iConnect applications due Friday, March 26

Hannah Backus, Editor-in-Chief|March 23, 2021

Students interesting in joining iConnect must apply by Friday, March 26. The application can be found in the appropriate grade level Google Classroom, or by visiting cisd.io/iconnectapp. “By participating in the program, students are able to meet with Dell representatives, help teachers with troubleshooting and using devices, speak at school and district events, and help the testing and college and career events,” iConnect coordinator Jessica Ray said.

Students interested in joining Canyon High’s iConnect team need to fill out the required application, which can be found on their grade level Google Classroom, by Friday, March 26. The application can also be reached here.

iConnect coordinator Jessica Ray said only 18-20 students are chosen each year to be in a part of the iConnect Tech Crew–a student-led help desk where the students perform maintenance on chromebooks, plan professional developments for teachers and troubleshoot various technology issues.

“Students spend their iConnect period in the iConnect Center located in the learning commons,” Ray said. “They will perform troubleshooting, design graphics that show on the TVs around the school, answer the phone and take messages and make sure all chromebooks are ready for use, both at the high school level and at feeder schools. They also prepare devices that need to be returned to Dell for warranty repairs and help the librarian, testing coordinator and college career military readiness coordinator.”

Students in iConnect work alongside Dell, earning a certification from them to operate on Dell products.

“Dell has a student tech crew mentorship program,” Ray said. “Students meet with a Dell representative each month and learn about career opportunities Dell offers. Some careers are very technology-driven and some are on the business side.”

Ray said iConnect offers soft skills such as troubleshooting, communication, leadership, teamwork and flexibility, as well as technology skills such as fixing screens, fixing batteries and general maintenance.

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Students will learn skills that are valuable in college or career readiness.

— Jessica Ray, iConnect coordinator

“iConnect allows students to extend their learning past the school day and integrate 21st Century skills into everything they do: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity,” Ray said. “Students will learn skills that are valuable in college or career readiness such as communicating with peers and supervisors, time management, being ambitious, working with others and trust from others.”

Those with questions about the application or the program should email Jessica Ray at [email protected].

“Students don’t need to have strong technology skills,” Ray said. “However they must have these characteristics: responsible and can be trusted, need limited supervision, have integrity, are quick learners, have respect for peers and are respected by others.”