Many schools have developed their own technology clubs or student technology leadership programs. Schools also turn to non-profit organizations and private companies that offer regional and national programs with set curricula, training programs, assessment, and other benefits.

External programs give instructors and students the opportunity to be part of something larger than the school or district. Because they work with many different schools, they have extensive experience with launching and developing programs to suit different audiences. Established curriculum programs have usually fine-tuned their offerings based on experience and can be easier to maintain and support. Programs with measurement tools also have aggregate data to demonstrate effectiveness and use for benchmarking local performance.

Other benefits of working with external student technology support organizations may include:

• trainers with extensive experience from other schools
• a tested model, proven curriculum, and effective training programs
• stability through a systemized program independent of any one individual
• curriculum based on generalized technical skills beyond the technical knowledge of the local teacher
• supervision and support for the local site

External programs also have demands and accountability requirements that might not fit with the school’s goals or needs. They may impose timelines and require evaluation and reporting beyond the school’s needs. Most external programs have a cost associated with them. While grants may provide funding for the launch or the first few years, the school may have to come up with funding in the future. Many external programs offer some degree of customization, but the school needs to determine whether or not the program truly fits their needs and goals.