The WTA provides an extremely economical, comprehensive, and proven method to address issues shared by all states and countries: Providing technology access and bridging the Digital-Divide. The WTA partners with state agencies and national ministries to create a statewide or nationwide comprehensive system to relocate high quality surplus technology from regions that have it to regions that need it. The WTA then creates local service-learning partnerships with higher education, secondary education and community organizations to refurbish the computers and place it to needy schools and families. Best of all, there is no cost to national ministries, state agencies, schools, students, or partners to implement this program. In fact, it easily generates revenue for partner organizations to self-sustain and grow...

The WildTech model establishes an in-state (for US states) or in-country (for nations outside of the United States) technology service learning “hub,” generally operated in partnership with a local college or large community organization. Students and volunteers gain technology skills in the classroom through an “A+ / Computer Repair” curriculum, then apply these skills in service-learning internships at the WildTech hub. This includes refurbishing and gifting computers, providing software training classes, computer repair services, and help-desk support. Small fees may be charged to help offset costs.

As their culminating project, students teach high school teachers, college tearchers and community organizations how to implement the WildTech program at their high schools. This includes training to implement the A+/Computer Repair curriculum, training in the associated service learning tasks, and training to implement a student-run technology enterprise to implement the program. Students at the hub then provide perpetual support to the high school and college programs they created. This includes providing raw surplus computers for high school & college students to refurish, help-desk support, an information-sharing web site and an annual in-state or in-country WildTech Summit to share best practices.

The WildTech Statewide or National Hub and the WildTech school programs are structured and managed as student-run companies that generate revenue to self-sustain and grow. Thus, students learn essential business and entrepreneurial skills. Any surplus revenue is invested in student-leadership programs or student scholarship funds.

Service Learning Performance Tasks Associated with this Program:

A+ / Computer Repair Curriculum. This class prepares students for jobs in computer service and repair. Students learn to identify parts, configure hardware, load software, and troubleshoot problems. This is an “off the shelf” curriculum available from many vendors. The associated service tasks include:

• Inventory Management. Students establish a computerized inventory system.
• System and Parts Identification & Processing. The WildTech state hub is located in the urban area where most surplus technology donors reside. The hub serves as a collection and distribution depot for the high school programs and for the service learning tasks taking place at the hub.
• Parts Recycling. Students disassemble junk computers into parts that can be ecologically recycled.
• eCommerce.Students sell valuable unusable parts on eBay or design their own ecommerce site.
• Computer Refurbishing. Students learn to configure hardware, load the operating system (Windows 98 or 2000), configure all devices, and load application software. Refurbished computers are provided to low income schools, students, community members, and non-profit organizations.
• Supporting Refurbished Computers. Students provide repair services for all computers they refurbish and place. Students learn to communicate, diagnose and fix problems, and manage service.
• Help Desk Support. Students create a free community technical support help desk for low-income adults.
• School District Technicians. Advanced students serve as interns supporting their school’s technology.
• Introductory Training for Recipients of Refurbished Computers. Topics include basic computer use, Windows, email, and much more.
• Training in Basic Computer Use, Software, Email, and Internet Job Search. Student train classrooms of 4-12 low-income adults. Most programs charge small fees for training to offset program costs.
• WildTech Introductory Training. At the end of each semester, college interns hold a two-day training program for new high school teachers and student leaders who want to implement the WildTech model in their high schools. This is how new high schools join the program.

Entrepreneurship Curriculum. WildTech also involves entrepreneurship and business management Service Learning. WildTech uses a 400 page “Enterprise Curriculum” to develop management, marketing, and accounting policies and procedures. All were derived by a leading technology company, adapted to a school environment, and tested in schools. The associated service learning tasks include:

• Marketing. College students and high school students develop and implement a marketing plan that maximizes the provision on WildTech products and services to the target communities.
• Accounting. Students implement and manage the PeachTree computerized accounting system for inventory control, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and general ledger.
• Management. College students and high school students implement a board of directors to manage their respective WildTech enterprises.