John Richardson, Colette Burke; st. joseph’s academy Student-Centered, Student Run: Effective Technology Support in the 21st Century John Richardson, Colette Burke; st. joseph’s academy

Mission Statement The mission of St. Joseph’s Academy is to educate young women as responsible and unifying members of the world community.

History of St. Joseph’s Academy All girls, Catholic college-preparatory school in Baton Rouge, LA Founded in 1868 by the Sisters of St. Joseph Established a student-run, self-maintaining 1:1 laptop program since 1999 Actively engaged in technology service since 2005

Student-Run Help Desk Warranty repair shop for all vendors used in 1:1 program Students intern through technology courses Once trained, students work part- time after school completing warranty repairs Compaq, IBM, Dell, Toshiba, Fujitsu Time- and cost-efficiency. In-house repairs vs. sending off to vendor. Part-time student workers vs. full-time adults

Student-Centered Learning Help Desk as authentic, real- world education Provide real-time customer support to fellow students Develop practical problem-solving skills in diagnosing computer issues Self-direct workflow in repairing and quality-checking units Hands-on learning experiences in STEM fields

“Not Your Average Tech Shop” Snacks & drinks Holiday parties Ping pong table Record player Laid-back atmosphere Inclusive culture Interpersonal respect Family

STEM Lab at SJA Student-centered laboratory setting focused on developing solutions to real-world problems Tools available in the lab Sixteen 3D printers 3D scanners Laser cutter Microcomputers Introduction to Engineering Design Process Robotics LUV

Help Desk as Service Project Incubator How to use student’s talents to help others outside of school community Next level of real-world problem- solving skills Develop service-minded leadership and community involvement

Local & International Service Post-Hurricane Katrina On-site training & refurbishments Wiring for internet access Consulting, training, and support for local schools Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico Worked to meet technology needs in schools and orphanages Trained local technicians to sustain operation Arranged point-to-point wireless connections Telemedicine capabilities Post-Hurricane Katrina helping schools rebuild lost computer labs​ Students completed refurbishing in-house and most of on-site training​ Students participated in project to wire a local middle school for Internet access​ Provided refurbished units, consulting, training, and support to local middle and high schools as well as continuing education programs Collaboration with local organization BRAF (???) and Fundación Fondo Córdoba Worked with schools and orphanages to fulfill technology needs Students trained local technicians to sustain operation Helped broker telemedicine capabilities and supporting infrastructure (point-to-point wireless connections)

International Service Managua, Nicaragua Worked with Sisters of St. Joseph at Cantera Set up computer labs with focus on multimedia integration Students acting as teachers, train-the-trainer model of instruction Nelspruit, South Africa Coordinated with local teacher support organization, Penreach Led technology training sessions for local teachers and students Established computer lab and point-to- point internet connection Worked with Sisters of St. Joseph at Cantera, an internal refugee center Set up computer labs with focus on multimedia integration Students acting as teachers, train-the-trainer model of instruction

International Service Port of Spain, Trinidad Government-issued laptops, but with only 1 year warranty Collaborated with St. Joseph’s Convent to establish out-of- warranty shop Trained students to diagnose and repair their own units Ponce and San Juan, Puerto Rico Working with under-resourced schools to set up computer labs as collaborative learning spaces Networking schools for wired and wireless internet connectivity SJA students teach maintenance and skills in a classroom setting to local teachers and students Government-issued laptops, but with only 1 year warranty Collaborated with St. Joseph’s Convent to establish out-of-warranty shop Trained students to diagnose and repair their own units as well as research ways to find replacement parts

Common Thread in Technology Service Work Learn by doing as well as thinking Hands-on, real-world learning experiences Immersed in a culture Learn by collaborating, thinking critically, encountering issues Engineering solutions to real problems

Factors to Keep in Mind Make connections with local programs Tailor approach to needs of local leaders/teachers Schedule trips when most advantageous for host organization Make ample time for preparation on your end Train student volunteers Refurbish computers Obtain other needed supplies/equipment

Questions? Please contact us to learn more John Richardson Technology Director, St. Joseph’s Academy richardsonj@sjabr.org Colette Burke Help Desk Manager, St. Joseph’s Academy burkec@sjabr.org