Byte-Sized Leaders: Building a Student Tech Ambassador Program

Outline

Presentation Outline: Building a Student Tech Ambassador Program
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Content: Brief overview of session objectives and the value of a student tech ambassador program.
Engagement: Icebreaker question, “What tech challenges do you face in your school?” to engage participants and build relevance.
Process: Participants share their challenges via a quick digital poll (Mentimeter or Kahoot).
2. Why Student Ambassadors? (10 minutes)
Content: Discuss the benefits of creating a student ambassador program, focusing on student agency, peer-to-peer tech support, and leadership. Share examples of successful programs.
Engagement: Short discussion with participants on the potential impact of student leaders in their schools.
Process: Participants engage in a peer-to-peer think-pair-share activity, discussing how they might use student ambassadors in their school setting.
3. Step-by-Step Implementation Plan (20 minutes)
Content: Detailed walkthrough of the steps to build a program:
Recruitment and selection of ambassadors.
Training students on tech skills and digital citizenship.
Defining responsibilities and creating an action plan.
Empowering students to lead tech support.
Engagement: Participants will work in small groups to brainstorm and draft a recruitment plan for student ambassadors.
Process: Group collaboration using digital tools (Google Docs/Padlet) to create a recruitment plan. Groups will share highlights of their plans.
4. Hands-On Ambassador Training Simulation (20 minutes)
Content: Simulate training activities for student ambassadors (e.g., troubleshooting tech issues, leading a digital citizenship session, creating a tech tutorial video).
Engagement: Participants engage in role-playing activities where they practice teaching and troubleshooting as both tech coach and ambassador.
Process: Participants will alternate roles, acting as both student tech ambassadors and tech coaches to simulate real-world scenarios. Device-based activities, such as creating a short tutorial video, will be incorporated.
5. Building a Sustainable Program (10 minutes)
Content: How to maintain and grow the program, including establishing long-term goals, ensuring consistent student engagement, and evaluating success.
Engagement: Participants will brainstorm sustainability strategies in pairs, discussing how to keep students engaged and the program running over time.
Process: Pairs will share their top strategies via a collaborative digital board (e.g., Padlet).
6. Q&A and Final Action Plan (5 minutes)
Content: Open forum for questions and discussion, followed by participants creating their personal action plan for implementing a student ambassador program in their school.
Engagement: Participants fill out a digital template to create a personalized action plan, which includes steps, timelines, and goals for launching their student ambassador program.
Process: Individual reflection followed by sharing final plans with peers for feedback.

Supporting research

ISTE Standards for Students (International Society for Technology in Education)

Link: ISTE Standards for Students
These standards highlight the importance of empowering students as digital leaders and creators, supporting the concept of student tech ambassadors.
"Student Technology Leadership Program" (STLP, Kentucky Department of Education)

Link: STLP Overview
This program provides a model for how student tech leadership initiatives can improve student skills, promote peer-to-peer support, and empower students in technology roles.
"The Tech-Savvy Teacher: Leveraging Student Ambassadors for Digital Literacy"

Source: Edutopia
Link: Edutopia - Tech-Savvy Students
This article discusses the importance of student leadership in technology and how it can transform a classroom environment.
"Teaching Digital Literacy Through Student Leadership"

Source: Journal of Educational Technology
Summary: This peer-reviewed journal emphasizes the role of students in teaching digital literacy to their peers, demonstrating the value of student ambassador programs.
"Empowering Students as Leaders of Technology"

Source: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Link: ASCD Article on Student Leadership
This article highlights real-world examples of student-led tech programs and their impact on classroom dynamics and technology integration.
"Digital Citizenship in Schools: Nine Elements All Students Should Know"

Author: Mike Ribble
Summary: This book covers key digital citizenship elements that student tech ambassadors can help promote, ensuring safe and effective technology use in schools.