Students? aptitude for and interest in technology has prompted clubs and classes in the public schools in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.
Information technology”careers are one of the hottest careers now and one of the hottest majors in college,” said Karl Behringer, Anne Arundel Schools director of science and technologies.
“The sky?s the limit because you can get really creative.”
Students are becoming more technologically literate, tying into various engineering fields and technical support positions, said Dennis Soboleski, Howard County Schools instruction facilitator for technology education.
“There?s a nationwide focus on technology literacy where students develop a basic understanding of their designed world,” he said.
To accommodate growing student interest in Howard County, students can participate in robotics clubs at Long Reach and Glenelg high schools
In addition, a five-course, pre-engineering high school program provides a foundation in general engineering principles and practices. A senior project is to develop a patentable project. When students pass all classes, they can apply for three credits of introductory engineering at University of Maryland in Baltimore, Soboleski said.
A sampling of computer science classes offered at Anne Arundel includes Web site design, computer science publishing and database design and programming.
“Kids have to have tremendous math skills and the kind of mind that?s sequential and logical,” Behringer said.
In addition, a unique computer science competition is held twice a year at Anne Arundel Community College where students learn Java computer programming in team and individual competitions to earn prizes.
