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Creating the Magic

December 27th, 2011 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Careers | IT-oLogy Defined - (0 Comments)

best jobs, fast growing, business analyst IT “I asked Santa for an iPad and he brought me a dry-erase marker board,” my five year old cousin was overheard mumbling under her breath on Christmas morning. “I guess he misheard me.”

We live in a world where ever-changing technology surrounds us. Whether we are scanning barcodes at the grocery store to compare prices, immersing elementary school children in fun, educational iPad games in the classroom or discussing medical treatments following an MRI scan, information technology surrounds us.  I’ve said before that we live in a digital world. With the advancement of technology across all industries, the IT field is one that continues to grow.

In a CNNMoney article published this year called the “Best jobs for fast growth,” eight out of 20 jobs highlighted were IT jobs. The number one job listed was software developer, and other jobs included web developer, IT business analyst and IT consultant. So with a growth in the IT field and a need for people to fill those roles, how do we convince students to consider a career in information technology? How do we fill the pipeline?

IT jobs are cool – check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgWnhS5WyfM

How do we move children from being an end user of technology to the creator behind the magic? That’s what we’re trying to do at IT-oLogy. Stay tuned in the new year for some really cool new programs to be rolled out for K-12 students, college students and professionals!

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Happy Holidays from all of us at IT-oLogy!

December 21st, 2011 | Posted by Whitney Williams in IT-oLogy Defined - (0 Comments)

May your holidays be merry and bright!

We wish you a merry and bright holiday season and a new year filled with joy and peace!

Lonnie, Kristine, Elisa, Diedre, Lindsey, Powers, Alicia, Karl and Taylor

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Featured Job: Video Game Designer

December 20th, 2011 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Careers | Education | Teach IT - (0 Comments)
Medical Video Gaming

Medical video games help students learn necessary skills. Image from Google/Click for link

Each month, Lindsey will feature a different IT career opportunity on our blog. Keep reading for this month’s job!

At some point we’ve all played Nintendo, PlayStation, XBOX or Wii, but have you ever thought, “I could have a career in this?”  A Video Game Designer has the opportunity to really put their stamp on the world of gaming and create whatever they can imagine. What all is involved in becoming a Video Game Designer? Check out the IT-oLogy facts and information below!

Information-“Game development is the software development process by which a video game is developed. Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business.”-Wikipedia

Video games can make colossal amounts of time seem to fly by — which is a good thing, if that’s your career. Jon Paquette is in the business of video games: he’s the design director and writer for the Medal of Honor Airborne game for EA Los Angeles.

Paquette works with the company’s development team, overseeing all design ideas and implementation. Sometimes this means days of meetings. Other days, he’ll be at a desk reviewing level designs.

“The best days are when I get to play our game and see all of our design decisions in action,” he said.

Video game design is a great job for creative, fun-loving people. “There’s not much of a downside, other than the fact that there is often not enough time to get everything you wanted to into the game… Most of the times, though, even that is OK because you have fresh ideas to incorporate into the next game you work on,” he said.
 This and more information on video gaming careers can be found at careerbuilder.com

Technology – The great thing about this career is it involves not only all areas of IT, but also general education. You need to have computer science/engineering and strong math skills.

Opportunities – Nintendo, Amazon, Apple…etc. etc. etc.! Average income depends on the specific career path you choose but could range anywhere from 35k-100k.  Check out this site, http://bit.ly/vDpWwY

Learning – A few institutions offering degrees or courses in gaming development are: 

www.digipen.edu , www.clemson.edu, www.uga.edu, www.unc.edu, www.home.uncc.edu, and www.ucf.edu,  

Also check out these blogs and other websites about careers/education in gaming: http://digitallounge.gatech.edu/gaming/ , http://gamingacrossthecurriculum.blogspot.com/, http://www.compucert.com/game-programmer-career.html

 Other – Gaming isn’t just about fantasy. Games are currently being developed and used in educational curriculum to stimulate real world experiences without ever having to leave the classroom.

Get started on                   Your IT career today!

Interesting fact: Nintendo was founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi  in 1889.  His business was named “Nintendo Koppai” which eventually changed to just Nintendo. The company made playing cards for a Japanese game called hanafuda. Yamauchi manufactured these cards under the brand name Daitoryo, which translates to President. Each card was hand made using bark from mulberry (or mitsu-mata) trees. He sold the cards in two different shops in Japan, one in Kyoto and one in Osaka. After the popularization of his hanafuda cards, Fusajiro expanded his business into producing western style playing cards (known in Japan as toranpu).

 

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CyberIQ Road Show

December 15th, 2011 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Promote IT | World of IT - (0 Comments)

CyberIQSome of you may remember the launch of CyberIQ, an event for middle school girls and their parents devoted to cyber safety and awareness. Over the past few years, cyber safety has become a huge issue among children and teenagers. With the introduction of new forms of social communication, including Facebook and Twitter, and new ways to share information, children and teens are running into new dangers. From sexting to cyber bullying, the online world can be a scary place – unless children are given the power to be responsible.

Diedre Murphy, Venue Manager, and I had the unique opportunity to take CyberIQ on the road recently. Last month, we talked with 22 middle school girls from the STEM Girls Club at Chapin Middle. We covered everything from cyber bullying to texting to social netiquette. After that afternoon, we decided more students needed to know how to be in control online. Hence, the CyberIQ Road Show!

This morning, Diedre and I talked to the 5th graders at Satchel Ford Elementary. First, can I say what a COOL school Satchel Ford is?!? The vibe around the school is one of happy children who are excited and eager to learn. We walked in and were greeted by the 1st graders parading through the hall in their holiday-themed pajamas singing “Jingle Bells” on their way to their Polar Express Pajama Party. How much fun! (And I am still waiting for my invitation!) Diedre was thrilled to be back at Satchel Ford – for the first time in a number of years (my lips are sealed). Diedre informed the children there that Satchel Ford is her alma mater, but that she was “old as dirt” and that was forever and a day ago (again, her words, not mine).

We were taken to the library, which is filled with bright colors and sea creatures. There, we met over 100 bright and eager 5th graders. Cyber bullying is an issue that begins at an age that gets younger and younger, and does not stop, no matter how old you get. Cyber bullying is a real issue that affects not only the child being bullied, but can have an impact on his/her family, friends, school life and more. We were there to educate these young children on cyber bullying and give them the power to stop it. We spent an hour talking openly as a group about examples of cyber bullying, how to handle a cyber bully, what to do if you see someone else being cyber bullied and other topics related to social networking.

One video we watched (produced by Wired Safety – see link below) gave a very startling fact: 90% of the middle school students they polled say they have had their feelings hurt online, and only 15% of their parents knew about cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying is a real issue today. It’s not in a school in a different town or a different state. It happens here – in your hometown, in your child’s school. How do we stop it? We need to give children the power to stop it – and that power is knowledge. Parents and children need to know about cyber bullying, its dangers and how to stop it. Here’s a brief look at cyber bullying, and how you can learn more.

So, what is cyber bullying?
“Cyber bullying is bullying that happens online. It can happen in an email, a text message, an online game or on a social networking site. It might involve rumors or images posted on someone’s profile or passed around for other people to see.” (Source: OnGuard Online)

What are some examples of cyber bullying?

  • posting pictures/videos that are mean or make funny of someone
  • writing mean or hurtful things
  • spreading rumors
  • sending or forwarding mean text messages
  • posting pictures/videos WITHOUT someone’s permission

What makes cyber bullying different from regular bullying?
In a way, cyber bullying can be worse than regular bullying. A bully can be escaped when leaving school (or wherever the incident is taking place). A cyber bully is always there – on social networking sites, through text messages or emails, on YouTube. Cyber bullies are not left behind when the bell rings at the end of the school day. They follow you.

Cyber bullying also spreads quicker than regular bullying. A picture or video is posted that hurts someone’s feelings, and within minutes an entire community is reached through social networking sites. The incident no longer involves just a bully and a victim, but involves the entire community.

What should you/your child do if someone is cyber bullying?

  • Don’t respond or react – bullies are looking for a reaction from their victim.
  • Block or delete the bully.
  • Report abuse to the website where it is taking place.
  • Contact a parent, trusted adult, school official or law enforcement.
  • Be sure to save the evidence!

Often, children are not the cyber bullies themselves, but they witness the bullying taking place. What should a child do in this case? Or a parent? Please, please, please encourage children to tell the bully to stop. If that does not work, tell an adult!

Where are the places most of the cyber bullying is taking place?

  • Social Networking Sites – Sites like Facebook are the most common place for cyber bullies to take control.
  • Video Game Chat Capabilities
  • YouTube – YouTube, a video posting channel, has become a cruel outlet for cyber bullies. Videos are made and posted often making fun of someone or spreading false rumors about the victim.
  • Texting
  • Emails

How can you help? Spread the word about the CyberIQ Road Show! We are here to talk to children and teenagers, as well as parents. We want to take the power away from the bullies. We also emphasize that the child is responsible for their actions – they know there are consequences to what they post online, and they are responsible for those. For more information on the CyberIQ Road Show, contact me at powers.strickland@it-ology.org.

Here are some great resources that you can share with your child, your child’s teacher and other parents on cyber bullying:

  • OnGuard Online: OnGuard Online is a government website providing information on cybersafety. They have a great section dedicated to protecting kids online. You can also order free materials for classes and workshops.
  • stopcyberbullying.org
  • Wired Safety Video: This is a great video with real interviews with real teenagers who have been cyber bullied.

Join us in the mission to promote cyber safety!

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Twelve Students from SCVRD visit Open IT Lab

December 13th, 2011 | Posted by ToddLewis in IT-oLogy Defined - (0 Comments)
SCVRD Visit

Students from SCVRD visit the IT-oLogy Open IT Lab.

Twelve students from the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) visited the Open IT Lab on Wednesday, November 16. Each student was from the SCVRD’s Information Technology Training Center (ITTC). The goal of the trip was to learn more about open source software, hardware and content and our visitors were not disappointed.

Students started with a 40 minute overview of the definition, history and examples of open and open source in the Create IT Classroom, then took a 30 minute tour of the Open IT Lab. The tour of the Lab included hands-on time with the Makerbot Thing-O-Matic 3-D printer, the Arduino, an open source single-board microcontroller, and other open source applications on a Dell Touchscreen, a 27-inch iMac and a Linux laptop and netbook.

Henry Mullins of the SCVRD arranged the trip and plans more in the future.

“I look forward to learning as much as possible about open source,” said Mullins, echoing the sentiments of quite a few other students.

The Open IT Lab will hold many more tours and workshops in the future and we hope the SCVRD will continue to visit. It was our pleasure to host them.

For more information on ways to get involved with the Open IT Lab, contact Diedre Murphy at diedre.murphy@it-ology.org. For more information about the Lab itself, go to www.Open-IT-Lab.com.

Todd Lewis is the Founder of the Open IT Lab at IT-oLogy. He also serves as Chair of POSSCON, one of the largest open source conferences on the east coast, and managing partner of Palmetto Computer Labs, an open source consulting company.

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Initial Ubuntu 101 Workshop Filled to Capacity

December 8th, 2011 | Posted by ToddLewis in Education | Grow IT | IT-oLogy Defined | Teach IT | World of IT - (0 Comments)
Ubuntu 101 Picture

Jeremy Bicha talks about the Unity Interface

The first Ubuntu 101 workshop was held this past Saturday, December 3 at IT-oLogy. To say it was a success would be an understatement. An initial seating limit of 20 had to be expanded, additional computers had to be brought in and 24 people eventually learned a lot more about the world’s third most popular operating system.

Jeremy Bicha led a very diverse group of attendees through an overview of the history of Ubuntu and the installation process. In addition, the feature set and distinctives of Ubuntu 11.10, the latest version of the free and open alternative to Windows and Mac OS X, were identified and discussed. Finally, Ubuntu 11.10 discs were given to anyone wanting a copy.

Ubuntu 101 Picture

Jeremy Bicha discusses applications available in Ubuntu

The Open IT Lab will present Part Two of this workshop over the next few weeks, which will target the advanced Ubuntu user. In addition, the Lab will continue to present workshops on the Open/Open Source topic in the weeks and months ahead.

For more information on ways to get involved with the Open IT Lab, contact Diedre Murphy at diedre.murphy@it-ology.org. For more information about the Lab itself, go to www.Open-IT-Lab.com.

Todd Lewis is the Founder of the Open IT Lab at IT-oLogy. He also serves as Chair of POSSCON, one of the largest open source conferences on the east coast, and managing partner of Palmetto Computer Labs, an open source consulting company.

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What’s stopping you?

December 6th, 2011 | Posted by Whitney Williams in Careers | Education | Promote IT | Teach IT - (0 Comments)

When you were little and someone asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?,” did you ever say “I want to be a JAVA developer?”

Yeah….that’s what I was guessing.

You wanted to be an astronaut, a doctor or even a super star right? So, what stopped you from attaining your ideal career? And why wasn’t a career in IT what you wanted to do? What stopped you?

The more colleges I visit, the more I find that students are dropping their IT related majors because “the math is too hard” or “I don’t want to be the IT geek at the company.” Well….I’ve got news for you!

GEEK IS CHIC! That’s right I said it, GEEK IS COOL! Why? See these quotes from our website:

  • IT jobs are expected to be some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying over the next decade.
  • Two of the top four fastest-growing occupations in the United States are IT related, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are:
    • Network systems and data communication analysts
    • Computer software engineers, applications
  • The demand for network systems and data communications analysts is projected to increase by 53 percent from 2008 to 2018, which places it among the fastest growing of all occupations. This category includes network architects and engineers, as well as Web administrators and developers.
  • Demand for network architects and engineers will increase as organizations continue to upgrade their IT capacity and incorporate the newest technologies. The growing reliance on wireless networks will result in a need for many more network architects and engineers. Workers with knowledge of information security also will be in demand, as computer networks transmit an increasing amount of sensitive data.
  • More web administrators and developers will be needed to accommodate the increasing number of services provided over the Internet.
  • Overall employment of computer network, systems, and database administrators is projected to increase by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Growth in computer network, systems, and database administrators will be rapid in the computer systems design, data processing and hosting, software publishing, and technical consulting industries, as these types of organizations provide an increasing array of IT services. Growth will also be rapid in health care, as these organizations look to increase their efficiency and improve patient care through the use of information systems and other technology.
  • In South Carolina, seven of the top 26 projected fastest-growing occupations for those with bachelor degrees or higher are IT related.
  • Eighty-five percent of all IT jobs are found within companies that are everyday household names in industries such as retail, design, insurance, banking, aerospace, energy, and health care.
    $60,000: The average starting salary for IT-related positions.

So what’s stopping you?

Having trouble with an IT related subject? Get a tutor! If you’re having trouble, you won’t be the first person to ask for help. That’s what tutors are for and EVERY high school or college has several. If you aren’t comfortable with them, you can always hire someone.

jonathan ive
Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Industrial Design for Apple

Contrary to popular belief, IT jobs are really cool. You can be a game designer, a software developer or a mobile app developer. Check out some of these really cool careers: http://bit.ly/3o15B. Can you imagine being the Chief of IT for the United States?!?

Several other points to notice- IT isn’t about JUST fixing printer problems or pulling cables. You could have a career in gaming development, web design or even mobile technology! IT is everywhere! The MEBA website has a ton of great information on careers in IT, so check it out! More questions? Let us know!

So…what’s stopping you from having a great career?

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