Tech Boot Camp - G8 Feedback - Brave Enough To Accept This?

The Middle School Tech Boot Camp Month (September) is over and we want to take an opportunity to evaluate our work so far. This will allow us to prepare for the next phase of our journey. From the records, 52 students completed the Tech Boot Camp in the month of September. 22 students are still in the process of completing their checklists. We need to work with these students in what we have called Phase 2.

Using the feedback from new students and the Compass Points protocol we have compiled the responses of Grade 8 Student Tech Advisors (STAs) about the Tech Boot Camp (TBC) Program.

New Students Feedback of the Middle School Tech Boot Camp Program

Compass Points Protocol

This is what we gathered. Download the file.

NORTH - Need to know
(What clarifying questions do you have?; What additional information would help you?)

• None.
• More reminders or announcements about it.
• Will we have enough time?
• Are only 8th Grade student ambassadors doing this in the future?
• New students can join to get some tech support?
• Turn in a form by the end of the month (but not if you don't want to)
• You meet with your ambassadors.

EAST - Excite
(What are the positives of TBC?; What excites you about TBC?)

• I was able to find and learn new things about mac book.
• I got to find out what were the essential technology knowledge.
• It helps meet new students.
• New students will not struggle with using MacBooks now.
• They get to know more useful websites such as the catalog for the library.
• It helps and supports students.
• It makes students more confident about laptops.
• Able to help new students.
• Helps new students adapt even quicker to ISB.

SOUTH - Suggestions/Steps
(What suggestions do you have?; How might we move forward?)

• Having individual advisors.
• Meet student ambassadors more.
• Engage with students.
• Have your own buddy as your TBC student.
• Make a TBC a lunch club and meet twice a week.
• Have more meetings with new students.
• Give extra help if needed ("higher level")
• New students & ambassadors should have a choice to join or not.
• Meetings during lunch time or class period.
• To make it easier to meet the students.
• Set up a better communication system; some new students don't read email, we don't know what they look like; hard to contact.

WEST - Worried
(What worries or concerns do you have about TBC?)

• Students can't meet.
• I wish the tech student ambassadors would take better care of new students - more attention.
• Small tech class.
• Some people are not responsible and takes a long time to do the tech boot camp.
• Some students do not reply to the email or cannot speak English, so they do not ask questions when they aren't sure.
• Students won't turn in the form.
• Students don't show up in the meeting.
• Wastes time.
• Deadlines to the paper.
• How to meet new students.

Our next step is to form a Student Tech Advisory Committee that will continue developing the second phase of the Middle School Tech Boot Camp Program. They will also be responsible for liaising with the HS Tech Club in order to widen the reach of these technology support systems at the International School Bangkok. Everyone brave enough to accept this, step forward. Don't forget to send me an email.

If you have any additional contributions to the Compass Points protocol used today, please send them by email to miguelz@isb.ac.th