Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education

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Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education
Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education
AbbreviationMOUSE
Formation1997; 27 years ago (1997)
FounderAndrew Rasiej
Legal statusNonprofit
PurposeYouth development, technology education and support
Region
New York City
Websitehttps://mouse.org

Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education or MOUSE is a youth development and nonprofit organization[1] in New York City, United States focused on integrating technology with New York City education.[2][3] It was founded by Andrew Rasiej in 1997.[2] It targets schools in underserved communities,[4] as well as those with high levels of poverty or of minorities.[5]

Programs

MOUSE runs a program known as Mouse Squad, which focuses on troubleshooting technical problems with computers in New York public schools;[2] the program was founded in 2000.[6] Students in the after-school activity first go through six months of human-centered design training, followed by six months of working on making a prototype product with a mentor.[4] Students in New York City get a chance to graduate into a wing of the program known as Mouse Corps, which was founded sometime around 2008[when?].[4]

In addition to the Mouse Squad, MOUSE also sponsors more advanced[how?] technical training, job shadow programs, and college-bound workshops for high school students,[6] as well as providing expertise through industry partnerships.[1][clarification needed] The organization communicates through its newsletter MOUSE Droppings and through conferences.[1]

History

Sometime before 2001[when?], the organization teamed up with Arthur Anderson to create the Young Women's Technology Club.[1] As of 2000, the organization has about 1500 volunteers and an annual budget of nearly $2M.[7] As of 2006, it has over 200 students representing 32 schools.[8]

In its first official year, following two pilot seasons, 31 schools participated; the previous year, 13 schools did.[2]

A study conducted by Fordham University found that 87% of students who joined the MOUSE Squad felt like participation improved their academic skills and 92% of them felt that it increased their desire to stay in school.[9] According to a separate study, it saved a school $19,000 annually in technical support costs.[9]

As of 2012, the organization has over 80 Mouse Squad programs,[10] and was praised by Michael Bloomberg as "provid[ing] our city’s schools with the technological tools and support to keep our children competitive in the information age."[11]

On 4 April 2013, John C. Liu visited a MOUS program in Washington Heights, Manhattan.[12][unreliable source?] In a 2013 report, Liu recommended that MOUSE programs be offered at every public middle and high school.[13]

On 13 November 2014, the MOUSE Squad at the Stephen A. Halsey School was honored by an official proclamation at a city hall.[14] Among other things, the group works on 3D printing (including training other students and creating models of dinosaurs), creating games, Robotics, and helping to install new computers and printers.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Farmer, Lesley S. J. (2001). Teaming with Opportunity: Media Programs, Community Constituencies, and Technology. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 978-1-56308-878-0.
  2. ^ a b c d Cortese, Amy (27 November 2002). "When Computers Won't Work, Schools Call for Mouse - New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ Shulman, Robin (2 September 2005). "A Man With a Vision for Getting New York Wired". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Carr, David F (31 July 2013). "NYC's Mouse Corps Gives Students Tech Design Boost". InformationWeek. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  5. ^ Borja, Rhea R. (3 November 2004). "The MOUSE Squad". Education Week. 24 (10): 32–35. ISSN 0277-4232.
  6. ^ a b "MOUSE Squad Study Charts a Mighty Success". Fordham Newsroom. 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  7. ^ Dowell, William (24 July 2000). "CEOs Who Install Cable In Schools: Mouse.Org". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  8. ^ Orenstein, David (12 October 2006). "Applying Tech: Student Techs to the Rescue". Technology Solutions That Drive Education. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "MOUSE Squad Study Charts a Mighty Success". Fordham Newsroom. 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  10. ^ Pierce, Margo (6 November 2012). "Student-run Tech Support Programs Advance at the Speed of Technology -". THE Journal. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  11. ^ "Gadgets and Gizmos – BMCC". 17 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  12. ^ "LIU ON COMPUTERLESS KIDS". www.nyrealestatelawblog.com. 8 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  13. ^ "COMPTROLLER LIU: DIGITAL DIVIDE THREATENS NYC STUDENTS' POST-HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS" (PDF). comptroller.nyc.gov. 5 April 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b "JHS 157 kids named top techies in U.S." Queens Chronicle. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
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