Students can use technology skills to fill gaps in their community through service learning projects. They identify technology needs like basic website design for non-profits. Projects follow an industry-style framework with planning, milestones, and delivery. Students reflect on their experience working with community partners. When complete, they present their work and partners celebrate the students' accomplishments in addressing technology inequities.

1. Service Learning Goes High Tech Technology can be the next great frontier for our students to serve our global community. When you no longer need this presentation please recycle!!

2. What is so high tech about it? Technology opening the door to a life of service Students fill technology gaps within the community Technology inequities can be equalized by students

3. Creating bonds with community! Start with simple a simple approach to scan your community for technology gaps and needs E-mail within college or community to scan for interest in student projects. For example: Are you interested in having a website built for a non-profit organization that you are a part of. Word of mouth whenever you can to query interest Results: Soon organizations will be emailing you on there own with requests to considered as a partner

4. Project Selection Projects should fill a technology gap within the community. For example: Many non-profits cannot afford the high cost of web design to publish their message on the web. Students fill a technology gap by providing a valuable service. Projects must be achievable within the allotted time frame. Basic website consists of 5 pages maximum, aesthetically pleasing, functioning links and forms.

5. Project Framework Succesful Technology based service learning project should share characteristics that mimic industry standards. (Project can be team based or individual) Meeting with partners to identify deliverables Example: Website Gathering needs Example: Colors, Photos, Graphics, Layouts…. Project planning Example: Compositing of website and tasking Meeting deadlines Example: Milestones and updates to partner Delivery and presentation for project to partner

6. Grading the Project Project should compose at least a quarter of the class grade Partner feedback should be incorporated into the grading A grading rubric should be used to assist students in meeting project requirements for grading

7. Reflection Students should blog or journal their experience, this will increase their awareness for the project and their partners. Student Reflection Samples “I feel that DIVAs is a really great idea. They've made the issue into a fun environment, and a safe place for young women. The rate of young women getting pregnant is slowly growing larger and larger, and I think it's wonderful that people who have gone through the experience are out there to help. ” “ Why should money change the way you work, for something that is only going out there to help other people!?” “I think that working with DIVAs shows that there are so many people that want to give back to the community, and it's really great to see how much other people care. I really hope that our site can help them out, and make them grow even stronger, and reach more young women.” -Tara Smartnick-Northwest Vista College Student

8. Celebration Student presentations of projects to their partners can also be a joyous occasion of accomplishment Have a party and some ice cream Encourage partners to write letters of appreciation to students Shower your students with praise for the great jobs they have done

9. What the future holds! Create a website for partners so they can register and recommend projects The registrants will be put into a database to create a renewable partner project contact source