Our thanks to Nathan Monroe, Mouse Squad Coordinator, ATEMS (Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science) in Abilene, Texas for sharing his thoughts and insights about Mouse Squad!

What skills do you feel the Mouse Squad program helps your students to learn and improve?

My students are learning many and various skills, from how to assist teachers and fellow students when they encounter technological difficulties, as well as how to troubleshoot technology problems. I have seen my students grow in confidence and in their abilities to communicate with others.

How does participating in the Mouse Squad better prepare students for opportunities in the future?

Mouse prepares my students for a future in higher education by giving them the tools to be independent thinkers and learners, as well as by giving them practice working with partners and groups. These are also skills necessary for a future career, as are the people skills they learn, when assisting others who are having technological difficulties.

How does the Mouse Squad program make a difference in your school?

At my school, each teacher has a laptop cart or desktops in the classroom for each student. Mouse members go to the classrooms every morning to assist the teachers in removing the computers from their laptop carts, and they go to the classrooms in the afternoons to help the teachers place the laptops back into the carts.

Throughout the day the students report any problems they find in their classrooms, and troubleshoot any issues, which arise on the campus. I have been told numerous times how much help the Mouse Squad is to our campus and with the teachers.

Describe a favorite project or accomplishment that your Squad was involved with this year.

The assistance with the laptops on a daily basis has been the greatest accomplishment of Mouse this year. This has been a huge undertaking, which was made much easier by Mouse.

How does being a Mouse Squad Coordinator benefit you as an educator?

I have reaped many benefits by being the Mouse Squad Coordinator. I get to know students who are not in my classes, and I have the opportunity to watch students as they solve problems and build their self-esteem by being a part of this group.