Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s techPATH Initiative Offers Free Educator Training
in Florida’s Rapidly Growing Simulation Industry

Orlando (March 24, 2005) – Orange, Seminole and Lake county educators are about to take a simulated trip to battle evil high above the city streets to learn about the technology behind their web-slinging adventure at an upcoming Modeling, Simulation and Training (MSandT) techCAMP. techCAMPs, hosted by techPATH – an initiative of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council – provide local educators the opportunity to learn about the educational and career opportunities this rapidly growing industry can offer their students.

The two-day modeling, simulation and training program, which will take place March 30 and 31 at University High School and Universal Orlando Resort, is designed to provide educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to guide students in their pursuit of high tech careers. Offering a comprehensive overview of the MSandT industry, the program will provide information on available careers and the education necessary to enter the field.

The itinerary includes detailed presentations covering the history and overview of simulation, use of simulation in the military, simulation technology in theme park attractions, virtual and augmented reality, learning and training, and special populations. Teachers will observe the use of the simulation technology in theme park attractions during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® at Universal’s Islands of Adventure®, Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast™; Shrek 4-D™; and Back to the Future The Ride® at Universal Studios; and, participate in a panel discussion with the Universal Orlando Technical Services team.

“Universal Orlando is providing an excellent hands-on experience for our teachers,” said Jeff Bindell, Ph.D., chair, techPATH Educational Consortium and Lecturer in physics at the University of Central Florida. “The resort is helping us to achieve our mission to cultivate tomorrow’s workforce.”

“The high tech and tourism industries complement each other and actually work together to promote economic development in the Florida High Tech Corridor,” said Corridor Council President, Randy Berridge. “In addition, the area theme parks employ thousands of high tech, high-wage professionals behind the scenes.”

The two-day Modeling, Simulation and Training techCAMP is sponsored by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council; techPATH; the University of Central Florida (UCF); the University of South Florida (USF); the University of Florida (UF); Universal Orlando Resort; Orange County Public Schools – Career and Technical Education Workforce Education; Seminole County Public Schools; Lake County Schools; Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI); U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM); the Institute for Simulation and Training; the National Center for Simulation; and, Evans and Sutherland.

Modeling, Simulation and Training techCAMP
Agenda and Photo Opportunities
andnbsp;[Interested media should call Wendy Jo Moyer (407-423-8006/407-312-8377) prior to attending to ensure facility access.]

March 30, 2005
University High School – Orlando, Florida

• Continental Breakfast
• Host Welcome
• techPATH Welcome and FHTCC Overview
• History and Overview of Simulation
• Break
• The Virtual Field Trip
• Importance of Math
• Lunch and Gaming Demo
• Virtual and Augmented Reality
• Activities for the Classroom
• IST/STTC/EandS Presentation
• IST/STTC/EandS Tour
• Wrap-Up and Depart

• Continental Breakfast
• FHTCC Welcome
• Universal OrlandoWelcome
• Simulation in the Military
• Simulation for Learning and Training
• Break
• Simulation for Special Populations
• The Simulation Program 2+2+2
• Lunch and SIMsational Career Video
• UO Panel Discussion
• Universal Orlando Introduction, Tour and Ride Simulator Experience at
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Ride Back to the Future The Ride, Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast and Shrek
• Wrap-Up/QandA/Certificates
• Depart

techPATH will host its next techCAMP at the Advanced Technology Center in Daytona Beach, Florida on Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8 of this year. The Daytona techCAMP will also host Modeling, Simulation and Training as well, but this time we’ll put educators in the driver’s seat at Daytona USA’s Race Car Simulation Challenge.

A History of techPATH and techCAMP

Recognizing the need for a high tech workforce, in 1997 the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) established its educational Initiative – techPATH. Involving representatives from a variety of educational affiliations and high tech companies, techPATH is “cultivating tomorrow’s workforce” through a variety of innovative programs. The goal of techPATH is to ensure that Florida’s students are equipped to fill the region’s burgeoning high tech workforce. techCAMPs evolved from “Chip Camps,” which were semiconductor seminars held from 1998-2002. “Chip Camps” were free one- or two-day programs that provided more than 750 educators with hands-on experience with the semiconductor manufacturing environment and tools for incorporating their new knowledge into the classroom.

In April 2003, techPATH held its first techCAMP for approximately 30 educators, focusing on the optics and photonics industry, and in December 2003, more than 70 educators attended the first techCAMP focused on Modeling, Simulation and Training. techCAMPs have been delivered to more than 1000 teachers since 1998, and plans for a digital media camp and a medical technology camp are currently underway, as are additional programs for the remaining industries that make up the FHTCC six sectors: aviation and aerospace and information technology.

Besides techCAMPs, techPATH continues to work on the development of 2+2 degrees, certificates and curricula designed to train post-secondary students for jobs in the high tech arena. These groundbreaking academic programs – offered in concert with UCF, USF and UF and the 14 community colleges that serve the region – partner a community college with one or all of the universities to assure that after the first two years of a student’s college career at the community college level, there is a program available for the student to follow toward a bachelor’s degree. This provides a seamless educational opportunity, assuring future employers a well-trained workforce.

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC ) is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida. Encompassing 23 counties, the Corridor stretches across Central Florida from coast to coast. Through matching funds research; the creation of workforce and education programs; and, marketing of the region with economic development, academic and industry partners, the Corridor Council works to fulfill its mission of attracting, retaining and growing high tech industry and the workforce to support it in the region.