SWAT Team: A Student Leadership Club to Support Student School Connectedness and Teacher Technology Use

• In Event: Technology as an Agent of Change in Teaching and Learning SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Schools embracing one-to-one technology programs should consider leveraging students’ strengths as digital natives by creating student technology leadership clubs. These clubs have been shown to enhance students’ school connectedness while also providing necessary support to school technology programs. Accordingly, in this study we described an extracurricular technology leadership club and examined its impact on middle-grade students’ school connectedness and their teachers’ perceptions about educational technologies. We interviewed eight students, members of the club, and surveyed 84 teachers. Our findings showed that technology leadership clubs could empower students as leaders, enhance their attachment to school, and enable teachers to embrace positive perceptions about educational technologies. Implications of the study and the design of alternative student technology leadership clubs have been discussed.

Authors

• Derek J Tranchina, Monmouth University

• Vecihi Serbay Zambak, Monmouth University