Hands-on Technology Experience for Low-Income Kids

“I believed in genuine growth for the students, and, over time, watched them find the confidence to believe in themselves. Nothing better than spending time with students who WANT to learn.” - Joshua Encarnacion, Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught To Live a Dream, an apprenticeship about holistic health, at William Sheppard Middle School in San Jose, California)

Citizen Schools' mission is "Educating Children, Strengthening Communities." Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gap for middle school students from low-income communities and move students onto a successful track, heading toward high school graduation, college attainment, and positions of leadership in their careers and communities. Since its inception in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has partnered with middle schools and communities to reimagine the learning day and provide all students with rigorous and engaging experiences that connect students’ current learning to their future. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and apprenticeships - hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. By focusing on middle school, Citizen Schools capitalizes on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on graduation, college matriculation, and ultimately a successful career. Citizen Schools also seeks to build a strong and skilled pipeline of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals to fill the national gap in qualified STEM professions. In the 2015-16 school year, Citizen Schools is serving 5,100 students from disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, 96% of whom are children of color. Google remains one of Citizen Schools’ leading supporters – not only through financial contributions but especially through the human capital of Googlers, who teach our students in 10-week, hands-on apprenticeships.

In this fall semester, 61 Google Citizen Teachers are leading 20 apprenticeships in Citizen Schools programs, bringing learning to life for more than 225 students. Apprenticeships taught by Googlers include:

• Design Thinking - Middle school students at William Sheppard Middle School in California are creating new solutions to problems they’re used to seeing by learning a new way of thinking. Mitchell and Kyle, two Googlers, are leading students in this apprenticeship. It concludes with a WOW! presentation where apprentices explain their thought processes behind each problem and solution.
• Google Shark Tank - At two different schools in New York - Isaac Newton Middle School and Urban Assembly Unison School - Google employees are teaching students how to start their own business by developing an original logo, marketing plan and business pitch. Seven Googlers are leading these two apprenticeships: Carol, Chuck, Anant and Justin at Isaac Newton and Philip, Anya, and Lauren at Urban Assembly. The apprenticeship concludes in a WOW! presentation where apprentices present their new business and explain their product, projected profits and losses, marketing plan, logo, and manufacturing and distribution plans.
• Pencil Code with Google - Three Googlers - Yana, Eric and Daniel - from the Cambridge, MA office are leading this apprenticeship at Edwards Middle School. In this apprenticeship, students use the coding program “Pencil Code” to develop their own video games. At the concluding WOW!, apprentices show the audience how to play their games.

 “I learned a lot about teaching, especially in terms of taking things I know and learning to frame them in a way that is accessible and understandable to middle schoolers. I think teaching for Citizen Schools helped me develop as a teacher, and I enjoyed connecting with the students.” - Yuri Lin, Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (most recently taught Trebuchets at the Dever McCormack School in Boston)

“I had the opportunity to help students who were particularly challenged in terms of behavior, and I saw how that made a difference. I felt I had the opportunity to have an impact to help them improve their focus and participation.” - Richard Achee, Google Volunteer Citizen Teacher (currently working with 8th graders at the Renaissance School of the Arts in New York.)

Citizen Schools’ signature apprenticeships all culminate in a celebration of students’ learning and the projects they have created called the WOW!. Citizen Schools and Google will again have several opportunities to celebrate our partnership this fall at special WOW! events. We look forward to sharing stories from these WOW!s in the next Global Giving Report.

Citizen Schools is so grateful for our powerful partnership with Google and its employees. The enthusiasm of Google volunteers continues to inspire children and colleagues alike, as they explore new worlds with students and set them on a course for success in high school, college, and careers.

Links:

• Citizen Schools