Collaboration Focusing on Middle School IT Classes
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA new program will bring informatics classes to Indianapolis Public Schools. Computer High: Informatics Project for Success is a collaboration among IPS, the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI and the Pacers Foundation and involves weekly, after-school IT classes for 60 middle schoolers. September 30, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The IU School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, in collaboration with the Pacers Foundation and Indianapolis Public Schools, have announced a project to teach informatics to the students of IPS' Harshman Magnet Middle School on the near eastside of Indianapolis.
The CH:IPS program — Computer High: Informatics Project for Success — will engage 60 Harshman students during the school year in a weekly series of two-hour, after-school learning experiences. The focus will be on informatics and computing and how information technology can be applied to a wide range of real-world challenges and opportunities, including health, security, marketing, logistics, education and entertainment.
Students will learn practical and conceptual skills from a team of faculty and advanced students from the school. Guest speakers from local industry will provide a valuable perspective on the wide range of businesses and industries that apply these skills and technologies.
Steven Mannheimer, a professor of Media Arts and Science in the IU School of Informatics and Computing, was instrumental in cultivating this collaboration with the Pacers and IPS. He will spearhead the project at Harshman Middle School.
“CH:IPS underscores the role of IUPUI as an engaged campus, where students and faculty work with the larger community to impact the lives of local residents,” said Mathew Palakal, executive associate dean of the school. “With this program, the School of Informatics and Computing is helping to prepare these students for the possibility of computing and information technology as their career choice.”
That preparation could pay big dividends for the Harshman Magnet Middle School students.
“Studies indicate that there is a fast-growing demand for those skilled in informatics and computing,” said Bobby Schnabel, dean of Indiana University's School of Informatics and Computing. “By 2018, right about the time these students will be preparing to start college, America will need to fill 1.4 million new jobs in the technology industry. To ensure that Indiana stays competitive in the national and global marketplace, we must fill these jobs. The school is grateful to the Pacers and IPS for their leadership in the CH:IPS project, and for providing this opportunity for our school to collaborate.”
About IU School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI
The Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing was established in 2000 as one of the first schools in the nation dedicated to education and research in informatics. Informatics uniquely integrates computing, social science and information systems design to study how we use technology to communicate, work and engage. That knowledge is then applied to develop innovative IT solutions impacting our communities, science, health care, entertainment, law and business. The IU School of Informatics and Computing is on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and offers an array of certificate, B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. programs.
About Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
As one of seven Indiana University campuses, IUPUI is known as Indiana's premier urban research and health sciences campus and is dedicated to advancing the intellectual growth of the state of Indiana and its residents through research and creative activity, teaching, learning and civic engagement. Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and other notable publications, IUPUI has more than 30,000 students enrolled in 17 schools, which offer more than 250 degrees. IUPUI awards degrees from both Indiana and Purdue universities. IUPUI–What matters. Where it matters.
Source: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis