Assigned review and mapping of industry certifications to regular classes to report to John McNeely.
ACTION ITEMS TO TAKE FROM MEETING:
Look at adding more programming to GD Curriculum and less Dreamweaver.
More theory and design to GD and MM track, whether through course curriculum our outside of class activities.
Contact Bryan Lewis to obtain outline of his intern/new employee curriculum and on‐the‐ job training manual
Send copies of GD track curriculum to Bryan and Carlos as well as Josh at Trendy. Send copy of MM track and proposed course list for the BAS MAVTECH degree to Travis Chapman. Solicit comments from each on current curriculum.
Wes and Eric look into a workshop on Camera types, formats, etc. for MM students outside of class…’choosing the right camera and exposing the myths of camera technology’
V. IST Area:
The Santa Fe College IST faculty met with members of its Industry Advisory Committee to discuss the future direction of the program.
Most of the discussion focused on the newly revised curriculum with more emphasis on programming, in concert with our conversion to a Programming Technologies department.
Consensus that industry has diverged into “Front End Developer” and “Back End Developer” specializations. Our new curriculum gives a good introductory exposure to both. However, in order for graduates to gain sufficient expertise in either they would in most cases need to undergo further training, for example by doing a three month internship.
Front End Developers require HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Back End Developers require PHP, ASP, and SQL.
Consensus that we consider expanding the programming sequence to a three course sequence beyond COP2000 instead of just the current two: For example:
First level: Object Oriented 1 (COP2551)
Second level: Object Oriented 2 (COP2552) ‐ ASP Third level: PHP
The space in the program could be created by dropping the Graphics Apps requirement (CGS2527) as this is a minimal need for programmers. What little they do need can be incorporated as modules in other courses.
Consensus that there is little need for Microsoft Access training and that sufficient database concepts can be taught through an SQL framework. Recommended that we consider changing the DB
Management (CGS2540) and SQL Programming (CTS2445) sequence to something like SQL 1 and SQL 2.
Consensus that some networking literacy is helpful, but that an A+ PC Technician curriculum as in Micro Architecture 1 (CTS1131) is pretty irrelevant. Recommended considering going back to Intro to Networking (CTS2134) to fulfill this objective.
Consensus that there is no need for Dreamweaver expertise for programmers. Some exposure to WordPress might be helpful, but not enough to justify a full course. Can incorporate a bit as modules in other courses.
Strong support for Digital Media students to continue taking our Web Authoring 1 class (CGS1820). “Right now designers who also know HTML and CSS are worth their weight in gold.”
Recommended that the new course in Programming for Mobile Devices (COP2654) concentrate on the iOS and Android platforms, not on RIM Blackberry and Windows Mobile 7.
There was considerable discussion on professional development topics and activities that could be included in Professional Development (CIS2254) or as components of other courses.
Exposure to Version Control Management Systems such as GIT and SVN. Exposure to Project Management software such as Agile and Scrum.
Exposure to sources of continuing education beyond college: industry news sources, forums, user groups, etc.
Involvement in local technology related events.
Exposure to the IT entrepreneurial and startup cultures.
VI. NST Area:
The Santa Fe College NST faculty met with the members of its Industry Advisory Committee to discuss the future direction of the program.
Curriculum Framework: We presented new NST Degree program requirements and the new 2013‐ 2014 curriculum frameworks from the State of Florida. In particular, we discussed how the new A.S. Degree framework consists of a core set of classes and certificate “tracks” within the degree. One of the new core objectives includes project management which we don't currently have in our program. We will need to review our curriculum to determine if this necessitates a new course.
Jean: “As a technical person, we don’t learn how to do Project management.”
Steve: “It’s [Project Management] kind of like an art like programming.”
Career Training Path/Curriculum: Presented the “Credit by Experience” certification equivalencies and the concept of multiple entry and exit points. Asked the advisory committee members their opinions about how current should a student's certifications be to earn college credit.
Steve: “Employer hasn’t been concerned with date of certification.”
Jean: “NT4 days ‐> active directory. Group policies make a huge difference.”
Wylene: “With hiring and expired certifications, gives a baseline.”
Jean: “If someone’s passed a certification, they can learn. Someone taking NT4‐>active
directory, expecting them to know active directory.”
Mark: “I really don’t care as much about certifications. Can they learn? Are they
motivated?”
Mark: “Some people go into the field for the money but it’s not for everyone. Gotta have
logical thinking, motivation to do it.”
Cheryl mentioned and there was consensus that in academia we do not want to assume that a person knows about something because they earned a certification, which is why only certain certifications count towards credit for classes. It is about ensuring they have been exposed to close to the latest technology/best practices.
Bruce provided an example of NT4‐>active directory is a major change and thus why Windows Server 2003 and 2008, which the group agreed. The group agreed that when there were major shifts in content of certifications, we should update our credit by experience to ensure students have the newer certifications.
Conversation shifted to discussing skills students need (people skills, management, troubleshooting, etc).
Steve: “Have students starting or are unsure about going into IT. Survey? Do you really want
to be in IT? Would be happy to have someone come shadow me all day!”
Wylene: “Still have to communicate.”
Nirmal: “What I see a lack of with a lot of new employees, their critical problem solving skills
isn’t there—they expect textbook. Tell them to do research in that area; they don’t know
what to do.”
Jean: “Out of box thinking that we do on a daily basis—it’s just not there.”
Topic became about Searching google to go and finding the answer, particularly the correct answer.
Mark: “Mister google is a smart guy.”
Bruce mentioned about finding answers in google that he would look at the first two answers that would have a little difference about how to solve the problem and he would feel one of them must be a little off and then look at the third and fourth links to learn more about which one is likely off.
Jean: “Formal training says one of these is off. Need that formal training.”
Jean: “Get panel in classes to do mock interviews.”
NSF GRANT: Presented the pending NSF grant and provided the committee with a copy of the summary page. Reviewed the four main objectives for the grant and discussed how advisory committee members might be involved. Cheryl talked about having an Open House for our students
and high school students to be able to come and interact with Advisory Board Members/companies to demo what they are using or use our facilities to teach more to the students and get them engaged.
Presented an overview of other possible opportunities being discussed including additional grants and the possibility of a B.S. degree to look at being more management in focus for those who are not as technical.
Wylene: “They [students] have to understand there is a progression—installing computers
and one over you is doing the ‘fun stuff’.”
Steve: “Everyone answers help desk calls. But admins answer far less than help desk techs.
Helps everyone stay in touch. Budget and financing fits into program like this.”
Jean: “Not just technical skills but soft skills.”
Jean: “HR changed process. Have to go through application, interview, not just send to her
anymore.”
Cheryl mentioned the new program requirements indicate we should be looking at starting a Project Management class that could cover time management, human resources and budget, etc. There was consensus and were excited about this.
Steve: “One instructor posted a topic every few weeks. At end of the semester, had to have
so many initial posts and replies.”
We discussed how the new moderated discussion was taking place in MicroArchitecture 1.
Internship: Question was posed to the advisory committee... “As employers what skills do they needed from an intern.” Discussed the development of an internship host survey to help us better understand would our internship host organizations need from interns. Note: All advisory committee members at the table have hosted NST interns in the past.
Cheryl mentioned about having an application process for internship class. If a student’s resume is not prepared, they would be sent to revise it through Santa Fe's job placement center and need to reapply to take the internship class.
Discussion changed to what technical skills students should have for internships.
Adding Mac OS as a class or in MicroArchitecture was discussed (recommended by
Wylene/Nirmal).
Wylene: “Familiar with OS 10, troubleshooting skills and hardware repair.”
Jean: “Hardware repair on Mac is different on PC –specialty screwdriver. First thing on
Mac—setup right click.”
Nirmal: “OS X manage centrally.”
Steve: “Any mobile devices – tablets and iPads?”
Jean: “Bring your own device to work and making security for your own network.”
Nirmal: “State really pushing to bring your own device.”
Steve: “wants interns for 1 day a week for 4 hours doing remote management/hands‐
on/answer phones.”
Hiring new NST Adjunct Faculty: Cheryl encouraging advisory members or those they know to consider becoming an adjunct faculty or guest lecturer. With the NSF grant providing full‐time faculty with release time for curriculum development, we will need additional adjunct faculty to meet existing capacity in the fall. Need to bring new faculty in with experience and will provide
professional development opportunities. Other opportunities include, moving into I building into the fall. Looking into building completely virtual classroom—site for cybersecurity.
Cheryl also mentioned about the possibility of hosting a VMWare workshop this summer and becoming a VMWare authorized center. The workshop will be hosted in collaboration with Moraine Valley Community College (CSSIA) and CyberWatch . They are funded by NSF and will also provide support in developing our Netlab virtual classroom environment.
Steve: “Citrix shop. UF on cusp of ____________ and Desktop. Have virtualized Desktops.”
VII. Adjournment:
Jorge Ibanez adjourned the meeting at 1:45 PM.
Minutes submitted by: Cheryl Calhoun, Eric Flagg, Mike Lazin and Blanca Betances Minutes approved by: Jorge Ibanez