Hasan Eksi, Computer Science Teacher at Chesapeake Math and IT Academy (CMIT) in Laurel, MD, reports in to the IT Academy blog with a wrap-up of the school's first year as an IT Academy.
Hasan Eksi, Computer Science Teacher, Chesapeake Math and IT Academy Laurel, MD
In the first year, CMIT certified 50 Microsoft Office Specialists in the sixth grade....
7th grade....
...and 8th grade. Congratulations CMIT students!
I am the Computer Science teacher at Chesapeake Math and IT Academy (CMIT). I teach Microsoft Office Suite and Introduction to Programming to my 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I wanted to let everyone know how easy it is to get started with the IT Academy program and how priceless it is.CMIT being an IT school, our principal was looking into technology programs which we could implement. As we all know, certification is crucial in the IT field; so it was important for our students to learn how to use Microsoft Office effectively AND get an industry recognized certification. Microsoft IT Academy program was the perfect fit for this.Shortly after we enrolled in the program and started utilizing its resources, our students became competent in Microsoft Office. I have even received many emails from parents writing about how their kids have helped them out in Microsoft Word, Excel, and other Microsoft programs.We also wanted our students to be able to take the certification exam at our facility; and thanks to Microsoft IT Academy it only took a couple of days to become a Certiport Authorized Testing Center.In our first year, we now have 50 students who are Microsoft Office Specialists. There are two 6th graders, thirty 7th graders, and eighteen 8th graders who have been certified. The parents are extremely happy with the results. Personally, I was not expecting this much success in our first year; we did not advertise the program at all. Now we are looking at 150 certifications for next year. I am confident that we will reach our goals with the help of our strong IT Academy program. Thanks to Microsoft IT Academy, some of our students are looking for more advanced certifications now, and others are very excited to take their first steps on the certification journey.Thanks IT Academy!
Chesapeake Math and IT (CMIT) Academy is a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) public charter school in northern Prince George’s County that aims to serve grades 6 through 12 with an academic program focusing on mathematics and information technologies (IT). Learn more about the Chesapeake Math and IT Academy program at www.cmitacademy.org.
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Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.
IT Academy News
IT Academy Spotlight: University of West of Scotland
Take a tour of the IT Academy program at University of the West of Scotland, courtesy of the UK Schools blog. Discover how the university is meeting the needs of local employers by offering a comprehensive selection of technology training curriculum and certification opportunities.
More Education News from Microsoft
Why STEM Education and Blended Learning Matter
This past week, policy makers, educators, industry leaders and others gathered at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. to discuss critical design elements of successful and innovative education programs to prepare students to meet the demands of the U.S. economy in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
Read a synopsis of the conversation and watch brief interviews with attendees about new thinking in STEM learning.
Calling All Schools: Join The Bing For Schools Program!
Bing introduces a new, free initiative to help schools teach digital literacy skills. Starting later this year, Bing For Schools will offer schools in the U.S. the option to tailor the Bing experience for K-12 students by removing all advertisements from search results, enhancing privacy protections and the filtering of adult content, and adding specialized learning features to promote digital literacy.
Read more about the Bing for Schools program, then visit the Bing for Schools site to register to receive updates on how to participate.
Share Your Success Story
Do you have a success story about one of your IT Academy students? Have IT Academy resources enabled you to provide more in the classroom? Share your story and best practices in a brief email with photos and your contact information to [email protected].
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Last week, we provided an insider's look at the internship experience at Microsoft Xbox headquarters. This week, we continue the series with a first-person perspective from Stan, a Program Manager intern on the Windows PC System Co-Engineering team. Share with your students how this University of Illinois student joined the intern development team that built one of the first Windows 8 applications; and how technology training and certification can lead to similar real-world experiences.
Stay tuned next week for more insights from a Microsoft intern, and be sure to share this series with your students and staff.
A new Gallup study sponsored by Microsoft Partners in Learning and the Pearson Foundation provides clear evidence linking 21st century skills and student engagement in school with higher quality of work later in life.
Gallup explored the relationships between 21st century skills developed in the classroom, student aspiration in schools, and perceived quality of work later in life. Using a 21st century skills index to measure seven specific areas--collaboration, knowledge construction, skilled communication, global awareness, self-regulation, real-world problem-solving, and technology used in learning--Gallup polled 1,014 individuals aged 18-35 who were either employed or students.
21st Century Skills + Student Aspirations: The Formula for Work Success
The results confirmed that developing 21st century skills in the last year of school positively correlates with future work success. In fact the study found that those who have 21st century skill development are twice as likely to have higher work quality compared to those who had low 21st century skill development. In addition, 59% of those polled strongly agree or agree that they developed most of the skills they use in their current job outside of school.
The study also found that student aspirations play an important role in future success: Americans who have teachers who care about them and know their aspirations and dreams were much more likely to have developed the key 21st century skills.
The study validates Microsoft IT Academy’s mission to provide industry-leading technology skills to help bridge the skills gap and Microsoft’s overarching education message: 21st Century teaching and learning that provides students with real world problem solving and the right kind of technology experiences are what students of today need to prepare them for successful future life and work.
Snapshot of Findings:
Read more:
Presenting the Walla Walla Wall of Fame: 354 MOS certificates!
Walla Walla High School (Walla Walla, Washington) created an impressive wall of fame for the 354 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certificates earned by IT Academy students this year. Congratulations on your fantastic achievement, Walla Walla students!
A New Set of Skills for the 21st Century Workforce
What will it take to succeed in business tomorrow, and how can we prepare next generation students today? On Partners in Learning’s “Hot Topics” blog, author James Lengel explores the set of discovery skills students will need to produce innovative ideas in an increasingly competitive global economy. Read the post >
Free eBook: Enabling and inspiring students and teachers with Windows 8
New to Windows 8? Microsoft UK presents a free eBook, “Enabling and inspiring students and teachers with Windows 8,” available for free download or viewing on SlideShare. Topics covered include:
Browse or download the eBook >
As the academic year concludes in many regions, students are flocking to internships for real-world, hands-on experience with hopes of gaining a competitive edge in the job market. Over the next few weeks, we’ll provide a first-hand view of the intern experience at Microsoft through video testimonials you can share with your students.
With the newly-announced Xbox One on the minds of gamers around the world, we kick off the series with an insider’s tour of Microsoft Xbox, where business skills and cutting-edge technology abilities drive innovation to gamers around the globe—abilities that your IT Academy program foster every day.
We start the interns' tour with a behind-the-scenes look at the Xbox headquarters:
With a sense of the work environment, we introduce you to Matthew, an intern working as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) for Xbox.
Preview the 2013-14 IT Academy Curriculum
For many schools, June/July kicks off planning sessions for the 2013-14 academic year. To help IT Academies prepare, we previewed the program roadmap for the coming year at the recent member webinar, now available on demand with your IT Academy ID. Watch the presentation to learn ways you can optimize your curriculum next year.
Last Chance for a Second ShotIf you have purchased a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification exam voucher using the Second Shot offer, be aware that the voucher expires on June 30, 2013. Both the initial exam and, if necessary, the free retake must be completed before that date. For more information, review the Second Shot details on the member site.
Technology Education in the News
Partners in Learning Hot Topics: Workforce Skills Development
Partners in Learning’s “Hot Topics” spotlights views from global educators on topics that are shaping the changing world of global education. This week, author James Lengel explores the educators' critical role in developing workforce skills by fostering technology-literate students who think critically about information readily available at their fingertips. Read the post >
Chip In: Crowdsourcing Contributions for Student PCs
Microsoft introduces Chip In, a new seasonal buying program to help students get the Windows PC or tablet they need for school. With Chip In, students crowdsource contributions from friends and family toward the purchase of a new Windows PC or tablet. Microsoft will chip in 10 percent of the purchase price on select PCs, and the first 10,000 students to fully fund their PC will also get a four-year subscription to Office 365 University. Learn more about the program at http://www.windowschipin.com/
TED Talks: “Every Kid Needs a Champion” with Rita Pierson
“American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen” is a 60-minute television special featuring inspirational TED talks about education innovation and the dropout crisis in America. Anthony Salcito, VP of Worldwide Education, spotlighted one of the individual speakers from the special-- an inspiring talk from teacher Rita Pierson on the most important component of learning: relationships. “Every child deserves a champion,” says Pierson, ”an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” Watch the video at Daily Edventures >
Code.org: Anybody can Learn to Code
Code.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing computer programming education. Share the video below with your students to help them understand the value and opportunities that computer programming offers, as told by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, will.i.am, and a host of technology luminaries.
Two years ago, Washington State deployed the largest statewide rollout of the Microsoft IT Academy program, with training and certification available to over 300,000 students and over 19,000 teachers in over 700 public high schools, skill centers and tribal schools across Washington State.
Today, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced a monumental milestone: more than 10,000 certifications achieved statewide in the 2012-13 academic year—more than double the number of certifications earned the previous year (4,049, to be exact).
We extend our congratulations to everyone involved in the state’s program; from the students who are building a foundation for career success and the educators who inspire and motivate students every day; to the staff and faculty who support technology learning and the IT Academy program.
Along with news of the milestone, OSPI shared inspiring stories from a few schools in the program. Take a few moments to learn about Morgan VanRiper of Kalama High School, who achieved a perfect score on the 2010 Word core exam—one of the top 5 placing students nationally. And find out more about the program at Anacortes High School, where the 10,000th exam was passed.
OSPI press release: “OSPI-Microsoft IT Academy Passes 10,000 Technology Certifications Earned Statewide”
More information about Washington State and Microsoft IT Academy
Learn how IT Academy is making a difference in the lives and future careers of Washington State high school students:
May IT Academy Webinar Now Available On Demand
This month’s Microsoft IT Academy webinar is now available on demand with your IT Academy ID. The last webinar of the 2012-13 academic year, this month's presentation includes a briefing on the program roadmap for the coming year—critical information you need to optimize your curriculum next year. Be sure to tune in.
IT Academy in the News
Florida Middle School Receives Grant for MOS Certification A grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will go toward helping middle school students in Bellview, Florida, earn a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification. Read more>
Georgia-based IT Academy Certifies Over 100 Students in Inaugural YearA total of 106 students at Fayette County High’s IT Academy earned Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications in the 2012-13 academic year; a key first-year milestone for one of 436 public schools in Georgia’s statewide IT Academy program that debuted in September 2012. Read more>