On-campus high school teacher trainings prep educators for technology updates

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High school educators from area school districts were on the WCTC campus this summer to participate in specialty training sessions and camps to benefit their students in the areas of smart manufacturing – specifically, fluid power – and information technology and cybersecurity.

In June, educators from local districts received hydraulics and pneumatics training in order to integrate these topics into high school technical classes, including Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses. Many of the credits earned in these technical classes are transferrable into WCTC technical diploma or associate degree classes. WCTC instructors also participated in the training sessions. The training was part of the Fluid Power and Applied Mechatronics Training and Employment Network (FAMTEN), and WCTC is designated as a FAMTEN technical college. Representatives from the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), along with Festo Didactic and Amatrol, both providers of interactive technical learning and eduational systems, led the training.

In August, a group of k-12 educators participated in the Gen Cyber camp, which was a weeklong event designed to equip teachers with the tools and knowledge needed to stay on the cutting edge of the cybersecurity industry, and then pass that information on to students. Camp goals were to help students understand correct and safe online behavior, how to be good digital citizens and how to direct their talents into viable tech careers.

Teachers were introduced to a variety of different career paths available to students, including the IT offerings at the technical college level. WCTC is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, a designation given by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security.