Student Tech Team
WORKSHEET
1. Suggested Use
Technology, teamwork, and future careers focus, followed by B1-level vocabulary and grammar activities.
2. Suggested Activities
A. Project-based learning
Tell students they are part of a school “Tech Team” organising a Tech Help Day for teachers and classmates. Have them assign themselves roles, e.g. tech helpers who explain what they can fix, and clients with tech issues. Students then write short expressions and sentences that can help them speak to clients or the tech team. Students then perform their roleplays.
B. Mediation task: Managing interaction
Put students into small groups and assign them as agree, disagree and have one student as a mediator. Have students discuss whether a programme like this should be implemented at their school or not. The mediator’s role is to ensure each student has an equal amount of time to speak and to rebut their partner’s views.
C. Pronunciation task: /f/ pronunciation focus
Give students a copy of the videoscript and have them identify the words with the /f/ sound, e.g. follow, fearless, failure, find, staff etc. Practise, model and drill the pronunciation of the words.
3. Vocabulary
Technology
device
laptop
tablet
battery
screen
reset
fix
repair
tutorial
solution
career
field
Phrasal verbs and expressions
look after
take apart
find solutions
learn by doing
explore options
prepare for a career
learn-through-failure
socialize
earn money
get experience
share ideas
hands-on education
4. Grammar
Passive voice (present and past):
They are hired by the school district to help with technology work; Devices are cleaned, sorted, and reset by the students.
Infinitives of purpose:
Students learn about real problems to help with devices; They clean and reset laptops to prepare them for use.
Present continuous:
Students are learning about technology through real-life experience; They are working in teams and getting real skills.
TRANSCRIPT
Student Tech Team
NARRATOR:
We can learn in many places — not just in the classroom. In some schools in the U.S., students are learning about technology through real-life experience. In New York State, students help look after the school’s laptops and tablets. They are part of a student tech team.
SOUNDBITE - Jerilyn Stellato:
"I like to describe them as fearless. So, they will open up the back of a computer and they're not shocked at what they see. They're willing to go in, take a look at it, take it apart and kind of that learn-through-failure kind of process."
NARRATOR:
The students learn how to fix problems with the devices. If a screen is cracked or a battery doesn’t work, they try to repair it. They make progress, even if they sometimes fail. They get help from school staff, follow online tutorials, and share ideas with each other to find solutions.
SOUNDBITE - Brandon Ferris:
"It's a fun time. It's not just working, we all kind of socialize and have fun with each other."
NARRATOR:
In some schools in Buffalo, every student has their own device. It’s a big job to look after all of them. That’s why the school district is now hiring students to help with technology work during the summer. They clean, sort, and reset the devices. The school pays the students by the hour…
SOUNDBITE - Galib Ovik:
"This is a potential choice for me as a career.”
NARRATOR:
…and they can use what they have learned in future jobs and studies.
SOUNDBITE - Rachael Miller:
"I feel like it was a really good opportunity for me to explore my options, technology career-wise because I know I want to work in the technology field."
NARRATOR:
Programmes like this help schools run smoothly, and give young people valuable hands-on education.