Students at Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) with a love for technology had a chance to share their knowledge during a technology symposium with presentations by and for students.
Dubbed WCPS Youth Tech Nation 2015, the event was held at Ponoka Secondary Campus Friday, May 29 and grew from an idea after last year’s Central Alberta 21st Century Learning Symposium, explained Greg Estevez, technology integration director with WCPS.
Having students present to their peers was a collaborative effort with technology integration leaders Kylie Kissel and Janice VanCampen, who came up with the title of WCPS Youth Tech Nation and who organized the day. Estevez believes it was the first technology conference where students presented to each other.
Estevez said it gave students an opportunity, “to present to kids those real world skills of passing on information, presenting their learning.”
Technology coaches from each school were there to guide students who had spent time preparing for sessions such as learning how to use WeVideo, Google Chrome apps, teen social media, 3D printing and coding to name a few of the sessions.
Estevez said it was clear that while students appeared nervous, they were also excited to pass on their learning. He feels there is momentum and enough interest in developing the youth symposium in the future as he has received queries from parents, WCPS staff and outside the division as well.
“We anticipate this event also growing,” he said.
Keynote speakers
To kick off the day, owners of Jo(e) Ideas for Business, Jo Phillips and Joe Whitbread, spoke to students about the importance of marketing and what that looks like in today’s world of social media.
Phillips said youths have much potential for positive change and with many young people familiar with how social media works, they can make take their message as far as possible.
“The youth voice can only get louder,” said Phillips.
Whitbread added that understanding branding and marketing can empower youths to make that change. Both presented examples of strong marketing brands such as Tim Hortons slogans and McDonald’s “I’m loving it” jingle.
Every student was able to identify branding techniques used and why it helps a business. But getting ads out to users is also becoming a challenge. Phillips added that it is becoming cheaper, but easier to reach a bigger audience, by sharing on social media, which is an avenue companies are finding out how to take advantage of.
“Your guys’ generation is difficult to market to because you’re smart,” Phillips stated.
Students were shown several different ways a company can market itself from product placement in movies to product placement in a grocery store.
While social media has opened other advertising opportunities, it is also a place to voice opinions and ideas and youths should be cognizant of what it is they are saying, explained the speakers.
There is much positive that can be done with social media but there is also much negative that can come out, said Phillip. Whitbread added it falls on youths to make the right decision. “What we’re talking here is you have a choice.”
Phillips advised students to perpetuate positivity on social media sites, which in turn will benefit them in the future with job applications and other endeavours.
Both speakers held their own breakout sessions for students and guided them on positive ideas when using social media as a tool.
Students came from around the WCPS school division.