The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

YES Prep inside the Matrix: using technology to support learning

May 20, 2010 by Rita Vasak

On Friday, May 14^th, Alec Bass, an information security professional who has worked in the industry for 30 years, gave a presentation to my Computer Science and AP Computer Science students. He talked to them about the various careers available in information security and what each one entailed. He talked about the skill sets important to the field, and the training and education one needed to be successful. He described a day on the life of an information security professional.  

This is the kind of opportunity we love to offer to YES Prep students – a chance to see real-world relevance of their studies and investigate a rich and diverse set of career opportunities. One thing made this presentation different from any we had previously offered. Mr. Bass spoke to us from his office in Boston, while our students participated from the computer lab on the Southeast Campus. A link over the web using a freeware virtual classroom called WizIq made it possible for us to meet with a professional engineer on the other side of the country, an “in-school” field trip. We were able to have an authentic learning experience without leaving our classroom – no travel costs and no lost time.

Twenty-first century business is global, employing a full arsenal of technology tools to link talented professionals and business partners around the world. If we expect our students to succeed in this new paradigm, we need to offer similar experiences in the twenty-first century classroom. As educators, most of us have professional and educational contacts around the country and around the world. Many of us have traveled to all corners of the globe. Whether we use Live Meeting or WizIq to connect with experts or collaborate with students from other schools, or use Google Earth to visit historical or literary sites, we can and should use our technology resources to bring relevant new experiences to our students. 

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