To build the proper foundation to affect a school’s info-culture, a school must first be assured the students are technology literate. The best way for a school to do this is by using the TechYES evaluation method. In order to receive TechYES Technology Literacy Certification, students must demonstrate understanding of requirements related to Internet safety, ethics, and evaluating Internet resources. Students also complete two projects using technology in specific ways. These projects are evaluated in a three-stage process to make sure they meet Certification requirements. After these requirements are completed, the student receives TechYES Certification.

The method the students use to create their project is largely left to the school to decide. Sometimes, projects happen as part of already existing curriculum, in an ICT class or other subject area. Projects may also be something new that a teacher assigns to compliment a lesson they teach. Finally, sometimes projects are left to the students to do in their free time and completely separate from the normal school routine. Schools may consult with Generation YES (using the information on the “Contact Us” page) to decide which method is a best fit for their school environment.

Additionally, because of the three step evaluation process no student can fail to achieve certification. There are no points or grades- the project either demonstrates technology literacy or it doesn’t. Student Peer Mentors evaluate the projects and use a simple, online rubric to highlight the areas which need improvement. The student is free to return and re-submit the project at any time.

TechYES technology literacy certification is derived from four assumptions:

• Project based learning is effective – Doing projects using technology shows that students know and understand technology as compared to simply learning out of context technology skills.

• Authentic assessment is accurate and informs practice – Student achievement can be assessed better and feedback is more relevant if the evaluators know the student and the assessment is based on student produced work rather than tests.

• Peer mentoring is effective – Students learn from their peers in a noncompetitive learning community better than they do in a completely teacher-directed classroom. In addition, the benefits to the peer mentors are well documented.

• Students can be agents of positive change – Students can be accountable for their own learning when given well-designed opportunities and trusted to take that responsibility seriously.

The decision to require TechYES students to produce projects is based on the idea that just having some technology skills does not indicate whether a student can use technology. Technology Literacy does not merely mean learning how to use a printer or knowing ICT terminology. TechYES aims to measure academic and generic problem-solving competencies, not students’ competencies in using specific computer tools in pre-identified ways. Problem-solving skills developed through TechYES are more relevant to situations students will encounter outside the classroom and provide the foundation for life-long learning. See the Technology Literacy Standards Pages on this site for an explanation of the  International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) Standards for technology literacy.