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You Wanna Be a Techie. Do You Wanna Know How to Get There?

You Wanna Be a Techie. Do You Wanna Know How to Get There?. Samuel Jackendoff, M.Ed., M.B.A., M.S.I.S. Technical Preparation Initiative PA Dept. of Education & Community College of Allegheny County. So you think you want to be a “hard-core techie?”.

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You Wanna Be a Techie. Do You Wanna Know How to Get There?

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  1. You Wanna Be a Techie.Do You Wanna Know How to Get There? Samuel Jackendoff, M.Ed., M.B.A., M.S.I.S. Technical Preparation Initiative PA Dept. of Education & Community College of Allegheny County

  2. So you think you want to be a “hard-core techie?” • Do you always want / try to use the newest technology? • Do you “sweat the details?” Do people that don’t, drive you nuts? • Do you enjoy mind-numbing logic problems? The harder, the better? • Do you assume that mistakes and glitches are integral parts of the process of creating a superior product or system? • Are the terms “compulsive” and “driven” compliments? • Are you OK with – or maybe even like – working all night under pressure? • Do you mind speaking a dialect of English that so-called “normal” people don’t understand? Is it incomprehensible why they can’t? • Do you sleep well at (or under) your desk? • Can you live on pizza and caffeine? CCAC, 2002

  3. Well, how did you do? • Did you answer affirmatively to all of those questions? If so, you seem have the mindset of a “hard-core techie” • If you at least leaned towards a “yes” on all of those questions, you still demonstrate “T2” (Techie-Tendencies). CCAC, 2002

  4. Allegheny CountyHigh School Graduates* - 2002 * Source: PA Dept. of Education, High School Graduates, 2000-2001**Unemployed = Unemployed + Homemakers CCAC, 2002

  5. Allegheny CountyHigh School Graduates* - 2002 College Bound(2 year) College Bound(4 year) * PA Dept. of Education, High School Graduates, 2000-2001 CCAC, 2002

  6. Allegheny CountyHigh School Graduates* - 2002 ~80% do NOT receive diploma or certificate** * PA Dept. of Education, High School Graduates, 2000-2001**Measuring Up 2000, National Ctr. for Public Policy and Higher Education & Pgh. Post Gazette, Oct. 2, 2002 CCAC, 2002

  7. Directions for Techies • Research • Academic or Industrial • Applied (or Practical) • Industrial or Academic (They are not mutually exclusive.) CCAC, 2002

  8. Directions for Techies • Hardware • Software (They are not mutually exclusive.) CCAC, 2002

  9. Directions for Techies • Bits and Bytes • Algorithms • Programming • Network & System Protocols • Bits and Drills and Cutters and Cables… • Networks / Telecommunications • Robotics • Circuit Design • Hardware Repair • Hardware Design (They are not mutually exclusive.) CCAC, 2002

  10. “Bits & Bytes” Applied and Research Several of the (overlapping) fields of study: • End User Support • Applications • System Support • Graphics • Interface Design and Creation • Database Design, Configuration & Mgmt. • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) • Operating Systems • System Security • Telecommunications CCAC, 2002

  11. Bits and Drills and Cutters and Cables… Applied and Research Several of the (overlapping) fields of study: • Robotics • Data Throughput • Miniaturization • Circuit and Chip Design • System Design / End User Support / Telecommunications • LANs • WANs • VPNs • Internets / Intranets • Protocol Design • Routing • Wireless Technologies CCAC, 2002

  12. So You Wanna to Do Research? • To get started, you will need a degree (or three). • B.S. • M.S. or M.S.I.S. • Ph.D. CCAC, 2002

  13. So You Wanna to Do Research? • “What should I study?” • Computer Science or Information Science • Mathematics • Engineering • Psychology (for human / machine interface design) • Physics • Other technical fields CCAC, 2002

  14. So You Want To Do Research? • “What else will I need to get my degree (besides good grades)?” Experience & FUNDING! • “Where will I get the requisite monies?” • O.P.M. (Other People’s Money) • Grants / Scholarships • Work–Study programs • Work (as in: “Get a job!”) • “Can I get there without going broke?” • Yes… Start by working in Applied Computing. CCAC, 2002

  15. “What do I need to get started in Applied Computing?” • You will need to decide: • Hardware versus Software • When to Start • How to Start CCAC, 2002

  16. “What do I need to get started and then get ahead in Applied Computing?” • To get started, you will need: • Certifications, and/or • Experience • To get ahead, you will eventually need • Experience • Certifications • One, or more, degrees • B.S. (at the minimum) • M.S., M.S.I.S. and./or M.B.A. • Ph.D. CCAC, 2002

  17. “What do I need to get started in Applied Computing?” • You will need to decide whether you want to start in hardware, or software, or some combination of both. • Which do you prefer? • Do you prefer working with your brain (solving logic problems) and typing? • Do you prefer working with your brains, hands, teeth and a screwdriver? CCAC, 2002

  18. Applied Computing? Additional important questions: • Do you want to pay your way through school by working full-, or part-time? • Do you want to pay for full-time school with a work-study program? CCAC, 2002

  19. Applied Computing • “OK. What is the minimum that I need to get a starting job?” • Proven experience and/or competence • “But I am just starting! How can I have experience or prove my competence? That’s a “catch 22” – a no-win situation.” • Training classes • Projects (including volunteer work for a non-profit organization) • Certifications CCAC, 2002

  20. Why Certifications? • Employers want to know that when a person is hired, (s)he will be able to start being productive right away. • It demonstrates some minimal level of competence. CCAC, 2002

  21. Several of the Certifications Available CCAC, 2002

  22. Applied Computing • Training • Aimed towards getting a job versus • Education • Aimed towards learning, learning to learn, and becoming intellectually balanced. CCAC, 2002

  23. Applied Computing – Going for the B.S. • “Should I jump right into a Bachelor’s Degree?” • Sure! Sounds great. • You need to remember that a well designed Bachelor’s Degree from a “good” program is NOT aimed directly at getting you a job. It is an educational (versus training) program. CCAC, 2002

  24. Applied Computing – Going for the B.S. “If I go to college, what should I study when I go for the B.S?” • Computer Science or Information Science • Mathematics • Engineering • Psychology (for human / machine interface design) • Physics • Other technical fields CCAC, 2002

  25. Paying for your Education • OPM (other people’s money) • Grants & Scholarships • Work-study • Tuition Reimbursement (from your job) • Student loans

  26. A Technical Preparation Suggestion • No matter what stage of your education you are in (High School, Technical School, College): • Take as many technical courses as you can • Math • Programming • Science • Take writing & speech courses • You will need to know how to write technical reports and give talks to explain your work. CCAC, 2002

  27. Warnings • Anyone that promises you a quick fix/safe job is probably misleading you. • Don’t get taken in by any school promising to make you a super programmer or graphics artist that will get you a high paying job fast. • Be sure that the courses that you take will be transferable to a 4-year college? • The hot job of today will be passé tomorrow. The exciting jobs will always be changing. CCAC, 2002

  28. A Final Word of Warning:If you decide to become a good “techie,” you will spend the rest of your life studying (trying to keep up with new technologies) and trying to keep up with the young kids that have grown up with those “new-fangled” technologies. CCAC, 2002

  29. Post Script: So… You think you’re a hard-core techie? University of Toronto professor Steve Mann, 39, has for 20 years worn computer components on his body for ongoing research and even calls himself a cyborg, and carries enough documentation that he had never (even after Sept. 11) caused problems with airport security. (He wears computerized glasses and headgear and an electronic body suit; is constantly connected to the Internet; can see behind him; and can "feel" items across a room.) However, on Feb. 18, officials at St. John's, Newfoundland, airport would not let him board for two days while searching and testing him and making background checks. When they OK'd him on Feb. 20, about $55,000 worth of his equipment had been broken, and he was bleeding from having his chest electrodes removed. Two weeks later, Mann filed a lawsuit against Air Canada and Canada's transportation authority. [New York Times, 3-14-02; Ottawa Citizen, 3-20-02; Toronto Star, 3-22-02] CCAC, 2002

  30. You are good.You know that you’re good.Now, where you take it is UP TO YOU!Thank you very much.Good luck!

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