Partnering with Tennessee for America s Networked Future

Transcription

1 Partnering with Tennessee for America s Networked Future A sustained economic recovery requires a skilled and well-trained workforce. Graduates who have acquired problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, in addition to specific job-related expertise, will be a crucial human resource for the United States in the years ahead. As organizations become increasingly reliant on knowledge workers and intelligent networks, Cisco Networking Academy is helping Tennessee prepare for sustainable, high-paying jobs by teaching the skills that employers need. A Leader in Education Innovation Cisco Networking Academy is a transformative, public-private education initiative, preparing today s students for 21st century opportunities via curricula that build knowledge and skills in information communications technology (ICT). After successfully completing the coursework, Networking Academy students are prepared to earn ICT certifications that are valued by employers in diverse industries and public-sector organizations. Courses also prepare students to pursue further education or apply these skills in their own businesses. Networking Academy is recognized worldwide as a leader in education innovation and e-learning. The curricula include instructor-led course content, online learning and skills assessments, hands-on labs, and innovative simulation technology. Core courses include IT Essentials, Cisco CCNA Discovery, CCNA Exploration, and CCNA Security. Students may then enroll in the more advanced Cisco CCNP courses. Cisco Networking Academy has enrolled more than 3 million students since its inception in Each year, Networking Academy delivers 14 courses to more than 810,000 students, in over 9,600 academies worldwide. Networking Academy partners with a broad range of education, government, and nongovernment organizations, offering courses in high schools, community colleges, universities, and nontraditional settings. Cisco is the largest networking company in the world, delivering innovations that transform how people work, live, play, and learn. As of October 31, 2009, approximately 155,571 students were enrolled in 2,425 academies in the United States and Canada. Rapid growth over the past decade has demonstrated the program s versatility in geographic reach, diversity of students, number and variety of partners, breadth and relevance of curriculum, and ability to keep pace with technical and pedagogical advances. Course content is consistent, providing students everywhere with the same knowledge and skill development. The 21st Century Workforce Strengthening instruction for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is a prerequisite to developing a well-trained, 21st century workforce. The Obama administration has announced an education initiative aimed at increasing STEM literacy and critical thinking, improving the quality of STEM teaching, and expanding STEM education and career opportunities with a focus on under-represented groups like women and minorities. Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Information. Page 1 of 6

2 Educators have placed considerable emphasis on the science and math components of the STEM curricula. But technology and engineering are equally vital. In particular, ICT investments are expected to play a major role in generating stable, high-paying jobs and boosting the nation s GDP. In addition, a workforce that is well-schooled in ICT and engineering can help spur innovation across many industries, which in turn opens up additional business opportunities to fuel productivity and economic growth. Reaffirming and strengthening America's role as the world's engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation is essential to meeting the challenges of this century. That's why I am committed to making the improvement of STEM education over the next decade a national priority. President Barack Obama, 11/23/09 Networking Academy puts an emphasis on understanding what skills will be required in future job markets. Networking knowledge will be especially important in critical areas such as green technologies, healthcare, smart energy grids, and the push toward universal broadband deployment. Networking Academy utilizes an education infrastructure that ensures curricula will evolve to meet STEM and future learning requirements. State-of-the-Art Learning Environment The instructional approach at Networking Academy encourages student engagement, enhancing the student s ability to synthesize learning and apply it in other contexts. Four skill areas identified by education researchers as critical for 21st century workers have been integrated into the course content: Problem solving and decision making: Students practice and test their knowledge by configuring and troubleshooting networks using hands-on labs and simulation software. Creative and critical thinking: Students understand the how and why of networking by combining hands-on learning with conceptual and analytical exercises. Collaboration, communication, and negotiation: Students acquire teamwork and career-ready skills as they perform lab exercises and engage in business scenarios. Intellectual curiosity and information handling: Coursework helps students develop the ability to find, select, structure, and evaluate information. Real-world case studies give students the opportunity to develop cutting-edge problem-solving techniques. Spotlight on Community Colleges A unique feature of these institutions is their linkage with business and industry, and hence their integration into economic development. Community colleges are working to align their curricula, certifications, and degrees with new ICT jobs through Networking Academy implementations. In the United States, more than 50% of all community colleges offer Networking Academy courses. According to researchers, students today are faced with high tuition costs, a weak economy, and increased competition for admission to four-year colleges. They are more likely than at any other point in history to attend community college. As a result, community colleges have experienced a spike in enrollment. In July 2009, the Obama administration proposed a $12 billion plan called the American Graduation Initiative, aimed at supporting community colleges by funding job training and retraining programs. Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Information. Page 2 of 6

3 As an example of how these institutions are responding to the challenge, Moraine Valley Community College in the Chicago area is leading the Center for System Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA), a consortium of seven academic institutions in five states, dedicated to developing and evaluating cyber-security curricula, and offering training programs to community college and university faculty, secondary school faculty, and students across the region. A Cisco Networking Academy training center was established at Moraine in 1998, and academy courses are an integral part of the curricula. CSSIA has developed nine undergraduate courses, nine graduate courses, and a variety of workshops that can be used as models by other institutions. The Data Behind the Demand Tables 1 and 2 outline the growth and projected demand for ICT-related careers in the nation overall, and in the state of Tennessee. Table 1. Projection of Select ICT Occupations in the United States 1 Occupation Employment Employment Change Average Annual Number % Openings Occupational Employment as of May Computer Support Specialists 552, ,000 71, , ,520 Computer Systems Analysts 504, , , , ,890 Network and Computer Systems Administrators Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts Computer and Information Systems Managers 309, ,000 83, , , , , , , , , ,000 43, , ,820 Table 2. Projection of Select ICT Occupations in Tennessee 3 Occupation Employment Employment Change Average Annual Number % Openings Occupational Employment as of May Computer Support Specialists ,360 Computer Systems Analysts ,670 Network and Computer Systems Administrators Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts Computer and Information Systems Managers , , ,870 1 Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based on data available on of Oct 31, Source: U.S. DoL, BLS, May 2008 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, 3 Source: U.S. DoL, BLS, Projections Central, Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Information. Page 3 of 6

4 The Impact in Tennessee The partnership between Cisco Networking Academy and Tennessee has touched the lives of 3,737 students and generated an estimated contribution valued at $2,614,174 to education in the state. Tables 3-4 provide detailed information on the current academies, curricula, and education levels in the state. Table 3. Cisco Networking Academy in Tennessee 1 Students 1,149 Female students 15% Distinct cumulative students (having successfully completed at least one course) 3,737 Academies 27 Instructors 39 Education Level (students/academies at more than one ed level are distributed proportionately) Secondary Schools Community Colleges Universities Other 2 Students 32% 67% 1% 0% Academies 46% 50% 4% 0% Curricula 3 (students/academies that take/teach multiple curricula are counted more than once) ITE CCNA 1, 2 CCNA 3, 4 Advanced Technologies/ Other 4 Students 31% 67% 14% 5% Academies 52% 78% 44% 11% Contribution value 5 (estimated cumulative value to academies, including donations and discounts) $2,614,174 1 Source: MRE FULL Package of Quarterly Metrics_ _v1.xls 2 Includes community-based organizations, middle schools, military, nontraditional educational settings, and post-graduate institutions 3 Source: MRE reports 4075_MASTER P51_v2_with Country Totals.xlsx 4 Includes CCNA Security, CCNP, Security, Wireless, IP Telephony, Java, UNIX and Panduit Network Infrastructure Essentials (PNIE) 5 Source: MRE report MASTER IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION for USCAN as of _v1.xlsx Table 4. Active Academies in Tennessee 6 Active academies are defined as those that have taught a class with at least 3 distinct student assessments, or adopted a new curriculum, within the last 12 months. Number of Districts With Networking Academies Without Networking Academies % Penetration % Congressional District 1 Dobyns-Bennett High School (Kingsport) Northeast State Technical Comm. College (Blountville) Sevier County High School (Sevierville) Walters State Colege (Morristown) Congressional District 3 Sequoyah Technology Center (Soddy Daisy) Congressional District 4 Fairview High School (Fairview) Tennessee Technology Center Oneida (Huntsville) Congressional District 5 *Nashville State Technical Community College (Nashville) Tennessee State University (Nashville) Tennessee Technology Center Nashville (Nashville) Congressional District 6 NSCC Cookeville (Cookeville) Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Information. Page 4 of 6

5 Congressional District 7 Brentwood High School (Brentwood) Independence High School (Thompsons Station) LAMED Technology Shiloh (Lexington) Riverside High School (Decaturville) Crump (Crump) Whiteville (Whiteville) Congressional District 8 Dyer County High School (Newbern) Dyersburg State Community College (Dyersburg) *Jackson State Community College (Jackson) Liberty High School (Jackson) McKenzie (McKenzie) Ripley (Ripley) Trezevant Career and Technical (Memphis) Congressional District 9 *Southwest Tennessee Community College (Memphis) * Indicates Cisco Networking Academy Training Center 6 Source: MRE/Academy Connection, Congressional_Report_VLOOKUP_December_08_2009_Final_ch1.xlsx Student and Community Impact Betty DeSeck had 17 years of experience in the banking industry when she decided to return to school. She had been working for First Tennessee Bank in Memphis since 1986, first as a teller, then as an ATM specialist, and ultimately as a help desk agent through IBM. In 2003, her contract was ending and Betty knew it was time to pursue something new. Being a 40-year-old female without a degree made the prospect of finding comparable employment seem pretty grim, Betty recalls. Since IBM monitored the bank s network and provided desktop support, this pointed Betty in the direction of a technology degree, and she enrolled in the IT generalist degree program at Southwest Tennessee Community College (STCC) in Memphis, Tennessee. Betty signed up for the Cisco CCNA course to fulfill a degree requirement, and became a Cisco enthusiast during the first semester. In her words, The course challenged me and brought me over a learning curve I had never experienced. The way the content was written and labs were taught made me think in a different way. Cisco Networking Academy measures not what you ve read, but what you understand and can do. It builds conceptual and technical understanding. When you re taught how to do something, it s a deeper learning experience and it produces consistent performance. After Betty experienced learning the Cisco way, she was hooked. Cisco Networking Academy measures not what you ve read, but what you understand and can do, Betty explains. It builds conceptual and technical understanding. When you re taught how to do something, it s a deeper learning experience and it produces consistent performance. Shortly after returning to school, Betty was offered a position as an enterprise technologist III at First Tennessee Bank, which had become First Horizon National. She moved into the enterprise technology division of the bank, monitoring their ATM, server, switch, and router environments, while attending school. I finished all of my degree-required classes in December 2005, Betty recalls, but I wanted to complete Networking Academy courses, and did so in May The additional work allowed Betty to earn an IT Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Information. Page 5 of 6

6 communications degree rather than an IT generalist degree. She obtained her Cisco CCNA certification in April 2006 and graduated summa cum laude the following month. Betty has recently taken on additional responsibilities which allow her to apply her Cisco CCNA networking knowledge in a LAN environment and provide second-level desktop and application support to more than 500 users at the check processing center. She has also been tasked with providing remote support for the bank s switches state-wide. Although my title stayed the same, I earned a raise and an opportunity to broaden my skill set, says Betty. She plans to enroll in Cisco CCNP classes to expand her certifications. Having met the Cisco challenge is a source of encouragement for me, adds Betty. I m a mother of three who finally completed college. There is no stopping point now. I am not limited. I can do anything. Betty recently completed her Networking Academy instructor training and is teaching in the continuing education program at Southwest Tennessee Community College. The course challenged me and brought me over a learning curve I had never experienced. The way the content was written and labs were taught made me think in a different way. Learn More For additional information, impact stories, and Cisco Networking Academy contacts in your area, visit our website: Copyright Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Information. Page 6 of 6