The
Jefferson City Information Technology Coalition to sponsor
a Business Information Technology Institute locally in 2002
For the
past few years an innovative opportunity has been made available to
Missouri students to experience a hands-on, one-week su
mmer
program to explore information technology careers. Hosted by Central
Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri, the Jefferson City
Information Technology Coalition (ITC) annually sponsors ten Mid-Missouri
students. An ITC committee is currently working toward offering this
program during June 2002 at one of the local higher education institutions.
A curriculum is being determined and an RFP will be developed inviting
the local educational institutions to bid on hosting the event.
The objectives
of the Business Information Technology Institute (BIT) are to provide
high school students (those just completing sophomore and junior years)
with a first-hand view of the career opportunity and to help change
the image of the information technology (IT) professional. Thirty students
from a variety of Missouri high schools participate in the institute.
With sponsorship support from companies such as Hallmark, Sprint, IBM,
DST, Accenture, Central Bank and others, the opportunity is provided
for a student to attend at no cost.
The institute
is an immersion into what it is like to be an IT professional. For example,
in past years, the BIT was set up as a Hallmark store with the students
functioning as the IT support group. The students are divided into Accounting,
Human Resources, Marketing and Inventory Support groups. Professionals
provide an overall view of these areas and how they utilize information
technology in their day-to-day work. BIT students also visited Hallmark,
Cerner and other organizations in Kansas City, Missouri to see IT first-hand.
Each BIT
group is given a set of "memorandum" from the store management
of tasks to be completed during the week. Each group uses Microsoft
Access to accomplish database, query and reporting activities. They
also learn to create web pages, and used Microsoft PowerPoint for a
final presentation. At the end of the week the groups present the tasks
and solutions to an audience of parents and sponsors.
The BIT
for 2002 will be looking at a slightly different curriculum built around
the business issues of a local company and will also provide exposure
to other IT areas such as networking. By bringing the BIT locally to
the Jefferson City community, it will enable the Information Technology
Coalition to offer a greater number of Mid-Missouri high school students
the opportunity to explore IT careers.
