Central Florida High Tech and Tourism Industries Team Up to Provide Educators Hands-On Career Training at techCAMPs

Educators Learned about the Rapidly Growing Simulation Industry
to Guide Students into High Tech Careers

ORLANDO, FL (April 9, 2005) – Central Florida’s high tech and tourism industries recently joined forces to provide local educators the chance to learn about the educational and career opportunities that the modeling, simulation and training industry can offer their students.

Educators from Flagler, Lake, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia Counties experienced everything from high-speed race simulators at Daytona USA to 3-D virtual adventures at Universal Orlando Resort during the Modeling, Simulation and Training (MSandT) techCAMPs hosted by techPATH – an initiative of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

“Universal Orlando and Daytona USA provided spectacular hands-on experiences for our teachers,” said Jeff Bindell, Ph.D., chair, techPATH Educational Consortium and lecturer in physics at the University of Central Florida. “The hospitality industry and the high tech industry successfully merged to cultivate tomorrow’s workforce and to promote economic development in the Florida High Tech Corridor.”

“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.”

These two-day high tech workshops are offered to middle and high school teachers and guidance counselors to provide them 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 programs provide information on available careers and the education necessary to enter the field.

On March 30 and 31 Orange, Lake and Seminole County educators participated in a techCAMP that featured a behind-the-scenes tour of the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® at Universal’s Islands of Adventure®, the first attraction in theme park history to combine rapidly moving, highly mobile ride vehicles, vivid sets and specially filmed, 3-D action and pyrotechnic special effects. Attendees also experienced the simulators Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast™, Shrek 4-D™, and Back to the Future The Ride® at Universal Studios and attended a panel discussion with the Universal Orlando Technical Services team.

Teachers also toured the Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) to learn about the latest simulation technology for soldiers and the University of Central Florida Institute for Simulation and Training, one of the nation’s leading simulation, training, modeling and virtual reality research centers.

At the Volusia and Flagler County techCAMP on April 7 and 8, educators tested their racing skills during a race car simulation challenge at Daytona USA – a 60,000-square-foot interactive motor sports attraction – to observe the use of the simulation technology in its race simulators including Toyota Tundra’s Thunder Road, Daytona Dream Laps and Acceleration Alley.

The itineraries included detailed presentations covering the history and overview of simulation, use of simulation in the military, virtual and augmented reality, learning and training, and special populations.

“I didn’t realize how much engineering and technology was involved in the theme park industry,” said Stuart Klatte, a television production instructor at Eustis High School. “And I didn’t realize that Orlando was the center of simulation and in need of employees.”

The Modeling, Simulation and Training techCAMPs were 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); Daytona Beach Community College; Advanced Technology Center; Universal Orlando Resort; Daytona USA; Raydon; Mediatech; 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; Evans and Sutherland; Career Connection; Flagler County Public Schools; Lake County Schools; Orange County Public Schools – Career and Technical Education Workforce Education; Seminole County Public Schools; and, Volusia County Schools.

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.

For more information visit the Council’s Web site at www.floridahightech.com.