VentureX Startup Battle

 

One of my students, Eva, participated in the VentureX startup battle recently.  I am really excited for her because she took advantage of a wonderful opportunity to meet like minded people in the area and work with them.  She likened the experience to going to Disney World only more fun!  I gave her a ton of extra credit for it. (She did spend an entire weekend there.)  But let us be honest.  Look at Eva's blog; she does not really need the credit.

 

I'd like to encourage all my students to take advantage of opportunities like this.  Graduation time will come quickly enough and practicing your networking skills now when it is less of a risk than when you are actually looking for a job is invaluable.  Besides, you may meet someone who would like for you to intern or better yet work for them and complete your program doing on-the-job-training. 

 

That is worth giving up a weekend for!

 

http://www.kpkaiser.com/entrepreneurship/big-hacks-in-little-paradise-the-story-of-the-first-naples-startup-battle/

Flipping the Classroom with Khan's Academy

     Salman Khan was recently interviewed on NPR's Talk of the Nation. I have been trying to integrate the concept into my classroom. However, I find it hard to do in an economically challeged area like Immokalee where all my students might not have access to a computer and higb speed internet at home.




Listen to the interview and let me know your thoughts on the concept of lectures and learning. Is it a thing of the past?




Check out Khan's Academy to see the concept for yourself.

Celebrating our success!



Claudette and Dr.  Kirkland, Very Proud!



First, I would like to congratulate Claudette Williams on completing Microsoft's "Digital Literacy" curriculum and obtaining a certificate of achievement. 

Claudette started with me at the beginning of this short summer semester, my first ever as a teacher.  Claudette is a retired school teacher of 28 years.  She taught Early Childhood Education.  She bravely undertook the Cybersecurity program even though it is outside her level of comfort.  In fact she has very little, if nothing, in her background to prepare her for this class.  So, if anyone thinks that they cannot change careers and do so successfully;  Think again.  Claudette entered the program with an open mind, a desire to learn, and a willingness to work hard. And she is succeeding. 

But aside from celebrating Claudette's victory, I want to tell you about how we as a class worked together to make this happen. 

We used tools like class discussions and interactive whiteboard activities to have the more experienced/advanced students explain the concepts.  In doing so, they have just as much to be proud of as I do.  And in the process they reinforced their understanding of the subject.  Being able to teach others is a true indicator of comprehension.

Go Team!  We have all succeeded.

Claudette typed all her notes and asked questions on each one of them.

STEM School Opens in Lee County

ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral 

A new school is opening up in Lehigh Acres this month.  Part of the Lee County Public Schools system, Tortuga Preserve Elementary will be considered a "STEM" school with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Even more exciting: My student's daughter was interviewed in this video from ABC-7.

Starting the emphasis on STEM education at this early age will hopefully be the first step in accomplishing a number of goals.  Children lose interest in those subjects at an early age, oftentimes due to lack of exposure.  Not only is there a significant gender and minority gap in these fields, but studies have shown that children do not pursue a future in engineering unless they have experience with a close family member who is an engineer.

I look forward to seeing this school and more initiatives like this start to change that trend. 

For more information about Tortuga Preserve, visit:  http://tpe.leeschools.net/index.htm

Women and Minorities in Silicon Valley

In class, we had a discussion about the following series of stories from NPR.  Being a woman in technology, and working in a community where most of my students are minorities, it seemed very relevant. 

Our conversation was productive and enlightening for both the students and the instructor.  (I hope to begin recording these.) 

We discussed the need for women and minorities to act more like the "status quo" which now happens to be a white male.  However, this act goes against our nature/nurture/comfort zone.  And when a woman "acts" like a man, or a man of color "acts" like a white man, doesn't everyone look at them a little cockeyed anyway?

However, when we stifle our strengths in an attempt to fit in I think we do a disservice to innovation in two ways:

• First, we don't take advantage of our full potential as a team member.
• Second, we miss the insights that women and minorities have to bring products to market that will serve a broader range of our community.

In the end, initiatives like "NewMe" and others like them are an exciting part of our industry that will produce some amazing results.  That is of course just my humble opinion. 


Part 1:
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/23/156555402/silicon-valley-boot-camp-aims-to-boost-diversity

Part 2:
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/24/157271459/at-silicon-valley-boot-camp-perfecting-the-pitch

Part 3:
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/25/157342065/at-silicon-valley-boot-camp-a-startups-success

Local Resources in High Tech

Click the listen link on this article to hear a facinating story of a high tech project happening here in Naples.

This is a wonderful lesson how examining the past can shape our future.  And a reminder that our community has much to offer.

http://www.wgcu.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=26568&Itemid=493

Group settings can diminish expressions of intelligence, especially among women, study finds

Group settings can diminish expressions of intelligence, especially among women, study finds

Make your voice stand out. Now that you know of this trend, you can be aware and think more critically when you are in a group setting.

How Round are iTech Students?

The answer is WELL-ROUNDED!

I recently shared an article about hiring predictions for 2012.  Following is an excerpt detailing traits that employers in IT are looking for in successful candidates:

• Sense-making - ability to determine the deeper meaning of what is being expressed
• Social intelligence - connecting to others in deep and direct way
• Cross-cultural competency - able to operate in different cultural surroundings
• Computational thinking - translate massive amounts of data into abstract concepts
• New-media literacy - assess and develop content that uses new forms of media and can leverage that use
• Virtual collaboration - productive work, engagement and presence among a virtual team

As you can see these are not subjects that are found in your CompTIA or Cisco certifications.  However, they are vital in the workplace and you as a professional will need to develop these "soft skills" and be able to demonstrate your proficiency in them.

So how are we going to do that?

1. Sense-making - Classroom and Class Cafe' discussions will be used to make connections between what we are learning in the text and the real world.  Be sure to make periodic reflections on these in your bog.
2. Social intelligence - Internships play a big part into this.  Role-playing will also be used in class.  Most importantly we will adhere to a professional level of communication in class.  Spelling and grammar in email communication will count.  And ABSOLUTELY no text lingo.  (OMG, RLY?)
3. Cross-cultural competency - As I want to learn more about the Immokalee community and its rich history, we will be working with each other to become colleges and learn more about the culture from which we each come.  We will also explore basic workplace etiquette, cultural biases, and gain insight on the world outside of Southwest Florida.
4. Computational thinking - All of your class projects will be backed by research that you have done on your own to support the end result.  Make sure that you validate and document your sources to make your finding credible.
5. New-media literacy - Creating a portfolio that incorporates well a well-maintained blog, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter account.  Starting now will establish both a habit of regular posting, and give your accounts an established foundation on a variety of topics.
6. Virtual collaboration -  We will be breaking into groups to complete a variety of projects.  For these we will also try to partner with programs in other tech schools around the state using online collaboration tools.

By its nature, Computer Systems Technology and Cybersecurity is a pretty dry subject.  Additionally, the work can be pretty solitary.  But people who are really successful in the field have learned to step away from the computer and make themselves shine.  Hopefully, together we can establish the foundation to make your star rise long after you leave our campus.

Blog > Weekly Word on the Street: 2012 Predictions

I would like to share the following article about predictions in IT hiring for the next year. While significant growth is not predicted, there is definitely some reason for hope.  There are more opportunities everyday for iTech graduates.

Blog > Weekly Word on the Street: 2012 Predictions

Students should pay close attention to a couple points in the article: 

• First, the importance of having a broad base of skills that an employer can draw upon. Make sure that you don't limit your career by becoming too specialized.  Think about what certification paths you are pursuing and how you can add value to an employer by supplementing that with additional training or certifications.
• Second, internships are a great way to get hired. We are currently working to provide more opportunities for students here in the school district, but also with out advisory committee members and community partners. Also, consider looking into a summer internship outside of the area. Many of the big technology companies like Google, Facebook, and Dropbox are actually competing for next summer's intern candidates. Watch this blog for a more in depth discussion of internships and resources.

The key to success in finding meaningful work after you complete this program is planning and preparation.  Start now with creating your portfolio and polishing your resume.  Practice interviewing with family members.  Employers are looking for more than just a certificate.  Make sure you give it to them!