iWonder

American teens need more and better after school programs and activities that can engage them in meaningful programs while sharing important life skills. Media labs, available in schools or churches, are underused after school.  The cost of technology has dropped significantly.  After school programs have always struggled to make enough money and attract enough volunteers to continue providing their services.

Modeled after scouting but with a distinctly “cooler” edge, iWonder is designed for 6th – 8th  grade students, administered by empowered adult volunteers in a safe environment such as a school or church.  The basic program includes:

1. A way to get computer into more hands.  Kids earn credits for refurbishing donated computers and documenting the process.  They can get on-line help from technologically savvy adult mentors who volunteer to help out once a week for an hour.  Documentation of on-line activities become part of a national knowledge base of “how to fix computers” and technical achievement, designed specifically for kids. 

2. A way for students to use refurbished computers or existing computers in a media lab and appropriate web design and development software to develop and maintain a community-based website, linking organizations and businesses who are dedicated to helping teens and the community thrive.  The website includes animations, videos, and games – all designed and programmed by participating students.

3. A way for these programs to pay for themselves using community websites as a “community portal.”  Community supporters and neighbors simply agree to conduct all of their on-line shopping through a community’s unique portal.  Business models that reimburse a percentage of all purchases back to the community are already available through Amazon.com, e-bay, and other retailers.  Students ask neighbors to “subscribe” and use the portal by simply using traditional fund-raising techniques, including direct mail, door-to-door sales, telephone solicitation, etc.

This concept combines technology, learning, and youth using a common attractor for kids – new technology and on-line interactive experiences.  Learning will occur on several fronts: technological savvy and hardware repair and maintenance will happen using Socratic learning principles – learning by doing, making mistakes, organizing thoughts into questions, discovering answers – both on-line and in real-time on-line discussions with industry experts - and then applying what they’ve learned and recording the results.  Kids involved in creating websites will learn how to use the most recent “cool” technology, particularly from the Macromedia suite of applications. 

The concept also includes projects, resources, and awards.  It introduces students to important life-development learning activities, such as telephone and interpersonal communications skills, etiquette, creative problem-solving techniques, and more, by example.  Many activities involve one-on-one mentoring and modeling by adult volunteers who become student advocates – sometimes the only adult advocate in a student’s life. As in scouting, students earn awards and achieve specific goals.  Once attained, these achievements can become part of a larger “employment preparation package” designed to empower kids with the skills they’ll need to be hired at an entry level by local businesses.

Recruiting volunteers has never been easy.  This concept provides volunteer resources including leader’s guides, learning materials, curriculum, projects, and more on-line, making the job of volunteering easy and time-effective.  This means that adult volunteers can provide more leadership in less time.  All financial accounting, attendance records and personal membership information, and award status is handled on-line as well, again simplifying the process. 

Variations of the basic program include an English-Spanish literacy module.  Many of today’s students need to become fluent in English as a primary language.  With bi-lingual adult volunteers and mentors, the program introduces kids to the English language of technology, software, and general communications – valuable skills for today’s expanding marketplace.  Another variation could include an expanded program for adults who are looking for new job skills.  Empowered, experiences student who “graduate” would work with these adults to teach them about computers and common productivity software, including the Microsoft Office suite of applications – a standard requirement for employment today.

iWonder presents opportunities to foster national and local community partnerships:

1. With local retailers as a resource of volunteers, both for in-person and on-line mentoring.
2. With Software vendors, including MacroMedia and Adobe to empower youth with the knowledge of how to put web design and development software to work.  Microsoft could be tapped to contribute new Operating Systems and the Office suite of software applications.
3. With hardware vendors for repairing computers.  In most cases, outdated new and refurbished or used parts can meet this requirement. 
4. With local businesses and organizations.  Linking a community through a “community portal” can involve religious organizations, local businesses, private and public schools, etc.
5. With national educational organizations, such as PTA, NEA, and more.
6. With our federal government’s faith based community initiates.
7. With Wired magazine as a resource of ideas, mentors, and as a provider of favorable PR.
8. With local schools, businesses, and churches.  These organizations can use the “community portal” to offer sales promotions and learning incentives, as well financial support.