BUILDING CAREER INTEREST IN COMPUTER SCIENCE THROUGH ADVANCED REAL-WORLD PROJECTS

Thanks to support from the National Science Foundation, twenty-five students have experienced a truly life-changing curriculum during the Building Career Interest in Computer Science through Advanced Real-World Projects (CICSTART). The program, hosted by CT State Community College Gateway and its Engineering & Applied Technologies Department, included CICSTART instructors John Birch, Eric Flynn, Andrew Angle, and Eric Rice, Department Head, Career and Technology Education, West Haven High School. Dr. Thomas Coley, Interim CEO of CT State Community College Gateway, and Dr. Rose Ellis, Dean of Academic Affairs, gave welcome remarks. Alissa Pace, a student from CT State Community College Manchester and the Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Technologies (MET2) Program, spoke with students about her educational pathway, providing them with a real-life example of the opportunities that can arise from participating in extracurricular programs.

Students listen to Eric Rice, Department Head, Career and Technology Education, West Haven High School, Dr. Thomas Coley, Interim CEO of CT State Community College Gateway, and Alissa Pace, a student from CT State Community College Manchester and the MET2 Program. The CICSTART Program stands out for its unique focus on inner-city and under-represented students. The program's primary beneficiaries are these students, who often graduate three to four years behind their suburban counterparts, particularly in math skills. The team aims to introduce these students to math subjects, including scientific notation and conversions, and see how they can master these skills once thoroughly explained. Teachers, guidance counselors, and principals advocate that students’ self-esteem significantly increases when they realize they can comprehend and master those skills.

Students are attentive to DISC workshop content. Each student participant learns the tools needed to continue their learning journey during the program. They are provided with a BBC Micro:bit, a pocket-sized computer that introduces students to coding and application development, ensuring they can apply their technical skills even after the program ends. This tool is significant as it reinforces their learning and prepares them for the digital future. Students took a DISC assessment and offered a related workbook, including reference material. The team has seen that many students take their materials with them upon starting college to identify and better communicate with people who are different from them.

Digital example of BBC Micro:bit  To allow student participants to set a path towards reaching their full untapped potential concerning their continuing academics and entry into the workplace, the CICSTART Program provides training in various employable and professional skills critically necessary in today's 4.0 Industrial Workforce. The skills identified are problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and adaptability by Connecticut manufacturing companies in several surveys regarding what is necessary for today's high school, community college, and university graduates.

Eric Rice and Dr. Thomas Coley engaging with students. The CICSTART Program strongly emphasizes the DISC Model and other professional/employability skills, as they provide students with a deeper understanding of themselves and others, leading to improved social skills and a sense of accomplishment. The DISC Model, which categorizes individuals into four behavioral styles, helps students understand their own and others' communication and behavioral preferences, leading to better interpersonal relationships. Many high school educators have identified these skills as game changers in improving attendance behavior and grades. After completing the program and witnessing their vital social skills and feeling of accomplishment, many students decide to continue their education as technicians or engineers. The team continues to strongly advocate continuing their studies at Connecticut State Community College campuses, relating to the affordability factor, smaller classrooms, and dedicated faculty. 

West Haven Connecticut students with program instructors (left to right bottom row) John Birch -  Director of the Birch Group, and Andrew Angle - High School STEM Instructor. Eric Flynn - Professor at CT State Community College Gateway Campus and Eric Rice (left to right back row).