“techCAMP” INTRODUCES CENTRAL FLORIDA TEACHERS TO THE SIMULATION INDUSTRY

PROGRAM ARMS EDUCATORS WITH TOOLS TO INTEREST STUDENT IN HIGH TECH CAREERS

HEATHROW, Fla. (December 4, 2007) – Physics, math and technology teachers from Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola and Volusia counties traded in their calculators for test flights last week at a two-day techCAMP workshop hosted by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC), as part of the Council’s techPATH initiative to promote high tech careers to middle and high school students in the region. 

Through presentations from academic, industrial and military simulation experts, 43 teachers were introduced to the world of simulation and its related technologies.  As part of the program, the teachers visited the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference at the Orange County Convention Center, were given physics simulation software such as “Croc-Clips” to take back to their classrooms, and had the opportunity to experience hands-on lessons about the Modeling, Simulation & Training (MS&T) industry.

“Our teachers now have first-hand knowledge to share with their students the career opportunities that are available in central Florida and the importance of taking rigorous math and science courses,” said Bob Carlisle, secondary program specialist for Lake County Schools’ Department of Career Education.

During seminars at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, techCAMP featured guest speakers that provided educators with an overview and history of the MS&T industry.  Featured speakers included experts from the National Center for Simulation, UCF Institute for Simulation Training, Army Simulation Center and the Research, Development and the Engineering Command (RDECOM).  Feature presenter Purdue University Professor Christoph M. Hoffmann demonstrated a simulation he created of the September 11 crash into the World Trade Center. 

In addition to simulation lessons, this techCAMP demonstrated the diverse opportunities for careers in simulation for interested students and described the education needed to fulfill various job positions within the MS&T industry. 

“The Modeling, Simulation & Training techCAMP provides a fun way to share information about a range of technical career fields with the educators of Florida, so they can assist students in making the best choice possible for their professional future,” said Jeff Bindell, Ph.D., director of the techPATH Educational Consortium and lecturer in physics at the University of Central Florida.  “The workshops help in our mission to cultivate tomorrow’s workforce.”

The November techCAMP is the latest of 40 such workshops hosted by FHTCC since 1998.  More than 1,600 educators in the Corridor’s 23-county region have participated in techCAMPs in industries such as optics and photonics, semiconductor manufacturing and MS&T. 
-more-

About FHTCC

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF) whose mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and to help develop the workforce to support those industries in the 23-county Corridor.

A partnership involving more than 20 local and regional economic development organizations (EDOs) and 14 community colleges, the Council is co-chaired by the presidents of UCF, USF and UF.  The Council includes the presidents of two of the community colleges, the president of Florida Institute of Technology and representatives of high tech industry. 

The unique partnership has resulted in a strategic approach to high tech economic development that involves matching funds research, workforce development and a marketing program leveraging governmental, EDO and corporate budgets on a regional rather than local basis.