Teachers

Teachers

We can help our students prepare to enter a global marketplace where careers are increasingly dependent upon information technology.

 

Consider:

  • IT and Digital play an increasing role in all industries and career paths
  • Digital and IT careers are stable and are some of the highest paying careers.
  • From website design and marketing to IT infrastructure, IT offers opportunities for both data-driven and creative thinkers.
  • IT professionals work on interesting problems for other people using technology. They will have opportunities to work on some of the most challenging and exciting issues facing the world today.
  • Digital and IT professionals are in demand, and demand is growing. IT workers are highly sought after as companies of all sizes, nonprofits, and governments look to increase their use of technology to solve their problems. There are many jobs available and not enough candidates to fill them. (Building Northeast Wisconsin IT Talent Pipeline Analysis and Recommendations)
    • With an expected 13% job growth over the next several years (as compared to projected growth for all jobs of 6.5%) the demand for IT professionals is outpacing supply.
    • Over 90% of IT students are employed or have job offers before graduation.

Help students identify their strengths and interests

Encourage students to explore and participate in related activities.

Match strengths and interests with opportunities

 

Camps/competitions/hackathons                                                                                                                                                   

Camps, competitions, and hackathons can be great ways to gain exposure to coding, cybersecurity, and many other aspects of Information Technology. Also, they allow your students to network with others like themselves along with schools and local employers. Check out our events page throughout the year to learn what opportunities there are near you.

Digital Alliance job fair (NEW Connect IT)    

Register your school to attend the annual job fair hosted by the NEW Digital Alliance. This job fair will allow students to talk to regional colleges and employers to learn more about IT careers and paths of study. Some area employers also hire high school students into their IT departments as youth apprentices.

IT, or information technology, is an ever-growing field of careers focused on organizing, protecting, and utilizing data to drive business decisions. IT professionals are the people who test, build, install, repair, or maintain the hardware and software associated with sophisticated computer systems in one or more locations. As the world of technology evolves, so do the jobs of IT professionals. Click here to learn more about individual IT careers.

IT is an exciting career path with many opportunities in all industry sectors like hardware, software; digital business etc…but does it pay well? Yes, it certainly does.

According to (Building Northeast Wisconsin IT Talent Pipeline Analysis and Recommendations) starting salaries for local graduates in Northeast Wisconsin* (associates and bachelors) average $44,500 and range from $25,000 – $90,000, depending on field and degree. Students graduating with degrees in higher demand areas such as cybersecurity and networking will often receive higher starting salaries. In 2015, the average IT salary in Northeast Wisconsin was $79,500 across all IT professions.

As a teacher, there are many ways you can help your student start the path toward an IT career. Just reading the NEW Digital Alliance website is a great way to start.

High school classes

The list below is no indication of all the classes your students need to take before graduation, but will likely take many of these as graduation requirements. The list below can help your students understand how the classes apply to an IT career.

Math – Always a great class to take, but don’t get caught in the stereotype that they need to be a math genius. Most of the IT roles rely more on logical thinking than the math itself.

 

Science – Take as much as they can, but the specific subjects are less important. Take the ones that interest them the most, and would most align with the industry they’re interested in. The most important aspect of these classes is the problem solving, and critical thinking skills learned.

 

Art – 3D, 2D, digital…they all teach creativity which can help in problem-solving. They also teach dimensional thinking which can help with data analytics. If students are interested in a web development, marketing, or computer graphics career, even better.

 

Communications/English – Being able to communicate their thoughts, whether in the code they’re writing or in the presentations, they’re giving, is always essential. Many IT jobs today require excellent communication skills, taking these classes in high school will help them through college and future careers. Excellent communication skills can be the difference between a good career and a great career. These skills are highly leveraged in roles such as project management, business analyst, and any leadership position.

Music/foreign language – Helps them learn syntax, loops, and other concepts which make learning a coding language easier. In a global workplace, speaking a foreign language helps them better understand different cultures and perspectives, as well as sets them apart from other job candidates. What about music? Well, …it’s just another language.

 

Computer science/coding – If your school offers these subjects, students should sign up. These classes will give them exposure to one aspect of IT. If your school does not provide coding courses, there are many online self-study options to learn to program. Check out some of the sites on our Resources page to help them get started.

 

College credit-granting classes – Not a requirement, but many great opportunities exist for students to collect college credit while in high school. For those students who love a challenge, this can be a great way to reduce college costs later on…whether you choose a two-year or a 4-year college program. Students who know they want to pursue an IT career can also leverage the UW Oshkosh 1+3 program.

 

Youth Apprenticeships and Internships

Parent and Teacher Resources

Check out our resources for both parents and educators. These pages explain what IT really is, why it’s important, and how to get students interested in pursuing some sort of IT background. They also give parents and educators an understanding of why IT is important for each and every student to know.