New Technology Elective Provides Experience and Knowledge

Every Monday afternoon pairs of students can be found roaming the campus with an iPad in hand ready to help teachers and fellow students with almost any technology crisis. Super heroes? No, Jr. MITS! The Mayfield Junior School Jr. MITS is a student sub-group of the school’s Media and Instructional Technology Services. Only in its first year, the Jr. MITS program has been very successful. Created as part of the new technology/multimedia elective offered to 7th and 8th graders, the program provides the opportunity for students to pursue an interest on a more intensive level. Co-taught by Adrienne Bononi, the Instructional Technology Coordinator and Larry Guyer, Director of Technology, the Jr. MITS students get in-depth classroom instruction and hands-on training in computer hardware, troubleshooting, networking, viruses and audio/visual production. They go on technology field trips (both virtual and real), interact and learn from guest speakers who are experts in their fields, and build an understanding of the value of technology integration in the classroom. Best of all, the Jr. MITS gain real life experience and leadership skills by taking their knowledge on the road while teachers benefit from the additional support and insight. “The program challenges the paradigm about who’s in charge in the classroom and allows the student to be the mentor,” says Adrienne Bononi. Jr. MITS students are considered mentors and leaders among their peers as well. “The students are learning team-building and problem solving skills. They are the first to jump up and help when there’s a tech problem in class,” explains Larry Guyer.

Next year plans are being made to include both a beginner and advanced track, flip teaching, and more extensive use of web 2.0 applications including creating their own app.