Smart Kids Initiative 2013

Request for review and response

Alan NovemberNovemberlearning.com is an international authority in the area of children and community. In an interview with Chris Walsh at the 2007 ISTE Conference:

“Community is where people live in neighborhoods, they interact with each other. When we designed our schools we separated children from their communities. We took them out and away from the honorable work that children did before we had schools in contributing to the family farm. Children knew that they were absolutely essential and vital to their community’s survival. The community could not exist without the contribution that children made. We robbed children of that sense of being as we moved from agricultural to the industrial revolution.He Ask, What if we could go back in time with our new tools to see if we can redesign the entire concept of children in community, with them making an important contribution, knowing that they are essential? If you don’t know that you have anything to contribute, then it is hard to respect others” he goes on to say.

Or create Smart Kids in smart communities that care?

March 6, 2013

SMART Kids Initiative

Introduction

There are rare times when a problem and a solution stare each other in the face. Such is the case under argument in this paper. Today there is a lack of after school programs and limited access to computer resources in urban and rural poverty areas of the U.S. The SMART Kids Initiative is a solution to this problem, leveraging resources available in the market today. In addition to providing significant benefit to communities that need it most, this initiative also is eco-friendly, cost-effective, workable and scalable.

Intergenerational model Increased need for early childhood education is critical since gaps in ability occur early and persist. Most of the gaps at age eighteen that help explain gaps in adult outcomes are present at age five according to scholars.

The SMART Kids initiative (SKI) comprises of a combination of technologies that create small group afterschool programs, homework help, internships, work experience across a spectrum of ages and skill levels in disadvantaged neighborhoods across the City of Memphis and Shelby County. The complete solution deploys a variety of resources. These resources form the tools to enable and empower these youth through experiences and training. The deployment mechanism for these learning resources is a Memphis specific AI portal other Internet resources and the plethora of stipend, paid and volunteers that serve as instructors, tutors and mentors. This complete offering provides a compelling case to deliver educational resources to across communities.

The offering includes teams of small groups numbering four to twelve persons each. Every team is resourced with a complete technology kit, including computer workstations and desks all in their own carrying cases (total weight under 70 lbs.) that set up in minutes and cost between $1,100 – $2,500, pricing subject to volume.

This offering provides significant benefit to youth in disadvantaged communities across the Tri State area by providing academic support along with an opportunity to learn skills that lead to self-reliance, develop self confidence and steer them away from dangerous influences such as alcohol and drugs..

There is a significant volunteer core in the area possessing wide spectrum of skills. This solution would provide these volunteers with an environment and tools to make their efforts more productive and meaningful. The computing environment described above enables learning for the youth, foster small group collaboration through project work, and lead to more progress in moving disadvantaged communities forward. Both individual and group volunteer efforts could take advantage of the environment created by this solution. And the benefits to the communities would be significant and provide considerable impact.

Situation Analysis

There are several recognized experts in areas germane to this initiative. Their work is summarized below to put this initiative in perspective and support the approach we are advocating above.

World Thomas Friedman author of the “World is Flat” suggests that in a flat world ‘anything that can do done, will be done. The only question is whether it will be done by you or to you.’ Since we have added 300 million new capitalists to the world each producing innovative ideas, services and products, the new competition is between us and our own ability to imagine creative workable solutions to accomplish goals that find life in the market place.(Charlie Rose interview August, ’07)

John Doerr is a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Says if he could see our country seek to accomplish a big important task that would have a meaningful impact on our future in a global economy, it would be a program to train 100,000 new engineers and scientists in the next two years.(Charlie Rose interview July ’06)

Time Magazine cover story September 10, 2007 ‘The Case for National Service’ makes several points about both the needs of community and untapped resources available to fulfill those needs. I will highlight a few here:

Polls show that while confidence in our democracy and our government is near all-time low, volunteerism and civic participation since the ‘70s are near all-time highs. In 2006, 61.2 million Americans dedicated 8.1 billion hours to volunteerism. Overall 27% of Americans engage in civic life by volunteering.

A public school system where 38% of fourth graders are unable to read at grade level. 25% or some 14 million students do not have a supervised activity between 3 – 6 p.m. on

schooldays. Additionally studies show students who spend no time in afterschool programs, 50% are more likely to use drugs and 37% more likely to become teen parents than students who spend one to four hours a week in an extracurricular activity.

Right now 50% of the dropouts in U.S. schools come from 15% of the schools, most located in high poverty city neighborhoods and throughout the South.

Current Research and Future Trends

Andrew Zolli of Z+ Partners, noted Futurist and Curator of the annual Poptech Conference (poptech.org) describes current thinking about intelligence, how innovation is achieved, education, the value of networks. Andrew continues with a discussion of people, work and learning spaces and how teachers as change agents of the future must respond in order to obtain a positive impact in the lives of students. It takes an entire community’s effort in order to build a better world. I will describe his views, then how our initiative is set to take advantage of the information shared.

Intelligence In short we do not know what to measure on current test. We are often left wondering whether it is more important to know a great number of facts e.g. Jeopardy model or understanding complex facts e.g. Einstein model. With the world of knowledge at our finger tips through the Internet, in the future the ability to build on the spot complex tools using information that solves a problem in real time will be the true demonstration of intelligence. This will most often be accomplished in collaboration with other members of a team.

SKI – Collaboration within a team is the cornerstone of our model. Having the Internet available to all members fosters the development of problem solving skills that are required for youth to lead successful lives. Project and activity-based learning methods also are proven ways to generate passion in students for learning. They learn skills as they seek to solve the problem.

Innovation: In discussing the way develop innovation whether completely new approaches or incremental improvements in existing approaches Mr. Zolli stated there are five ways we come up with innovations; we think about the problem and 20% of the time we develop a whole new solution; however 80% of the time nothing positive happens. If we just look at a problem closely 70% of the time we can develop an incremental innovation. Play delivered incremental innovation 40% of the time along with 40% redefinition of the real problem under consideration. Imaging the future was not relevant since it does not solve a current problem. Think in network terns as a means to develop innovation yields an interesting formula; where the value of the network is equal to the network members who participate in the activities. This method is also how Facebook and other social networks are valued.

SKI – Taking these ways of innovating into our plan. It becomes clear assistance is needed in developing learning models that generate the desired goals and objectives. Conducting a You Tube contest for best methods to use the tech kits in the community for maximum participation is one way to create new levels of interest. By concentrating on a community in a neighborhood where the students live we develop caring connections that increase our commitment rates and thus the value of the core network.

Work and Learning Places especially our schools in many cases are identified as a place where you might be taken against your will rather than an inspiring, creative environment.

SKI – Our approach turns almost any place into a learning environment. The venue needs to be vetted by the school, parents and community. We should come up with creative places where youth will be inspired to visit and also these can change weekly or even daily since setup and take down efforts are at a minimum. Characteristics of the learning spaces should directly reflect specific group learning objectives and require further discussion. Potential partners can be drawn from the community and around the world via Internet video. With few moving parts there is less to go wrong making tech support minimum and manageable.

People are primates and as primates tend to gather in small groups naturally for social interaction. The other observation is that within the group hierarchy is developed to individualize themselves into roles that the serve the group.

SKI – Our model is purposely designed to capture this distinction. Each kit works for groups of four to twelve people depending on space, needs and roles. Assigning individual responsibilities on the team provides a wide range of options to tap the unique talents and learning style of each student.

Teachers and Change Agents going forward must consider what its takes to get hold of and keep the interests of students. By understanding natural tendencies of what motivates us into action, respond to problems and take advantage of opportunities, we need to bake into our methodologies the following: People prefer the personal over the impersonal; tangible over the intangible; present over the future or past; desirability over responsibility.

SKI – Taking these factors into account as we plan activities will increase our opportunity to deliver meaningful outcomes for all those we serve.

Alan November of novemberlearning.com is an international authority in the area of children and community. In an interview with Chris Walsh at the 2007 ISTE Conference, says that community is where people live in neighborhoods, they interact with each other. Mr. November goes on to state that when we designed our schools we separated children from their communities. We took them out and away from the honorable work that children did before we had schools in contributing to the family farm. Children knew that they were absolutely essential and vital to their community’s survival. The community could not exist without the contribution that children made. We robbed children of that sense of being as we moved from agricultural to the industrial revolution.He Ask, What if we could go back in time with our new tools to see if we can redesign to entire concept of children in community, with them making an important contribution, knowing that they are essential? If you don’t know that you have anything to contribute, then it is hard to respect others he goes on to say.

SKI – Our approach recreates the community as a village, provides us with an opportunity to ask the right questions, seek and test solutions regarding the vital needs of both the community and of children to feel included. Volunteers brought into the equation via Skype interacting with the groups along with fulfilling tasks of seniors, assisting those with learning disabilities and many more possibilities are to be explored. We can build networks of mentors, advocates, grandparents, experts etc…

Next Steps

Obtain comments on this report from key influencers and educators. (Small list)Enlist their support in the project as partners, create a work plan

Academics’ Discuss merits and report on feasibility of the approachUniversity of Memphis and Lemoyne Owen College leadership providing undergraduate students with paid or unpaid Internships, employment and community service opportunities)

Marketing discussion of possible social marketing approach partner roles and scalabilityMemphis City leadership, school and business along with community stakeholders.

Environmental

Identify and discuss at length how our green solution saves energy, reduces our carbon footprint and delivers a precision education while helping to heal the community, give youth a road to making a contribution to themselves others and is very cost effective.

SMART KIDS Initiative (SKI)

SMART KIDSInitiativeOverview

25,000 Phase one100,000 Phase twoKids After School

Out of School

This initiative creates new, expands reach of existing with additional augmentation support for after-school, out of school, mentoring, tutoring, entrepreneurship – leadership development & homework help programs. The application of new technologies allows arrogation of current resources to provide age, skill appropriate, geographic specific and culturally rich small group experience for precision delivered education which builds community adult literacy and skill sets within their own neighborhood. Learning, tech skills and literacy increase. The number of school aged children served in these programs in phase one is 25,000 and phase 2 offering 100,000 access within the next two years. SKI groups will be located throughout the community and operational between 2 – 6pm weekday afternoons. Neighborhood stakeholders in each community will assist in identifying and vetting viable sites.

SMART KIDSPartnerTypes & Roles

1. Host City Office of the Mayor2. City Department of Recreation and Parks, L A Public Library Department.3. Neighborhood School District, Board of Education and local schools4. Google.org, Ncomputing, Break Away Technologies, Community Tech5. Business and Technology hardware, software and various foundations.6. Consortium of, faith-based and community based organizations Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, Community Colleges, other community

partners, Lemoyne Owen College and University of MemphisProjectPrecisionDelivered EducationalSupport

1. Create neighborhood after-school computer tech kits available throughout the city for school aged children to work in small groups 2:00pm -6:00pm each weekday afternoon.

2. College Internships and work/study opportunities provide practical work experience3. Groups and sites are self selected through an geography, age and role4. Software developed to facilitated process thru online portal site Eventful.com and

other web resources. 3. Develop group helpdesk support4. Development of technology kits using eMate desks and Ncomputing network solution. Kits are setup and maintained by local students and users.5. Deploy 300 kits per month which will serve 25,000 students in a one-year period, at sites located throughout the targeted communities..

SMART KIDSHow it will work

Conduct a series of high profile ed/tech raising at local schools to organize teams of students volunteers, teachers, tutors and sponsors, to plan that semesters activities.Develop workshops ed/tech raising curriculum and workshop rally protocolMeet with each group separately initially to discuss roles and obtain by in for the project.Conduct training on software signup as well as how the initiative will work in the selected neighborhood.

Changing roles of each person during the week that is part of the team, serve as learning experiences and support for each other member’s and education objective.

Deployment ofTechnology to sitesSocial NetworkingApproach

The proliferation of social networking site, web learning resources, new and different methods of communication enrich the learning experience. Skype video conferencing, search engine maximization for educational use these resources are used to organize, enhance and deploy to designated teams and sites.

Tech Support Student workers, instructors, mentors and staff provide tech kit delivery and support to maintain kits in their area based on their role on a given day.

Strengthen Academic resources available to school children

Partner in person and online support

Memphis City Schools district web resources are made available to each student utilizing their specific school login. This web site contains the curriculum homework assignments for each school grade level. Our portal would access other educational resources and support services.

While each group meets 2-6pm weekdays to provide school aged children with a wide range of specialized learning opportunities. Partnering organizations especially those providing tutoring services under No Child Left Behind should be very active.Potential partners will offer:

Reading, Math & Science Skills Emotional Intelligence Skills Multimedia Training Internship Opportunities Leadership Development Entrepreneurship Development Technology Literacy

Train the trainerNetwork of mutual support

Small group precision targeted, problem, project, activity and scenario based learning can be offered in a setting where everyone plays an important role. Students both receive as well as provide support for other group members

Star Tech Model There is no need to develop new software tools to make the program feasible. We recommend eventful.com as a site for tracking life’s events across a variety of categories, calendars, venues, participants and groups is perfect for our application. An entire semester of participants, their roles and events can uploaded at the start of the year.

Collaboration and instruction on multiple levels.

Our Star-Tech Model:. Define each participants role for every day they attend afterschool activities. Roles are self selected or with assistance at the workshop sessions for the entire semester. Modifications should be made within the first three week to tweak schedules and relationships, venues etc. The goal of the designed is to surround each student at each coursework level with a team of individuals to provide resources necessary for positive and effective inclusive results. The team consists of no less than four or average six members, each having their own objective and responsibility. Students can be a mentor at one level and student at another. An instructor at one level and counselor on the next, with the goal to create a self reinforcing support system on multiple levels with many strands of team collaboration while delivering precision learning objectives.

TEAM MEMBER OBJECTIVENew Student Achieve educational, professional and leadership goalsContinuing Student Introduce new students to program operations, serve as study partner.Parent/Life Coach Increase opportunities through encouragement, participate where possible.Instructor Guide students, develop instructional methods appropriate for the age group and educational objective.Ombudsmen Work with whomever necessary to stabilize the student's social environment.Mentor/Tech Encouragement. Pass on skills: teach coping, employability attitudes and leadership.

Software in the portal makes available information for each team member to share, analyzes trends, charts progress, and builds on student improvements. For example, each student can for practical purposes function as a mentor or

instructor during his or her coursework. This model encourages individual empowerment because the student, in effect, can teach or tutor a course that he or she has completed only the previous quarter.The Star-Tech Model allows a wide variety or partners to participate in the project in a dynamic organized manner focusing on collaborative interaction. Partners can focus on their own strengths while learning to work in teams.

Budget Break Away Technologies in collaboration with Herff College of Engineering at the University of Memphis will manage the project and publish finding along with partners for a service fee: TBD per month from start-up through delivery first years 1004 kits. This number of kits should serve 6,000 to 14,000 students per day session during the pilot phase between the six locations.

Each kit consists of:Four or Six computer workstations, all software and maintenance eMate desk and chairs (optional) Cost: $1,200- 2,400 Internet connectivity is wireless provided on site or monthly provider fee.

InstructionalandTechnical SupportCost structure

Sliding scale developed for students workers (stipend), student instructor/tech hourly fee, instructors, mentors etc… fee paid based of assignment. 20 part-time tech neighborhood consultants @ $15-$22 per hour depending on skill set. Service kits both remotely and on site. Maintenance costs are nominal since only one computer or no computer used per kit.

Training workshops Event and training workshops costs are a function of number, scale and type of events