INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST PROGRAM ITS Program Coordinator Martin Leonard III v.907.543.4510 f.907.543.2030 martinl@bethel.uaf.edu http://fc.bethel.uaf.edu/~its_program/ Village Technology Specialist (VTS) Program Village Technology Specialist (VTS) Program Kuskokwim Campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks VTS Program Contact: Martin Leonard III Technology Coordinator, KuC UAF Box 368 Bethel, Alaska 99559   v. m. 907.543.4510  f. 907.543.2030 martinl@bethel.uaf.edu VTS Program Overview The Kuskokwim Campus (KuC), at the request of the telecommunications industry, has initiated the Village Technology Specialist Program. The primary impetus for the program is to support the growth and development and use of data communications services in the Y-K Delta region of Alaska.  This VTS program is to be initiated in conjunction with data and internet-based infrastructure development in the region and serves as the primary ‘infostructure’ component of the project. A Village Technology Specialist has the necessary Information and Communications Technology skills to: ·       Install and provide the technical support for small public access computer lab facilities in village-based operations centers. [Net+ training] ·       Understand and provide technical and instructional assistance with basic computer applications and data communications skill functions. [IC3 training] ·       Provide customer support-type services to village-based clients and students using public access computer lab facilities. [IT Workplace Basics] ·       Coordinate, support and market the functions and services provided through the village-based public access computer lab facilities. [IT Workplace Basics, IC3   and  Net+ Practicum] The proposed program of study also prepares students for more advanced technical training should they choose to continue on this career pathway.  College credit and professional certification testing and preparation will give students options for continuing on both academic and career oriented pathways. Additional information:  http://fc.bethel.uaf.edu/~its_program/ Overall / Primary Responsibilities of Partners Kuskokwim Campus (KuC) will provide: ·       Program Co-coordinator ·       Assistance with primary academic assessment a/or screening of VTS trainees. ·       Instructional design of a VTS curriculum including: IC3, Net+, IT Workplace Basics ·       Delivery of instruction and instructional support of the VTS curriculum. ·       Access to dormitory, room and board for IC3  and IT Work Place Basics skills trainees, during summer training schedules. ·       Use and support of engineering lab facilities in support of the curriculum. ·       Professional testing services for IT certificate candidates. ·       Offering college credit for all courses provided under the ITS degree / certificate program. Corporate Support ·       Program Co-coordinator ·       Assistance with primary assessment a/or screening of VTS trainees. ·       Assistance with travel, scheduling and associated logistics for students / trainees. ·       Mentor and administrative assistance for students / trainees. ·       Logistical support for all trainings, including village-based practicum. ·       Hardware and software for engineering lab ‘mock-ups’ of village-based technology center equipment. Through the University of Alaska, Fairbanks ·       Administrative support for students enrolled in KuC classes. ·       Credit option(s) for all courses delivered by approved UAF technology instructors through the VTS program. The Village Technology Specialist (VTS) Curriculum The VTS program utilizes content area specific, industry recognized curricula to develop the student’s IT expertise.  Trainings include: IC3 intermediate level computer applications (MS Word. Excel, Operating Systems and Internet and Communications Software); Network Hardware / LAN installation and support training (abridged Net+ curriculum); and the IT workplace basics course-ware is developed to accommodate the specific workforce goals necessary to support the project’s needs and incorporates the specific educational needs of our unique group of learners in the Delta. Internet and Core Computing Certification (IC3) Curriculum The IC³ training and certification program covers a broad range of computing knowledge and skills that proves competency in the areas described below. Individuals seeking IC³ certification are required to take and pass all three IC³ exams: Computing Fundamentals, Key Applications, and Living Online. IC3 is becoming the ideal curriculum for quantifying basic and intermediate computer and internet-based competencies throughout the Y-K Delta. Numerous organizations are currently working with the KuC to develop appropriate IT training scenarios with the primary goal of providing standards-based curriculum for their workforce. All instruction, content and delivery, is adapted specifically to VTS students needs.  The following outlines the components of the IC3 program. IC³ Computing Fundamentals covers: Computer Hardware, Computer Software and Using an Operating System IC³ Key Applications covers the following areas: Common Program Functions, Word Processing Functions and Spreadsheet Functions. IC³ Living Online covers the following areas: Networks and the Internet, Electronic Mail, Using the Internet and The Impact of Computing and the Internet on Society http://certiport.com/yourPersonalPath/ic3Certification/ IC3 Delivery This course represents approximately seventy hours of intensive-style instruction and will be delivered on the Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel.  Students will cover the complete IC3 curriculum over seven to eight days of full-time instruction.  Students will also participate in two days of test prep and review prior to taking the IC3 certification exam. Certification exams will be administered through the campus VUE testing center.  Make-up testing opportunities will be provided. Lab facilities at the college will be utilized. Students will be housed and fed at the KuC dormitory. IT Workplace Basics staff will be present throughout the training for evening sessions. (See workplace basics description) Upon completion, VTS students will have the skills necessary to support and enrich the basic IT services being delivered at each community center. Competent IC3 certificate holders could also provide basic level instructional support at their centers. For degree seeking or continuing education students, this course is offered as two college credits, CIOS 152 Intro to Microcomputers and CIOS 146 Using the Internet. NET+  / Network Hardware / LAN Curriculum This course will begin to develop the students’ technical abilities in networking administration and support.  It will begin to build their knowledge of media and topologies, protocols and standards, network implementation, and network support. This course is presented to students in an abridged Net+ form. It is designed to provide much of the foundation and basics for inter-networking and the development of small LANs and the practical theoretical knowledge needed to install and maintain the core facilities at their village public access technology centers. Emphasis will be placed on a ‘hands-on’ practicum where students will be provided with the opportunity to construct, troubleshoot and deconstruct engineering ‘mock-up’ of facilities to be emplaced at their village centers. NET+ Delivery This course will be delivered in Bethel over a four-day intensive session with students aligned in cohorts around their respective demographic regions.  Two days of instruction will cover theory and application specific to their village site. Two days for a hands-on engineering practicum will follow-up the theoretical instruction and students will have the opportunity to work with their own respective ‘mock-up’ facilities.   For degree seeking or continuing education students, this course is offered as two college credits, CIOS 282 Cooperative Work Experience and/or CIOS 245 Networking and Communications. VTS Workplace Basics (WP Basics) Curriculum This course is designed around KuC’s very successful workplace basics curriculum that has trained over one hundred para-professionals currently employed and working in the field across the Y-K Delta. This course offers a diverse variety of personal and career development skills, such as time and stress management and communication skills, along with study and test taking strategies for students entering academic and career environments.  Instructors utilize a multi-sensory approach to enhance the learning experiences.  These experiences provide the reinforcement and practical application necessary to function effectively in any workforce setting.  The individualized and small group instruction fosters a supportive environment that will assist VTS students in demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to succeed in the IT workplace being created.   The VTS WP Basics course will include, but not be limited to, the following topics: ·       Identifying customer needs ·       Using customer-friendly language ·       Communicating with confidence ·       Handling difficult customers with care ·       Developing and using problem-solving skills ·       Marketing your product to your customers ·       Time management ·       Making the best of your personal appearance This practical course lays the groundwork (cohort, team building and vesting students’ interest) and immediately establishes a supportive setting for their future training and workplace environment. The WP Basics instructional team is working directly with the KuC ITS program to tailor training for the development of skills directly related to managing, supporting and providing technology instruction at public access technology centers in a village setting.   An initial four day gathering will set the stage for upcoming technical training and provide the opportunity to begin to establish the cohorts and support that will assist them    throughout the duration of the project. Curriculum will include the above-mentioned topics. IT Workplace Basics staff will be present throughout the IC³ training time for follow-up and reinforcement activities during evening sessions. The course will culminate in a village/onsite practicum in which the VTS student trainee will plan for and hold an open house for the community in its new IT Center. For degree seeking or continuing education students, this course is offered as two college credits, CIOS 282 Cooperative Work Experience and/or CIOS 260 Business Communications. VTS On-site Practicum As a culminating experience, the VTS program initiative, KuC and UUI will provide the opportunity for VTS trainees and cohorts to participate in and on-site / village-based event.  The event would bring together the technology and community in an ‘open house’ setting. VTS program instructors, support team and cohort members will participate in the design, marketing, setup and opening of a village public access technology center. A focused debriefing and follow-up for subsequent cohort practicums will take place. KuC will provide ITS technical and WP Basics instructors in support of each practicum.   VTS Program KuC Management and Instructional Team Kuskokwim Campus         The KuC recently initiated the development of a comprehensive Information Technology Specialist (ITS) program of study at the Bethel campus.  The program is focused on the development of IT skills for Y-K Delta residents pursuing professional and academic career tracks in IT.  The KuC recently completed major upgrade of on-campus LAN facilities that will enable access to advanced distance education resources. The ITS program is in the process of completing the construction of dedicated lab facilities for Cisco, A+, NET+, Microsoft training as well as a VUE testing center.       http://fc.bethel.uaf.edu/~its_program/ Program Coordinator, Instructor Mr. Martin Leonard III, MBA Telecommunications Management [NET+, and IT Workplace Instructor, VTS Program Coordinator] Martin Leonard has been designing and implementing technology and vocational education related training initiatives in rural Alaska, in both IT and Natural Resource sectors, for about 20 years. This includes first rural Alaska and K-12 implementations of the ‘Principles of Technology Program’ and ‘Computer-based Peer-to-Peer / Student to Instructor Distance Education’.  Mr. Leonard is currently coordinating the University of Alaska’s ITS and STEM program development in the Y-K Delta and provides instruction in Cisco and other IT courses at the KuC. Lead Instructor, IC3 and NET+ Mr. Richard Taylor, M.Ed. [Lead IC3 Instructor, NET+ Instructor] Richard Taylor has been teaching and involved in technology training and related initiatives in the Y-K Delta for 20 years. He was one of the Delta’s first IT instructors, delivering courses to K-12 students in village communities as a certified teacher for the Lower Kuskokwim School District. In the last year Mr. Taylor trained over 400 students throughout the Delta, in Bethel and Y-K villages, in computer applications.  He is currently full-time faculty at the KuC and a certified IC3 instructor. Customer Service / IT Workplace Basics Development Coordinator Ms. Kathy Hanson [IT Workplace Curriculum Coordinator] Kathy Hanson has been on the faculty of Kuskokwim Campus for 16 years and lived in the YK delta for 26 years.  As a faculty member she has taught developmental courses, adult basic education and GED preparation.  She developed and implemented the Workplace Basics program that has become one of the important ways in which Kuskokwim Campus has tailored its instructional approaches to better fit with the mostly rural, mostly Alaska Native and English second-language learners that come to Kuskokwim Campus.  Over the last 6 years, Workplace Basics has prepared over 100 individuals for successful careers in health, technology, construction, and business.