Integrating Technology to Increase Student Interns' Health, Fitness, and Personal Responsibilities Presenters: Mason Messinger - Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 - Instructor Project SEARCH @ Kalahari Resorts Poconos Dawn Daignault - Director of Career Opportunities and Development at Human Resource Center, Inc.

Why do we Incorporate Technology? Easier to network with transition team members Organization of materials / key documents for each intern Interns track / record fitness health levels on daily basis Used for time management Helped monitor intern accountability / progress throughout year Help prepare for competitive employment

What we use 8 Chromebooks (shared by interns) I-pad Fitbits for interns and staff

Intern Gmail accounts Set up first week of year Had interns send out e-mail to their entire transition team (School district, SC, parent(s), community agencies, etc.) Set up so interns could remember their account and password information Stored interns information in case it was forgotten Shared login information with parents at end of the year

Intern Gmail Account Benefits Helped interns with self advocacy skills Had easy access to create resumes, share documents, write letters, etc. throughout the year

E-mail Template Example Directions: Please open your Gmail account and compose the following e-mail to the list of people invited to your employment planning meetings: District Representative Dawn & Tina from HRC OVR Contact Mason MHDS Supports Coordinator (if you have one) Parent Good Morning Everyone, I wanted to let you know that my last Employment Planning Meeting is scheduled for ____________________, May _____ from _____ to ______. It is my last meeting here at Kalahari and I would like everyone to attend. Please e-mail me back and let me know if you would be able to attend. I will let everyone know when a room is assigned. Sincerely, Your Name

What Our Interns Created in Google Drive Create/update resumes throughout the year Thank you letters/resignation letters Create presentation at end of year graduation Uploaded photos staff took throughout the year

Project SEARCH Shared Drive Created so all Project SEARCH steering committee members could share / view / edit all items in drive During steering committee meetings, all staff members had access to drive in order to make necessary changes or view updates Organized into 16 subdivision folders for easy access

Using the Computer During Instruction Interns used the computer to access / cancel public transportation Had interns view educational Youtube videos to reinforce concepts and lessons presented Students filled out and shared self evaluations throughout the year that were discussed at Employment Planning Meetings (see handout) Filled out online applications for possible employment at Kalahari or other places in community

Health Matters Curriculum Taught 2 lessons a week from Health Matters during classroom instruction Used computers to enhance lessons with videos Had lessons / handouts uploaded on Google drive for easy access / sharing capabilities Used data collected from the interns’ Fitbits for several lessons

Fitbits Used (2 Types) Fitbit Flex 2 (Retail $60.00) Doesn’t give times / activity level throughout day Durable design More difficult to get to charge 2. Fitbit Alta (Retail $100.00) Displays time, steps, distance traveled, calories burned, active minutes Much easier to charge Low battery level indicator

Tracking Progress After syncing fitbit with I-pad, interns log onto website at www.fitbit.com Interns use Fitbit recording sheet as a guide to record exercise activity data from the previous day Interns also record food and water intake information on template and then enter their numbers on website When completed, interns share to the group what they ate the day before, have discussions if food was healthy and if not, what other alternative choices they could make next time

Sample Fitbit Recording Sheet Fitbit Tracking Form for week May 22nd - May 26th Name______________________ Monday Food Intake: Total Steps: _____________ Breakfast: _____________ Calories burned: ___________ Lunch: ________________ Miles Traveled: __________ Dinner: _______________ Active Minutes: _____________ Snacks:_________________ Water Consumed: _______________ How many cups? ____________

Fitbit Evaluation After One Year Pro’s Interns’ interest levels Tracked fitness levels / personal goals Added responsibility for interns Used for time management strategies for some interns Many interns did make healthier decisions with foods / drinks during the year Con’s Can only sync w / cell phone & I-pad Cost can get pricey Interns hand them back at end of day and year (sleep couldn’t be monitored)

Time Management Skills w / TimeStation App Getting Started Log onto website: www.mytimestation.com Staff creates username & password Staff enters all interns in system and gives them a scan card or 4 digit PIN Interns use I-pad to clock in and out throughout day

TimeStation App Evaluation Pros: It’s FREE! Interns learn concept of clocking in / out Staff can show / print-out attendance / pay charts and discuss with interns Can use ID cards or set up intern PIN numbers Cons: Cards got damaged or lost Device (I-pad) for scanning ID’s or punching in numbers may not be always in set place

Hoping for a smooth transition…... Using Google Drive, we created a “cheat sheet” for each intern at the end of the year that listed contact information for the department they are working in, Gmail username & password, public transportation information and tips for success We “shared” it with both the intern and his/her parents with the recommendation that it gets put in a secure place but also easy to locate

Thanks! Questions? Feel free to contact us at: Mason - mmessinger@ciu20.org Dawn- Dawn.Daignault@hrcinc.org Thanks!