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SIM RLF Graduates Partners with LISD, and others, using Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope in HIGH TECH Leap forward for 3rd – 5th graders at Heritage Elementary |
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As we see today’s headlines dominated by dire unemployment statistics ~ many information technology skills are experiencing less than 2% unemployment rates compared to today’s 6+% national rates. It is a surprise to many that we have a severe shortage of critical skills in IT today with forecasts of a worsening shortfall in the future. The US Department of labor has projected that by 2014 there will be 2 million job openings in the United States in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Many of these job pay salaries at several multiples of the median national income.
The number of American students graduating with degrees in technical fields is actually declining. The number of undergraduate engineering degrees awarded in the United States fell by 15% in the most recent 10 year period ending in 2005. This is especially alarming since we are seeing a decline in the foreign students who remain and work in the United States due to several factors including immigration policies.
The DFW SIM (Society for Information Management) RLF graduate community has taken the initiative to respond to this crisis in a sweeping effort to foster awareness of the many exciting opportunities available in IT by applying the talents of its RLF (Regional Leadership Forum) to the need to introduce elementary school children to the joys and personal fulfillment of technology through innovative curriculum. The ultimate goal is to capture the interest of the student in a cool way that builds on computer gaming experiences and moves on to engage the pupil’s interest along a path towards careers in information technology.
Dallas SIM has partnered with LISD‘s Heritage Elementary to develop a new and exciting curriculum compliant with TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge Skills) and tailored to the 3rd-5th grade elementary students. This pilot is offered to LISD at no cost via collaborative efforts with Principal Belinda Nikkel and her teachers and staff at Highland Village Heritage Elementary School. The curriculum utilizes free software from Microsoft Corporation called the worldwide telescope, www.worldwidetelescope.org, and can be downloaded for use by any educator, adult or child. (See Links below) DFW SIM RLF Facilitator Michael Rochelle is extremely pleased that “developing this curriculum allows some of the best minds in IT to participate in a project that allows them to prepare for personal advancement and at the same time give forward to the community by addressing a real shortage of students choosing careers in Information Technology engineering!” RLF graduate and curriculum builder Sanjay Parikh |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 December 2008 22:20 |