Buddy² Step-Up

Designed to help middle schools tap the talent of techno-savvy students and assist and support teachers' technology use, the Step-Up to the Future project was piloted at three middle school sites in Indiana during the 1998-1999 school year. The goal of Step-Up was to provide a framework and training program to promote student collaboration with teachers to improve the school teaching and learning environment.

The Step-Up framework included a mentor program such as : students received training from a Step-Up teacher for an hour before school, three days a week for 18 weeks. For the remainder of the school year, students worked as volunteers with teachers to meaningfully integrate technology into the middle school curriculum.

The Step-Up student benefited from this relationship through sharpened technology skills, improved interpersonal skills and a deeper understanding of the complexities of teaching. Faculty members who volunteered to work with Step-Up students benefited from having a well-trained technology savvy resource.

Schools and school corporations that participated in the Step-Up to the Future program responded enthusiastically to the project. They saw the impact of this student provided educational support had in their buildings with a small financial investment.