Every classroom with a computer has a student who knows how to use it and a teacher who asks for help. While this informal support is valuable, it is not a long-term solution to promote the effective use of technology in education. Formal support and leadership programs give students in all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high schools) a sense of value and responsibility for technology while helping schools create sustainable systems.

For the purpose of this guide, we define student or youth technology support as:

Formal programs where students of all ages provide organized assistance and mentoring for teachers, students, and schools in the deployment, creation, maintenance and use of any technology resources.

Technology support or leadership programs offer diverse opportunities and roles for students to promote the effective use and reliability of diverse computing and communication technologies for instruction. Students provide valuable desktop computer support for hardware and software. They complete projects, provide mentoring, develop tutorials, create and publish content, staff help desks, serve on planning committees, and help repair and deploy computing resources.

Schools with successful student technology leadership programs have…

• a climate of collaborative, cooperative learning.
• a well-defined structure for IT support.
• a good working relationship between faculty advisors and the IT department.
• a philosophy of empowering students to make good decisions and help shape the quality of their learning environment.

Students engaged in technology leadership programs…

• gain a sense of responsibility and value.
• develop organizational and planning skills.
• experience management, training, and leadership challenges.
• develop basic business skills: interpersonal communications, customer service, and quality control procedures.
• learn to express themselves in writing, speaking, and presentations.