MOUSE Provides 21st Century Field Experiences For NYC
May 30, 2003—New York, NY—The non-profit organization, MOUSE (Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education), has developed programs that enhance in-school learning by offering field experiences to students.
On Thursday, April 3rd, high school students from MOUSE squads across all five boroughs joined together at the offices of Citigroup to kick off the 2003 MOUSE Squad Job Shadowship Program. In partnership with Citigroup, MOUSE will provide an opportunity for high school students to experience a corporate work environment by mentoring high school students. The students will work with a technical group that supports the firm’s Equity Sales and Trading Department within Citigroup’s global corporate and investment bank, maintaining a network of more than one thousand computers. The Job Shadowship Program provides an invaluable hands-on learning experience for high school students considering a job in Information Technology.
These students are participants in one of MOUSE’s premier programs, called MOUSE Squad, which currently operates in 36 New York City public schools, spanning all five boroughs. The MOUSE Squad program trains students to operate technical helpdesks in their schools, based on the standard industry helpdesk model. On average, MOUSE Squads provide their schools with 22 hours of weekly technical support, ensuring a greater level of access to technology for both students and faculty. Students receive training through a series of technical and logistical workshops as well as ongoing career development through field experiences.
Russell Finnegan, Dave Lubin and Alan Trussell, members of the team at Citigroup, see the experience as essential to future career development: "MOUSE Squad is providing the kind of invaluable, all-around tech support experience that is rare for students still in high school. The helpdesk shadowship program gives students a chance to put their MOUSE Squad experience into a real work context, and to see how their training relates to a corporate technology support operation."
The Job Shadowship Program began with a resume workshop at the offices of Citigroup, where students had the opportunity to meet their mentors and gain some introductory insight into the inner workings of Help Desk operations. The actual shadowships began on April 11th and will conclude in June.
“It is essential that in-school learning be supplemented with field experiences, so that students can learn more about how their MOUSE Squad experience relates outside of a school environment and so that the older students, in preparing for their future, have an understanding of the technology-related career paths available,” said Calvin Hastings, MOUSE’s Deputy Director. “As a result, MOUSE has incorporated such opportunities as an integral part of the MOUSE Squad program.”
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I recognize MOUSE for its dedication to providing our city’s schools with the technological tools and support to keep our children competitive in the information age. read more ›
– Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor, New York City
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MOUSE brought me where I stand today and gave me real life work experience. MOUSE taught me about leadership and teamwork, and that there is no such thing as a bad idea. read more ›
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– Christine C. Quinn, Speaker, New York City Council
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– Linda G. Roberts, National Consultant on Technology and Education
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– José E. Serrano, Congressman, 16th District of New York
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