Seeking Volunteer Technology Professionals for TECHie Club in Cincinnati, Ohio

BDPA Cincinnati had a wonderful time last year with our TECHie Club initiative at Taft STEM Elementary School. We worked with the folks at Tech Corps to deliver meaningful science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) experiences to 3rd-6th graders in an after-school program. In fact, it was so nice that we want to do it twice! The school's principal asked that we come back in the Fall to provide two TECHie Club programs ... one focused on young girls and the other focused on young boys.

Volunteering with our TECHie Club program is a great opportunity for technology professionals in Cincinnati to use their technology expertise to inspire the next generation of technology innovators and leaders! Please contact Carla by email (cthompson@techcorps.org) or by phone (614.583-9211) to get more information.

TECHie Club Volunteer Info (Cincinnati) from Wayne Hicks

If you know that you want to get engaged with our upcoming TECHie Club ... then we need you to take a moment to register as a Tech Corps volunteer.

Seeking TECHie Camp Instructors in Cincinnati, Dallas and Philadelphia

We are still looking for Techie Camp instructors willing to earn $1,000 for a week's worth of work with some 3rd-8th graders.

• Cincinnati -1 instructor, web development (3rd-5th graders)
• Dallas - 4 instructors, web development and programming (3rd-5th graders)
• Philadelphia - 2 instructors, web development and programming (5th-8th graders)

Interested?

Apply Immediately -- http://techcorps.org/jobs/99-techie-camp-instructor

We are hopeful that this is a great opportunity for a BDPA entrepreneur interested in contract work ... or one of our unemployed or under-employed BDPA members. 

Please share this opportunity with anyone who could benefit from this contract opportunity?

TECHie Camp 2011: Educating, Exciting and Empowering Students With Technology!

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) teamed with TECH CORPS to pilot a wonderful technology experience for elementary and middle school students in Cincinnati, Dallas and Philadelphia.  We are proud to announce that TECHie Camp Registration is now open!

We encourage all of our blog readers to take a close look at this opportunity to get this STEM-based training to 3rd-8th graders in your household, your neighborhood or your community. 

TECHie Camp is a full-day, week-long technology experience designed specifically for elementary and middle school students. The goal of TECHie Camp is to engage students in activities that can stimulate a deeper interest in technology; as well as provide opportunities for them to express their imaginations.

TECHie Camp topics include:  Programming, Robotics, Web Development and Android App Development! 

TECH CORPS will host more than 20 Techie Camps in Ohio via partnerships with colleges, universities, K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations.

Ohio Camp Cities:  Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Gahanna, Hiram, Oberlin, Reynoldsburg and Upper Arlington.  TECHie Camps are also scheduled for Dallas and Houston, TX and Philadelphia, PA.

For additional information and to register visit www.techiecamp.org

There are a limited number of partial and full scholarships to cover the $350 tuition costs – visit www.techiecamp.org for details and scholarship application.

Seeking TECHie Camp Instructors in Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington DC

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) has been working with Tech Corps to see if we could encourage local BDPA chapters to expand their STEM-based training to include elementary- and middle-school students.    Our planning has reached the point that we are now ready to interview and hire instructors willing to work with these 3rd-8th grade students.

There is a wonderful opportunity for our BDPA members who are unemployed, underemployed ... or for those of you that are consultants open to a quick 1-week contract opportunity ... or for those of you that are college students seeking summer employment opportunity.

We are looking to IMMEDIATELY interview and select instructors for TECHie Camp programs that BDPA plans to pilot in Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington DC. TECHie Camp is a full-day, week-long technology experience designed specifically for elementary and middle school students. The goal of TECHie Camp is to engage students in activities that can stimulate a deeper interest in technology; as well as provide opportunities for them to express their imaginations. Each camp has two instructors and up to 20 students.

Interested?

Apply IMMEDIATELY -- http://techcorps.org/jobs/99-techie-camp-instructor

Techie Camp: Can We Expand STEM-Based Training for Elementary and Middle School Students?

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) continues to work with Tech Corps Ohio and Tech Corps Texas to create a national pilot program for Techie Camps that would take place in June-July 2011.   
Our vision is to have 10 classes -- 2 each in 5 cities - one class for elementary school students, the other class for middle school students.    20 students in each class -- the student is responsible for $350 tuition to attend Techie Camp.   Two BDPA instructors for each class who would be paid a stipend for their week in these 40-hour (M-F) Techie Camps.   There are four existing curriculum for BDPA to choose from -- programming, web development, robotics or android mobile applications, however, we are going to limit the 2011 summer pilot program to only programming or web development.

We have targeted five cities for the pilot program: Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia (or No. Delaware) and Washington DC.     We have heard back from the chapter presidents in Cincinnati, Dallas and Washington DC.  These 3 chapters are on-board and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is being drafted to share with these 3 chapters.    We have not heard back yet from Philadelphia (or No. Delware) or Chicago chapter as of the typing of this update.

There are 3 benefits to BDPA for engagement in this pilot program:

BDPA So Minnesota Students

1. SITES Program - Our existing program is defined as K-12, however, we only have strong programs at the high school level.   Techie Camp gives BDPA a chance to use an existing and proven curriculum to have a credible program for elementary school (3rd thru 5th graders) and middle school (6th thru 8th graders).   Over time it would be an excellent feeder program for our high school computer camps and HSCC championship teams.
2. Support Unemployed BDPA Members or HSCC Alumni - Each Techie Camp requires 2 instructors.   We want existing BDPA members or HSCC alumni who are back from college and need summer employment to fill these instructor slots.   Great member benefit to offer within your chapter.
3. Membership - The 20 students in each class will be provided a student membership (value: $25).   The $500 funding to support these 20 student members would go to the local chapter where the students live.   The contact information for the student membership would be directed to their parent or guardian.   Any chapter interested in getting a quick influx of 20 new members this summer?!?  :)

BETF and Tech Corps are currently working on a joint grant proposal to see if we can get at least 70% of the tuition payments underwritten by a corporate sponsor so that we can reach out to under-served students who may never have chance for this type of STEM-based training at such an early age. 

I will try to keep you informed of our continuing efforts on this project ... however, you should feel free to reply to this message with any questions that you might have.

Can BDPA Expand SITES Program to Elementary School Students With Tech Corps?

I drove out to Columbus Ohio in order to meet with Lisa Chambers, Tech Corps Ohio state director. BDPA Columbus chapter member Andre Young joined us in a discussion about possible strategic alliance with Tech Corps on local and national level.

Lisa shared with me the 15+ years of history for Tech Corps. The group was founded in 1995 by Gary Beach, Publisher Emeritus of CIO Magazine. Tech Corps is committed to enhancing K-12 education through the effective use of technology by recruiting, placing and supporting volunteers and by developing partnerships between schools and the community.

Tech Corps programs have evolved over time. Lisa shared with me insights on the Student Tech Corps and Girl Tech Corps programs. However, we spent most of our discussion talking about the TECHie Club and Summer Camp (Elementary School or Middle School)

The TECHie Club is an after-school program for 3-5 grade students. It is a very intense program that puts a greater emphasis on computer science than some other programs. There are modules focused on programming, robotics, digital media and web development. The young 'uns are able to communicate amongst themselves and with other TECHie Clubs around the nation on a blogging platform provided by Tech Corps.


TECHie Club is a program with a proven curriculum. The students, schools and parents are very excited about the program. Volunteers are needed to facilitate the TECHie Club experience. Each TECHie Club (maximum of 20 students) typically meet weekly for 90-120 minutes throughout the school year. Schools designate a Site Coordinator to manage students and assist volunteers. TECH CORPS staff trains teams of tech-savvy volunteers to use the TECHie Club Implementation Guide and Lessons to introduce students to computing topics.

In my opinion, this is a remarkable opportunity for BDPA members and leaders. We have a remarkable K-12 youth education program, Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) -- however, our program is heavily focused on high school programs. Only one chapter (Richmond) works consistently with elementary students. It seems like great synergy for BDPA members to volunteer to work with TECHie Club. Don't you agree?

Here are current TECHie Club volunteer opportunities in Ohio. Of course, you can get more details from Lisa Chambers by email or phone (614.583-9211).

There is also a strong Tech Corps Texas organization that seeks volunteers from BDPA members and other BETF-Blog readers.

I am making a personal commitment to identify volunteers for the TECHie Club start-ups in three Cincinnati elementary schools -- Hartwell, Kilgour and Mount Washington.

Do you think BDPA is ready to expand its SITES program to help 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in elementary school?

Tech Corps Ohio

I learned about Tech Corps Ohio during a recent conversation with a member of the BDPA Columbus chapter leadership team. It was suggested that I get in touch with the Tech Corps Ohio state director -- Lisa Chambers. I used social networking to reach out to Ms. Chambers and we're scheduled to sit down with one another on November 18 to see if there are ways that BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) can support Tech Corps Ohio. I think that she is interested in expanding the concept to the greater Cincinnati area.

Anyhow, I thought I would share this orientation video with our BETF-Blog readers. It gives you some insight into what Tech Corps Ohio is all about.








Is there a Tech Corps operation in your state? Can you envision a strategic alliance between Tech Corps and your local BDPA chapter? What say u?