Shattering Stereotypes (Open House/Road Show version)

Activity	Shattering Stereotypes
Overview	Participants compare preconceived ideas about technology students to profiles of actual students to develop a broad understanding of who can be a technology student.
Time	5-10 minutes
Materials	For Each Participant: Copy of the Describe a Technology Student handout (PDF) Copy of the Technology Student Facts handout (PDF) Pencil

Customize for Your College:

Use the four Student Profiles (PDF) provided or create four of your own using the Student Profile Template (Word). Note: If you are unable to open the Template in Word 2001, you can view the contents in PDF format. Interview and photograph students in your program; then use this information to create profiles on the template. (Since these profiles will be copied and distributed, be sure to obtain proper permission from the students.) You can also describe additional students featured in the Success Stories section of the Pathways to Technology Web site.

Note: Every handout has space for adding your logo (bottom right corner for PDF documents; anywhere else for Word documents).

Station Set Up:

1. Place a stack of Describe a Technology Student (PDF) and Technology Student Facts (PDF) handouts and pencils on the table.
   
   
2. Place one copy of each of the four Student Profiles in a freestanding plastic photo frame so they are easy to read.
   
   
3. Invite two or three students currently enrolled in your program to staff the table and answer questions about who they are, what prior education they had before enrolling in your program, and what they are currently doing.

Procedure:

1. Ask participants to think of characteristics that describe a typical student of technology.
   
   
2. Invite them to complete the Describe a Technology Student handout.
   
   
3. When participants have completed the handout questions, have them compare their responses to the Technology Student Facts handout.
   
   
4. Invite participants to "meet" some actual students. Point out the four Student Profiles that they can read. If you have students staffing your station, invite participants to talk with them directly.
   
   
5. Talk with participants about the activity. Ask: Did you relate to any of the profiled students? What are some similarities or differences? Did any of the information on the Technology Student Facts handout surprise you? Talk with participants about the current make-up of your program's student body and describe the support systems that are available to help all students succeed.