hands-on engineering and technology tinkerlab where students explore robotics, 3D printing, laser cutting, and more). Together, we planned Teen Tech Week activities such as the TTW Scavenger Hunt (linked here) wherein students earn points based on the activities selected. Following @TheNHSLibrary on twitter or downloading the YALSA Teen Book Finder app is worth 5 points each, whereas more complex tasks such as creating a bookish meme or a library PSA video are worth more. Students have the week to earn as many points in the hunt as possible. Thanks to a donation from our Parent-Teacher Committee, we are able to provide Amazon, Google Play, or iTunes gift cards as prizes to students who earn the most points in the Teen Tech Week Scavenger Hunt.
History of Technology Exhibit for Teen Tech Week One of our more popular components of Teen Tech Week is the History of Technology exhibits on display throughout the library space. My open email to the staff requesting donations of old technology received an overwhelming response. Turns out people are reluctant to throw away ancient tech, but are thrilled to donate it to the library! I was amazed by the variety and age of some of the pieces including Brownie cameras from the 1940s and a still-working Apple IIGS. The faculty and staff have also been drawn to the exhibits and find endless entertainment in watching students try to boot up the computer, put a disc in the drive, panic when the drive cranks, and attempt to navigate basic prompts and document interface.
Each day, we offer Teen Tech Week Workshops during lunch periods with the collaboration of student clubs. Our goal is to have a club ‘adopt’ a day to organize and lead. Ideally, the club is responsible for creating the activity of the day and can use the opportunity to promote their club. We have worked with the Robotics Club, the Environmental Club, the “Choose-to-be-Nice” Club, several programming clubs There is always at least one adult available to ensure the students have everything they need. We also have a small group of student tech leaders who are familiar with the workshop topic to help. Depending on the clubs involved, some workshops have changed from last year and some remained the same. Workshops from this year and last include:
- Tech Crafts: LED bookmarks and circuit-marker cards
- Tech Dismantle: guiding students in disassembling a desktop Mac retired a few years ago
- Robotics: showcase of student-made robots and opportunity for students to control them
- Makey Makeys: available for students to explore circuits by connecting food to the computer to ‘play’ as game controllers or digital instruments
- Code: playing games with students to learn concepts in coding
- Virtual Reality: using iPods, Google Cardboard, and a variety of VR apps to explore the real world as well as the fantastical world
- 3D Printer and Laser Cutter: hosting students in the Da Vinci Workshop to tinker and create a personalized item
- Solar Energy: showcase of student-built solar powered charging station
Students get to engage in a variety of activities during Teen Tech Week. We are continually striving to make improvements. The Technology Integration Specialist was awarded a grant for a 360-degree camera which will allow us to make our own virtual reality videos. We are also adding a social media component by promoting the hashtag of #sparkchange to highlight how students are already living the theme: be the source of change. We have designed signs (linked here) that say “I #sparkchange by…” that students can complete with how they affect change in their world. The “Choose to be Nice” Club will be taking pictures of students holding these signs which will also be posted in the student lobby. When assembled together, the signs create an image of Needham High School with the text “Needham High School - Let’s #sparkchange!”
Each year, we reflect on how to make improvements to the Teen Tech Week program, especially in terms of increasing student participation and ensuring that each year’s program is engaging and fresh. We are always excited to connect with other educators and would love suggestions on how to make our Teen Tech Week program stronger!
Each year, we reflect on how to make improvements to the Teen Tech Week program, especially in terms of increasing student participation and ensuring that each year’s program is engaging and fresh. We are always excited to connect with other educators and would love suggestions on how to make our Teen Tech Week program stronger!
