Leading information technology (IT) and education professionals gathered together last week at a public roundtable discussion to explore the challenges facing California’s IT and New Media employment and education sectors. The goal of the roundtable is to determine how best to develop and promote education pathways and job market strategies while supporting beneficial uses of IT, New Media and innovation in California.
The roundtable event was held in conjunction with the Educating for Careers conference taking place Orange County, CA February 28 –March 2, 2010. The conference attracted over 2200 high school teachers and administrators interested in learning more about and promoting Career Technical Education (CTE) in California.
Sponsored by the WhyITNow.org initiative and established to promote IT and New Media education and jobs in California, the roundtable discussions will cover topics ranging from improving collaboration between K-12 schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities, business and government around IT education and workforce development; IT and New Media workforce demand and career pathways; professional development for teachers and incumbent workers; promoting IT entrepreneurship; and fostering diversity and serving under-represented populations, including women and minorities.
Roundtable participants will include stakeholders representing a wide range of views and experiences, such as secondary and post-secondary education, job market data and research companies, software manufacturers, regional occupation centers, professional associations, small business associations, chambers of commerce and others. Industry representation includes companies such as Monster.com, Robert Half Technology, Southern California , WebProfessionals.org, CompTIA . Education and small business organizations participating include the California Department of Education, Los Angeles County Office of Education, and the California Small Business Association.
Participating panelist included:
* Andy Vaughan, Director, Strategic Programs, Monster, Public Sector & Education
* Sarah M. Vielma, Consultant, Career and Workforce Development / Regional Occupational Program, Los Angeles County Office of Education
* Craig Kapper, Senior Regional Vice President, Robert Half Technology, Southern California
* Gary Page, Consultant, California Department of Education (CDE)
* James Jones, Executive Director, MPICT San Francisco
* Betty Jo Toccoli, California Small Business Association
* Alan Rowland, Education to Careers Business Development Manager CompTIA
Bill Cullifer, Chair of the WhyITNow.org initative kicked off the event with an overview of why the event was important. The reasons include:
* Because California and tha nations future depends on IT
* IT cuts across all sectors of our economy
* IT is what drives our economy
* The pace of technological advancement moves rapidly and California will need to act now to keep pace
* China invest billions in IT education and we need to compete
* For example, India has more honor students that the U.S. has students
Bill Cullifer also provided a breif background regarding WOW’s background including:
* Supporting IT and New Media education for thirteen years
* Working with the U.S. Department of Ed, organizations like Comitia established national skills standards for IT and Web professionals
* Was recently asked by CDE to support the IT in California
To support education California and the current status IT WOW spent the last four months reviewing:
* Reviewed the California State Plan for CTE Participated in the 2009 Business Education Resource Group (BERG) Annual Meeting
* Reviewed the CAROCP Strategic Plan
* Reviewed the Chancellors Strategic Plan
* Reviewed the ConnectED California Partnership Academy Profile
* Board Member Position of the CAROCP
* Interviewed and met with key stakeholders
As a result, WOW has concluded that establishing an initiative to assit with the communication as to why it is important now because:
* The state, the world’s eighth largest economy is being hammered by the deep recession, rising unemployment, a growing multi-billion dollar budget deficit
* California also has an unprecedented high school drop out rate. It also has the second highest foreclosure rate in the nation
* To address these issues California will need think and act creatively
The vision behind the establishment of the WhyITNow.org initiative
* The WhyITNow.org initiative was established to advocate to and support IT in California
* A collaborative effort for promoting jobs, innovation and productivity for California
* Establish an IT Alliance to educate teachers, students, business and industry regarding the benefits of efficient use of IT
WOW introduced the moderators of the event:
* Vera L. Jacobson, M.A., Career Technical Education Resource Teacher, Sequoia Union High School District
* Sheryl Ryder, Coordinator, California Business Education Project, Napa County Office of Education
Event supporters include:
