The Las Virgenes Unified School District Educational Technology department has recently offered high school students the opportunity to earn community service hours through working at the LVUSD offices.
Students may be assigned to work either at the district office or a school site, and in special cases students can work from home. Volunteers complete tasks such as maintaining websites, setting up iPads, answering phones and installing software.
To be considered for the volunteer position, applicants must answer a questionnaire, which assesses their previous technology knowledge, interests in technology and skills with operating systems. Students are then be placed in a program within the department that best fits their skills and schedule.
“Each student is given an assignment and will be under the guidance of a district media specialist,” said Chief Technology Officer Phil Scrivano.
LVUSD employees will also be matched with student volunteers and act as mentors and liaisons during their service hours. The employees are responsible for training the volunteers, creating a personal work plan and documenting completed volunteer hours. The hours will then be permanently stored on the Aeries Service Learning Website.
Volunteers must also commit to working the hours and days for which they signed up. At the end of their services, students have the opportunity to create a resume that lists the work experience they have acquired through the volunteer program.
“Students gain knowledge and skills that pertain to supporting the technology needs of teachers, students and school sites in general,” said Scrivano.
The students are unpaid volunteers, but they have many responsibilities as interns. They are required to review and agree to the work plan as well as attend the service hours and days. The students are expected to notify their mentors if any problems or conflicts arise.
The EdTech employees must develop a work plan for the students and form good relationships with their volunteers. In maintaining professional relationships, the interns learn the proper decorum of the workplace.
Through this opportunity, LVUSD hopes to enrich students with communication, leadership and technology skills.
