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

Programs

MOUSE runs a program known as Mouse Squad, which focuses on troubleshooting technical problems with computers in New York public schools; the program was founded in 2000. 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. 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.

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

History

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

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

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. According to a separate study, it saved a school $19,000 annually in technical support costs.

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

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

On 13 November 2014, the MOUSE Squad at the Stephen A. Halsey School was honored by an official proclamation at a city hall. 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.

References

1. ^ Farmer, Lesley S. J. (2001). Teaming with Opportunity: Media Programs, Community Constituencies, and Technology. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 978-1-56308-878-0.
2. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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.

• 1997 establishments in New York City
• Education in New York City
• Organizations established in 1997
• Technology organizations
• Non-profit youth organizations based in the United States