NEW IT Alliance – September Tech Upload
NEW Digital News
There’s a crispness in the air these days which signals the coming of fall, sporting events, and back to school, which is fitting as many of our articles this month focus on student achievement and educational opportunities throughout the region.
This time last year, we were busy planning our first ever regional IT job and career fair. This year we’ve decided to up the ante a bit and are adding a few more items to the mix of fall fun. On September 20, NEW IT Alliance director Kim Iversen will be presenting at Scoutfire. This is an event driven by the Boy Scouts of America and is a new event for community leaders to learn about building the leaders of tomorrow. A week later, NEW IT Alliance launches the NEW CS Advisory Board which will bring together regional k12, higher ed, and IT leaders to discuss computer science education and challenges in Northeast Wisconsin, and what we can do to close the gaps. Tuesday, October 2 the NEW IT Alliance will be launching its TechTalk series. Our pilot event will be hosted by UW Oshkosh College of Business along with their various IT student clubs.
We have been collaborating with UW Oshkosh’s Information Systems Department on two new initiatives, which will launch later in October. One of these will see select high schools invited to campus to participate in an ERPSim day where students will get a chance to explore how technology is used to operate a business. We are looking for company sponsors to help support the program as well as speakers for the day. The other initiative targets college students who may be considering studying in an IT field, and provides them with an opportunity to do a half-day job shadow with a local company. If your company is interested in hosting a student, please reach out by the end of September. For more information and to participate in either of these, please contact Dr. John Muraski (muraskij@uwosh.edu) at UW Oshkosh.
And of course, our biggest event will be NEW Connect IT on November 14 at Lambeau Field. Booths for our second annual job and career fair are going fast, and college students are already registering! The first 10 Northeast Wisconsin high schools to register on our website will receive free transportation to the event. We will be needing volunteers – look for more information on how you can help out in October.
Our vision of NEW Connect IT as the prime event in the region connecting the entire IT talent pipeline is beginning to take shape. Fox Valley Technical College approached us to take advantage of the opportunity and will be bringing a group of local high school teachers certified by FVTC to teach in their dual-credit program. The teachers will be going through the fair to talk to businesses and will also have a special session with several local IT leaders to better understand the IT field and how IT work is actually done.
In case you can’t get enough of technology and Ideas Worth Spreading by attending NEW IT Alliance events, check out the two TEDx Talk events in the region. TEDxOshkosh will be held at The Grand Oshkosh on November 10 and TEDxUW-Green Bay will be held at the Weidner Center on November 1.
NEW IT Alliance would like to welcome Nature’s Way as a General Member.
Tech Talk 2018
We regularly read about today’s newest technologies (Artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, virtual reality). Did you know these technologies are already being used by companies across Northeast Wisconsin? On October 2, NEW IT Alliance will be launching its TechTalk series at UW Oshkosh. Come and listen to local leaders talk about near future technology, how they are being used in Northeast Wisconsin, and what skills you can develop today to use these and other future technologies throughout your career. Through sharing the exciting technology used in our communities, we hope to inspire students to explore the exciting world of technology. And through networking with the local companies who use the technology, help connect them with jobs here in our community. Come join us for an evening of TechTalk and networking! Students, employers, and community members are welcome. Register here.
Not able to join us at UW Oshkosh? That’s not a problem! We’ll be taking the show on the road, and will be visiting collaborating campuses throughout Northeast Wisconsin throughout the fall and spring. We’ll keep you posted as to when and where TechTalks will be via our newsletter and on our events page.
Regional News
Cybersecurity Issues in International Business: Exporting Pitfalls, Economic Espionage, and Cyber Issues in Intellectual Property
Davis|Kuelthau is teaming up with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss legal issues that arise with increased frequency in the international economy.
FBI Special Agent Marc Dinkel will address the illicit procurement of goods via export as well as best practices and common schemes used to mislead US companies engaged in exporting. He will identify ways to meet due diligence responsibilities of business owners and the resources available to assist with compliance.
FBI Special Agent Dean Chappell will explain the cultural and practical realities of economic espionage, such as theft of trade secrets, email compromise and wire transfer interference by agents of foreign governments. Agent Chappell will share some practical advice on how to protect your company from these thefts and intrusions.
Davis|Kuelthau Intellectual Property Attorney Joseph Heino will explore the role of intellectual property laws such as trademarks, patents and copyright laws in the international arena, including discussion of the scope and applicability of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union.
September 18, 2018 | 8:00 – 10:00 AM | Green Bay
Female, minority students took AP computer science in record numbers
This year, 135,992 students took advanced placement (AP) computer science exams, a 31 percent increase from last year, according to data from the College Board, the organization that administers standardized tests that help determine college entrances as well as AP courses.
Females and under-represented minorities were among the fastest growing groups. African-American students taking AP computer science courses rose 44 percent to 7,301, Hispanic and Latino participation gained 41 percent to 20,954 and female participation rose 39 percent to 38,195, said Code.org, a nonprofit that advocates for implementing computer science programs in every American school.
Rural student participation also spiked. The number of rural students taking AP computer science exams jumped 42 percent to 14,184.
Code.org — which gets support from major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon — developed a CS Principles class in partnership with the College Board to bring computer science studies to more students and schools after finding unequal access to curriculum. Just 2% of schools with the highest percentage of underrepresented students of color offered AP Computer Science, Code.org said when it teamed up with the College Board in 2015. Most students who took the course were white or Asian and male.
Increasing equity and inclusion in computer science education
Last month I attended my first CSTA conference. I LOVED the positive energy. From the keynote speakers to the exhibition space to the breakout sessions, everyone at CSTA2018 seemed genuinely happy to be together and they were clearly excited to share, learn, and ultimately do more for students.
I do know that there is a lot of good and important work that has been done on equity and inclusion in education broadly, and specifically in math and science. And while we are making progress, and there is a lot of great research on what the issues and challenges are in diversity, equity and inclusion in computer science, what I hear from teachers and others in CS education is that we still have work to do to make practical solutions easy for teachers to bring to life, specifically for computer science.
ENVISION 2018, How AI is changing the customer experience
AI is delivering real value in business and is changing the world as we know it. It’s being implemented across all industries and business functions creating unprecedented efficiencies in human productivity. Organizations that successfully apply AI within their business will be able to innovate and compete more effectively while delivering an unrivaled customer experience.
At Envision 2018 you will hear inspirational talks from thought leaders that are passionate about AI and the technologies driving business forward. Join us for a day of thought-provoking, educational sessions designed to kick your AI initiative into gear. AI is moving fast … don’t fall behind!
Come join EDCI and see how AI is changing the customer experience. Refer to flyer below and link to more information!
DWD Announces New Registered Apprenticeship Program
WAUSAU (8/30/18) – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) – Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS), the Wisconsin Technical College System and Wausau based Footlocker.com/Eastbay, launched the new IT Service Desk Technician Apprenticeship Thursday.
This new, hybrid registered apprenticeship is upskilling a current employee from the company to participate in the one-year hybrid training program, a first for Wisconsin. DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary BJ Dernbach was in attendance to congratulate this new apprentice and celebrate this new program.
“We are excited not only to be bringing on an IT Service Desk Technician Apprentice, but to extend the opportunity to a current associate who will be furthering his career and education with Foot Locker,” said JoAnn Jensen, Global Service Desk Director. “After seeing great results from our previous Youth Apprenticeship workers, it seemed like a logical next step to pursue a Registered Apprentice. It was a joy and honor working with the team across the state to build and create curriculum for this new apprenticeship.”