Problem Solving in the Silicon Sandbox

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Problem Solving in the Silicon Sandbox

• Scott Horan, scott.horan_at_jefferson.kyschools.us
• School to Career Office, JCPS
• Member, IT Career Cluster NAC
• June 24, 2008

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Current State of Affairs in ITWhat the Research
Tells Us

• IT job market is strengthening in U.S.
• In Q1, 2008 unemployment was 2.3
• Lowest since 2001
• IT employment up 12 YOY
• 376,000 IT jobs added for total of 3.8M employed
• Data U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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What the Research Tells Us

• Wheres the U.S. IT job growth coming from?
• Computer support specialists up 41 YOY adding
  127,000 jobs
• Network and data communications up 19
  growth YOY adding 68,000 new jobs
• Computer scientists and system analysts8 growth
  YOY adding 65,000 jobs
• Network/system administrators 31 growth YOY
  adding 51,000 jobs
• IT management11 growth YOY adding 51,000 jobs
• Data U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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WHAT DOES EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH SHOW ABOUT
RE-FORMING PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES VIA THE
VOC-ED Information Technology PATH?

• Students who spend 4 years solving real world
  computer problems (of all types) gravitate toward
  CIS and Engineering majors
• For many digital natives the difference are nil
  between
• programming in JAVA
• Scripting an ASP web page that auto-reports camp
  registrations
• configuring a software audit (and watching the
  teachers squirm)
• Explaining a sequel injection to a large-eyed
  Administrator
• Planning and implementing a secure, wireless
  network for the school
• The thrill is in the solution
• Seymour Howard would be proud

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How does this work?(any path will do)

• Grade 7-8 Prep Skills (Keyboarding, Apps)
• Pre HS summer Test-Out (Use IC-3 Practice or SAM)
• 9th Redo Basics or ID-3 (first Cert)
• 10th Pick a major and start as long as they
  are project based, they all produce similar
  results.
• GIS, A, Graphics, Web Design, Programming
• 11th Begin Project Orientated Vertical Curr.
• GIS, Networking, Help-Desk, Programming, Web,
  Graphics
• 12th Double Dip and Internship
• Continue path of certs (like AP), Arts, Contests,
  IT-Ints
• Graduate with multiple college credits via APs
  Certs
• (current student body pres of GeorgiaTech a
  graduate with 24 hrs credit)

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How do we use this data? (or so this is the
IT Voc-Ed Ive been hearing about)

• First, share it. Develop a school/industry
  committee (or council)
• Second, find support materials (If you are from
  Texas, you are in LUCK!)
• Third, find ways to teach the whole suite, not
  just programming
• Fourth, find ways to get funded, trained and
  supported (go back to your committee)
• Fifth, use Industry Assessments (IC-3, A, CIW,
  Adobe, MOS, etc)

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What are our Challenges?

• Changing standards both for curriculum,
  assessment/certifications
• Training and Procuring Staff
• The Changing IT Industry
• The Changing Laws that govern education

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The New Carl Perkins Act

• Greater Emphasis on
• Integration efforts with academics
• Tougher capstone requirements
• Industry Councils
• Better Articulation records efforts with
  post-secondary

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The IT Career Cluster Pathways

• Web Digital Communications
• Information Support Services
• Network Systems
• Programming Software Development
• Applications (GIS)
• Graphics (from Communications)
• Multimedia (from Communications)
• Business Technology (MOS, IC-3, Apps)
• CAD (from STEM or Industrial Tech)

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Questions?
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IT In Jefferson County
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IT In Jefferson County
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IT In Jefferson County
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How do we make all of this work in Jefferson
County?

• Teacher Training
• Organizations (STLP Skills-USA, FBLA)
• Events Competitions, Camps, etc
• Internships
• Certifications and Endorsements