Ohio IT Skills Blog

U.S. Copyright Office Issues New Rights

Link: Free Press : U.S. Copyright Office Issues New Rights.

In a rare move, the US Copyright Office has issued new rules relaxing some restrictions on the use of copyrighted materials - and these have been approved by Librarian of Congress James Billington.  While the rules are reviewed periodically, they are not often given new interpretations that enable more flexible use.  The changes are very technical and will be analyzed for quite a while before anyone takes much action with them, but the linked story gives the details.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

College Students Fall Short in Demonstrating the ICT Literacy Skills Necessary for Success in College and the Workplace: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Link: College Students Fall Short in Demonstrating the ICT Literacy Skills Necessary for Success in College and the Workplace: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance.

More results of the analysis of data collected by Educational Testing Service (ETS) while validating their ICT Literacy Assessment.  It is simply not true that young people know everything they need to know about technology - merely by virtue of being young people, or by virtue of any focused education they are receiving in K-12.  This needs to change, and will change as the Ohio Standards for Technology move into the mainstream.  But that still leave the vast majority of Ohioans without those insights.  If you want to solve that problem for yourself in the near future, check out the Ohio Computing Unlimited basic skills program, introducing ICDL.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Inside Higher Ed :: Science Ph.D.'s Continue to Grow

Link: Jobs, News and Views for All of Higher Education - Inside Higher Ed :: Science Ph.D.'s Continue to Grow.

There has been much alarm lately about the relative decline in numbers of advanced degrees in key scientific fields - but there is some good news in this story, relating that numbers of PhD's are indeed increasing.  Whether this resolves any crisis is not known, but at least the endeavors are not just fading away.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

We Are IT! - Success at Owens!!

Well, the big day came - Friday November 17 there were 9 simultaneous events focused on interesting early-high-school-aged girls in IT-related fields - and I drive to Toledo to be a part of "We Are IT!" day at Owens Community College.

Under the leadership of Lyn Snyder, the program came together beautifully.  Beginning at 9:30am - about 70 girls had a chance to sample some of the ideas and opportunities that are part of a career in IT.  As noted in my previous entry about the Edison pilot in October, the girls at Owens were focused, interested and involved.  One of the proud moments was the projection of the Proclamation issued by Ohio's Gov Bob Taft, declaring that day to be "We Are IT! Day" all across the state. 

After a brief general session, the group split up to attend a number of sessions covering specific topics relevant to IT careers.

Hod Doering, member of the faculty at Owens, did a marvelous exercise in which teams of girls learned something about binary math by playing the roles of computer registers.  In those roles, they encrypted and decrypted a message by doing the kind of arithmetic computers do routinely.  It was physically involving, and a very practical way to demonstrate the real work a computer must do to be useful - and also to demonstrate the speed advantages of chips instead of people.<g>

Another session, run by Dora Bensch of Owens' career planning and counseling group, was a surprising success.  Imagine sitting a number of typical teenagers down to do a career preference assessment (even sounds a little dull, doesn't it?) and then explore the jobs to which their assessment pointed?  Not too likely to be a winner among the kids I have known.  But Dora had a straightforward plan for each girl to follow, sitting in front of a terminal - and I observed that most kids really got into it. One popular activity seemed to be checking out the salaries, in the session I attended.  Looks like a lot of money to a  teenager - and given the need for  talent in the IT world, the best of this group will be able to earn top dollar, once they hit the job market.

I also tagged along as we visited with a local entrepreneur  -  Vicki Kurtz of Imaging Systems Technology - who produces touch screens for giant televisions.  The girls had a chance to talk with a young woman who actually builds the devices, and to play with them a bit.  They also had a chance to install a TV tuner in a PC and make it work.  Seemed to make quite an impression on the group - and a great way to get a picture of the real people who work in this field - as well as some understanding of what the field really is.

Congratulations to Lyn Snyder, Wendy Howe, Janet Bower (who provided the keynote address on career pathways - intentional and otherwise), and all the rest of the Owens team who did such an outstanding job.  The girls I talked with seemed genuinely pleased to have spent their time this way (and not just for the day away from class)and talked about topics and news they could relate to their families and friends.

I look forward to hearing more about how things went at the other venues - and I'll keep this journal posted as I get more input.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Web 3.0 - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!

Link: Web 3.0: Web 3.0 - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!.

Just when you've begun to catch up to the vague milieu known as Web 2.0 - along comes somebody touting Web 3.0!  Well, don't worry - you aren't really behind, just yet.  This blogger thinks that the next generation of the Web will be based on artificial intelligence.  Many may have thought that AI went away after the bomb that was Steven Spielberg's movie of the same name - but no - AI has consistently been with us - hovering in the background - sometimes changing shape or function - and most often, definition.  Tell me what you think - can the Web  help you make decisions?

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Technology360: Coming Soon via Your TiVo: Internet Video on Television

Link: Technology360: Coming Soon via Your TiVo: Internet Video on Television.

TiVO has been a pioneer in tapping regular household appliances into the home network - and now they are taking advantage of that connection to bring a new family of content to your television:  Internet video.

It certainly could be argued that this is a very limited event.  Culturally, anyway.  But technically, this demonstrates the ever-increasing trend of connections and integration among communications and media tools.  Understanding enough about these advances to evaluate them for your own family's needs, and understanding any potential risk or advantage these new products offer - are just the latest in consumer burden relative to technology.

All that means is that everyone needs to catch up with the basics of the technology - how it works  at a practical level -  what risks and opportunities may be attached - how to be a smart buyer - and a good member of the growing community online.  Look for opportunities to learn more - not only about the latest and greatest new products but also about the principles and trends within which they operate.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

New old technology - where has it been?

The purpose of this blog is not to tout new technology, but sometimes things happen that you simply can walk past.

Over 100 years ago, Nikola Tesla - one of the greatest inventors of all time - was working with the mysteries of electricity.  He got himself entangled in a wild variety of issues and arguments and personalities.  As a result, some of the more intriguing allusions and promises he made have been lost to us.  The results of his genius linger - we all use AC current in our homes today because of Tesla.  And movies like The Prestige (a wonderful flick, BTW - and wait till you see who plays Tesla) have revitalized his genius and his mystery.

One of the promises had to do with the wireless transmission of electricity.  Imagine the power of that concept.  Today, we have vastly improved the battery technology that makes electricity portable - compared to what it was in Tesla's day.  But he wasn't talking about batteries - he was talking about permanent wireless transmission.  An electrical grid, if you will, without the connectors - the wires.  Everyone thought Tesla was more than a little crazy - and in fact he was, especially in later years.  But now it turns out that scientists may have figured out a practical way to deliver on that long-ago promise.

MIT announced they have discovered a way to move electricity - in a sense - over the air. 

So why would anyone interested in the IT field, or considering new programs regarding IT Skills, care about this?  Because all the assumptions we make about anything stable in this field are ultimately worthless.  If ever there was a solid, immutable fact of life - it has been that most power, and the most reliable power, comes from a wired network.  No way around it.  But now we find that fundamental assumption challenged.  And that could radically change everything from systems security, to systems design, to daily operations - and probably more.

We have to make assumptions in order to plan at all.  But we have to learn that any of those assumptions can change at any moment, and we must have the intellectual tools and emotional stamina to accept those changes - and change our own assumptions and move on.

Could be - the most elemental IT Skill of all is the ability to accept - if not anticipate - change.  And - to some extent - the wildest most improbable change imaginable.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

2006 Salary Survey: Staff and Entry-level Positions

Link: 2006 Salary Survey: Staff and Entry-level Positions.

ComputerWorld has released it's 2006 Salary Survey for Staff and Entry-Level Positions - Bottom line - there's a lot of money to be made in IT. 

Reality - that opportunity is not going to come without effort and commitment - every study done for decades confirms - as does this one - the more education you, the more money an employer will be willing to pay.  Get smart - get paid.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

IT Women in the industry - Technology - smh.com.au

Link: IT Women in the industry - Technology - smh.com.au.

Women are valued in any technical field, and the opportunities for women are almost unlimited - wherever those opportunities may be.  This story from Australia simply confirms observations in the US and Britain (mentioning only English-speaking countries) - employers of IT specialists are begging for trained and talented personnel - and women have a real edge given the paucity of females in the field.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Conferences get ICDL in front of the right people

What a week!

The EnterpriseOhio Network had its annual 3-day conference in Columbus November 7-9, including celebrating the Network's 20th anniversary.  If you don't know, EON represents what are known as "Business & Industry" departments in the 53 community colleges and satellites campuses that are members.  These groups bring in revenue by packaging up custom training programs and other continuing education programs for specific businesses or other interest groups in their respective communities.  In short - they are among the most entrepreneurial staff members of our higher educational system.

These conferences always are energizing because so many attendees (a total of about 200 this year) are seeking to learn - about new programs, new techniques, new constituents and more.  The reception of this group for the ICDL program has been great - and it's always a challenge to find new ways to describe ICDL and its strengths and potentials - in a way that will help EONers promote the program locally.

I came up with a presentation that I believe will become the bedrock for future presentations and conversation about ICDL - and was able to make the delicate connection between computer skills training and elephants and Napoleon's failed campaign to capture Moscow in 1812.  Not many people would attempt such a montage, but I am fearless.

We were able to have some have some additional fun at EON:  Ohio Computing Unlimited sponsored a contest where everyone who completed one of the TechReady Assessments was entered in a drawing - held the last night of the Conference - for a video iPod.

And the Winners Are:  Tracy Egert (right)of Owens Community College (Toledo) won the drawing for the iPod.  And Tamara Norris (left) of Northwest State Community College (Archbold) won a special recognition for her high score of the contest - 98%!!  The deliverable was a hat that reads "Tops @ TechReady, EON 2006."  Congratulations to both of you!  And to everyone who participated (and can still participate - in the sense of getting familiar with the assessment)!

And I can't leave the subject without sincere thanks to Gretchen Skok-DiSanto, who organizes the event (with the help of a small, talented staff) and has always been so supportive of our OCU/ICDL efforts, and Robert Johnson, my senior partner introducing ICDL around EON.  Without you guys, I'd still be looking for the door!

Later I had the privilege of speaking with a number of people who work for the career centers around Ohio.  These organizations are under the umbrella of the Ohio Department of Education (as opposed to to community college under the auspices of the Ohio Board of Regents).  These institutions have been pursuing programs in basic skills for a long time, and many have expressed an interest in some of the features of ICDL.  Gloria Balch  of the Tri-County Vocational School Adult Career Center hosted the session at which I presented, and her support was greatly appreciated.  Also Dora Zandarski of the Trumbull County Center, and Sue Gibson of Mid-East Career Center in Zanesville, attended.  Dora has been teaching ICDL for three years, and Sue's school has just recently fired up a program.  So they were able to support my high level presentation with some good practical experience-based information.

These experiences always invigorate me and I look forward to more.   Thanks to all!

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)