Students from the House of Technology, a technology solutions center on campus that they designed and created, have found a way to use Strengths + Passions + Service to

Others = Mission/Work. This winning formula for success was shared with me by JoeSweeney while he was writing his newest book, Moving the Needle, and it has helped me to frame why students in the House of Technology at University School of Milwaukee are thriving in life as learners and leaders. The students who participate in the House of Technology spend at least one hour in the program space daily during community and flex times on challenging work that helps others at USM significantly. Their work provides them mastery of content, autonomy to investigate things that interest them, and purpose because they serve others in their technology endeavors, three elements Daniel Pink proposes as motivational factors.

Some of the problems these students solve are extremely high-level and require substantial collaboration to find the best solutions. It is not uncommon to see them using old technology to brainstorm and problem solve. They have a budget to consider and know that cost effective solutions result in a better bottom line and that is another key to the program’s success. Students are given opportunities to find solutions that lead to consequences that are their own, one of the best learning tools I have seen for students that are use to memorizing content to acquire skills and earn a grade that has little real significance to the broader community. Their results affect a bottom line they manage to grow their program and serve others they go to school with.

Yesterday, I presented with the students in the House of Technology at a national conference called ISACS, attended by primarily independent schools, and they surpassed any expectation we had set together for the group’s work.

The intent of the presentation was to share the three components of the program including

• technology support in a 1:1 school with wireless projectors, Apple TVs, multiple networks, and Smart Boards,
• repairs of virtually any IOS device or computer
• project work: setting up servers, building 3-D printers, designing labs, and building apps,

so that other schools can go back and implement similar programs in their schools to engage students in learning, improve the community, and generate revenue. They were glowing in their leadership and impressed many administrators by the sheer love of their work and expertise. Their passions, strengths, and service to others were highlighted in their efforts igniting excitement in the independent school community.

Last night, as a result of their efforts, I responded to a large number of email requests to visit the students on campus and learn more about the House of Technology. When I shared the communications this morning with the students, they were excited to help the schools begin their work. Their efforts to help others by sharing their work have opened up many unexpected opportunities. I feel certain that the House of Technology will continue to blossom because of the original formula from which it originated.