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DeTECHtives

The DeTECHtives program provides an opportunity for students to develop problem-solving skills through research, collaboration, and the design process and present their ideas using various technology tools and applications.

This Year's Challenge:

The Buffalo Public Schools IT Department has been awarded an exciting new resource - a fully equipped IT Tech Vanl This van has the potential to support both students and the community, but here's the challenge: it doesn't have a clear purpose yet. That's where students come in!

As participants in the Instructional Technology Programs, your task is to come up with a creative and impactful way to use the IT Tech Van to benefit the students and community of Buffalo Public Schools.

Consider the following questions as you develop your solution:

  • How can the IT Tech Van make a difference for students like you?

  • How can it help families and the community outside of school?

  • What types of services or technology could the van offer to schools and neighborhoods?

  • What problems or needs in your community could the van help solve?

Students work with team to create a multimodal infographic that explains your plan for the IT Tech Van. Plans should outline its purpose, who it will serve, and how it will operate. Students present ideas to a panel of school leaders who are excited to hear your innovative solutions!

Innovation Arena

This year marked the exciting debut of the DeTECHtives Program's Innovation Arena, where student teams from School 33, School 37, School 65, School 76, School 79, and School 156 stepped into the spotlight to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skill—centered around this year’s challenge—developing an innovative solution for how the district’s new IT Tech Van could best serve students and the greater Buffalo community—students engaged in collaborative research and design thinking to tackle a real-world problem.

Each team presented a compelling infographic and a functional prototype to a panel of community stakeholders known as the Innovation Council. The event highlighted the power of student voice and ingenuity, as participants confidently explained their design process, research findings, and the potential impact of their ideas. The inaugural Innovation Arena set a high bar for excellence and established DeTECHtives as a powerful program for student-led innovation in Buffalo Public Schools.

View All Student 2025 Student Projects