A youth technology support program requires time and resources to establish and maintain. If your school district is committed to expanding opportunities for students, this section of the guide addresses the most common misconceptions and concerns to launching these programs.

“We are concerned about network security and information privacy.”
School data and networks need to be secure and protected. Districts need to have a strategy to logically or physically separate the systems that contain data that is appropriate for student access from the systems containing data that isn't.

“We could hire one technician rather than supervise a group of students.”
It can be difficult to hire and retain Level I support staff, but a new class of students each year is eager to learn and practice basic support. A progressive curriculum enables students to build on their experience and skills and even to train others. By relieving IT professionals of most Level I support duties, they have more time for developing systems and a more satisfying professional experience.

“Student support is inappropriate and takes students away from other classes.”
Successful programs incorporate standards, activity logs, project-based learning, and assessment to ensure that students have a meaningful academic experience. They have appropriate schedules and clear rules for providing support. Whether students enroll in a class, participate in a tech homeroom or provide support before or after school, the faculty advisor helps students manage their workload.

“A student support program will give administrators a reason to cut IT staff positions.”
Student support does not replace IT staff positions, it fills a gap in support. An effective student support program requires the existence of a stable IT support system and often increases the use and availability of technology, leading to greater demand. The costs of the student program and the value of student contributions should be separate from the IT budget.

“Our technology department does not want students touching equipment.”
Students can do much more than fix hardware and update software. They can be technology mentors, help setup laptop carts in classrooms, research solutions, create tutorials, produce web pages, train teachers and a host of other tasks.

“Student support will violate computer warranties.”
By designing program activities and support protocols with warranties in mind, most programs avoid this issue. Most support does not require students to open the physical box and older equipment is often no longer under warranty.

“None of our faculty members have time to train and supervise students.”
Curricular programs meet an educational need for students, an appropriate use of teacher time. Most tech team leaders find the experience to be one of the most satisfying of their teaching careers.

“A formal student technology support program raises expectations.”
Assistance from students neither replaces nor substitutes for a credible and stable support system. The program will raise expectations about the quality and timeliness of support. A district or school must adequately support students to be successful and meet their goals.