MAXX Potential

CONTACT US

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has brought a tsunami of rapid changes, completely upending what we have known. This wave of change requires a pivot. A concerning trend has bobbed to the surface where educators continue to focus on training students for jobs that are increasingly being automated. 

Technology education often primarily focuses on coding, and while that hard skill continues to be important right now for technologists, tech jobs are changing. The push for more tech skills in schools serves a purpose. And now it’s time to consider what skills will always be essential to the workforce, whether it’s a tech career pathway or not. Human skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication, are the flotation devices needed for the flood of change crashing on our shores. 

Pushing for an Emphasis on People Skills

Employers are seeking well-rounded individuals who have tech knowledge alongside critical thinking, ethical considerations, and soft skills such as communication and collaboration. Technical skills might be the beacon that lands the job, and it’s the strong human skills that will pull you into more opportunities. 

“Specialists were definitely penalized by the market. Not only were they less likely to receive multiple offers, but they were offered smaller signing bonuses. In some cases the specialists earned up to $48,000 less than their generalist peers.” A June 2016 article in the Harvard Business Review reported. 

If the goal of education is to prepare students for their future career and employability, then it stands to reason that educational institutions need to pair the push for more technical skills with general education that will outfit students with opportunities to flex their communication skills, work ethic, and emotional intelligence. That’s something we like to emphasize at MAXX Potential with the Internship Simulator to provide opportunities for students to exercise their human skills alongside their technical skills.

“Analysis of 12 years of longitudinal data found that those who devoted about one-sixth of their time in high school to occupation-specific vocational courses earned at least 12% extra one year after graduating and about 8% extra seven years later (holding attitudes and ability in 8th grade, family background and college attendance constant). This was true both for students who did and did not pursue post-secondary education. Computer courses had particularly large effects on earnings eight years after graduating.” The Regional Educational Laboratory Program pointed out in “What does the research say about the effectiveness of career and technical education (CTE) programs on student outcomes (e.g., graduation rates, employment rates, and completion rates)?” 

Like anything else, balance is required. The data above emphasizes that the students spent the majority of their time in general education courses while also pursuing their occupation-specific interests. Students who are heavily interested in the technology industry should be pursuing their interests while also developing the scope of their knowledge via general education such as English, History, Art, Logic & Critical Thinking. 

Employers want well-rounded workers. According to the Higher Ed Dive press release the 2023 job outlook report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shares that, “Only 47% of employers said they believed college graduates were proficient at communication — but 96% said communication was the most important competency they seek.” 

Educational institutions sometimes over-emphasize the hard skills, but when it comes to helping students develop the most-wanted professional skills, there’s a gap.

Rethinking Career Technical Education in the Schools

How can educational institutions and the future workforce adapt to and thrive amidst the rapid changes in the tech industry? The tech industry is known for its evolving landscape and innovative outlook, and for years, that’s meant pointing curious future technologists towards coding challenges. Boiled down, the skills that technologists need an overabundance of are the human skills of communication, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. 

NACE’s Job Outlook 2022 survey demonstrated that the biggest gaps in career readiness competencies come in the employer perceptions of importance and student proficiency. For example, employers rated Critical Thinking at a 98.5% importance, but they perceived student proficiency at 55.8% – that’s a 42.7% differential. Communication didn’t fare any better, demonstrating a 44.2% differential between student proficiency and employers’ importance level. 

Employers want workers with a high level of professional competence. When educational institutions analyze how to better prepare their students for their future careers, this is where they need to look.

“All the skills employers seek revolve around human skills—or ‘Power Skills’,” says Mike Howells, President of Workforce Skills at Pearson, in Forbes. “Hard skills require constant retraining to stay up to date with the latest version of solutions and tools. What makes a difference in employee skills are the soft skills, like problem-solving or personal learning, which showcase individuals’ eagerness to continue growing and learning new skills throughout their career. Employers will be looking for these skills as they showcase a workforce that can remain competitive and expand with a company.” 

A well-rounded technical education starts with critical thinking, ethical considerations, and soft skills – these skills will ensure technologists are adaptable, innovative, and collaborative within their work environments. Many of these skills can be learned from experiences such as internships or long-term group projects that require collaboration. 

Mentorship is a key component to guiding students and fresh technologists in their career path and different work scenarios they may face day to day. It can be difficult to find a mentor who can come alongside a new technologist or a student, but data continues to demonstrate that mentorship can benefit workers in so many ways. The Harvard Business Review 2015 shared that 69% of individuals who had mentors believed that they were making better decisions. 

Solving for IT Education and Career Preparation

To help students and new technologists ride the changing seas of technology and artificial intelligence, IT education needs something that incorporates a more in-depth career preparation to bridge the gap between academics and hands-on experience. Akin to an internship but within the confines of the educational system, students can grow their technical knowledge while also developing essential human skills in a collaborative environment. The reality of technical jobs is the ability to work on a long-term project along with peers, supervisors, and clients, which requires that tech education finds ways to prepare students for the workforce. 

So many students get stuck in the Catch-22 of applying for an entry level job that requires some level of experience, and educational programs can be solving for this, from internships to other ways of gaining real world experience. Students would benefit from gaining hands-on experience with AI tools and technologies, automation processes, and critical thinking within the modern workforce. 

MAXX Potential has combined IT education and career preparation into the Internship Simulator that bridges the gap between academics and hands-on experience. 

This innovative platform allows participants to grow their technical knowledge while also developing essential human skills in a collaborative environment. Within the simulator, students tackle real-world problems faced by IT departments, working alongside peers and receiving guidance from experienced professionals. 

By integrating technical training with robust human skills development, MAXX Potential ensures that participants are not only prepared for current job demands but are also equipped to adapt to future technological advancements. A balanced educational approach provides students with the resources they need to succeed in their career pathways, making them resilient and versatile in an increasingly automated world. 

Interested in exploring how the Internship Simulator can integrate into your educational institution? Learn more about the Internship Simulator and contact us.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has brought a tsunami of rapid changes, completely upending what we have known. This wave of change requires a pivot. A concerning trend has bobbed to the surface where educators continue to focus on training students for jobs that are increasingly being automated. 

Technology education often primarily focuses on coding, and while that hard skill continues to be important right now for technologists, tech jobs are changing. The push for more tech skills in schools serves a purpose. And now it’s time to consider what skills will always be essential to the workforce, whether it’s a tech career pathway or not. Human skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication, are the flotation devices needed for the flood of change crashing on our shores. 

Pushing for an Emphasis on People Skills

Employers are seeking well-rounded individuals who have tech knowledge alongside critical thinking, ethical considerations, and soft skills such as communication and collaboration. Technical skills might be the beacon that lands the job, and it’s the strong human skills that will pull you into more opportunities. 

“Specialists were definitely penalized by the market. Not only were they less likely to receive multiple offers, but they were offered smaller signing bonuses. In some cases the specialists earned up to $48,000 less than their generalist peers.” A June 2016 article in the Harvard Business Review reported. 

If the goal of education is to prepare students for their future career and employability, then it stands to reason that educational institutions need to pair the push for more technical skills with general education that will outfit students with opportunities to flex their communication skills, work ethic, and emotional intelligence. That’s something we like to emphasize at MAXX Potential with the Internship Simulator to provide opportunities for students to exercise their human skills alongside their technical skills.

“Analysis of 12 years of longitudinal data found that those who devoted about one-sixth of their time in high school to occupation-specific vocational courses earned at least 12% extra one year after graduating and about 8% extra seven years later (holding attitudes and ability in 8th grade, family background and college attendance constant). This was true both for students who did and did not pursue post-secondary education. Computer courses had particularly large effects on earnings eight years after graduating.” The Regional Educational Laboratory Program pointed out in “What does the research say about the effectiveness of career and technical education (CTE) programs on student outcomes (e.g., graduation rates, employment rates, and completion rates)?” 

Like anything else, balance is required. The data above emphasizes that the students spent the majority of their time in general education courses while also pursuing their occupation-specific interests. Students who are heavily interested in the technology industry should be pursuing their interests while also developing the scope of their knowledge via general education such as English, History, Art, Logic & Critical Thinking. 

Employers want well-rounded workers. According to the Higher Ed Dive press release the 2023 job outlook report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shares that, “Only 47% of employers said they believed college graduates were proficient at communication — but 96% said communication was the most important competency they seek.” 

Educational institutions sometimes over-emphasize the hard skills, but when it comes to helping students develop the most-wanted professional skills, there’s a gap.

Rethinking Career Technical Education in the Schools

How can educational institutions and the future workforce adapt to and thrive amidst the rapid changes in the tech industry? The tech industry is known for its evolving landscape and innovative outlook, and for years, that’s meant pointing curious future technologists towards coding challenges. Boiled down, the skills that technologists need an overabundance of are the human skills of communication, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. 

NACE’s Job Outlook 2022 survey demonstrated that the biggest gaps in career readiness competencies come in the employer perceptions of importance and student proficiency. For example, employers rated Critical Thinking at a 98.5% importance, but they perceived student proficiency at 55.8% – that’s a 42.7% differential. Communication didn’t fare any better, demonstrating a 44.2% differential between student proficiency and employers’ importance level. 

Employers want workers with a high level of professional competence. When educational institutions analyze how to better prepare their students for their future careers, this is where they need to look.

“All the skills employers seek revolve around human skills—or ‘Power Skills’,” says Mike Howells, President of Workforce Skills at Pearson, in Forbes. “Hard skills require constant retraining to stay up to date with the latest version of solutions and tools. What makes a difference in employee skills are the soft skills, like problem-solving or personal learning, which showcase individuals’ eagerness to continue growing and learning new skills throughout their career. Employers will be looking for these skills as they showcase a workforce that can remain competitive and expand with a company.” 

A well-rounded technical education starts with critical thinking, ethical considerations, and soft skills – these skills will ensure technologists are adaptable, innovative, and collaborative within their work environments. Many of these skills can be learned from experiences such as internships or long-term group projects that require collaboration. 

Mentorship is a key component to guiding students and fresh technologists in their career path and different work scenarios they may face day to day. It can be difficult to find a mentor who can come alongside a new technologist or a student, but data continues to demonstrate that mentorship can benefit workers in so many ways. The Harvard Business Review 2015 shared that 69% of individuals who had mentors believed that they were making better decisions. 

Solving for IT Education and Career Preparation

To help students and new technologists ride the changing seas of technology and artificial intelligence, IT education needs something that incorporates a more in-depth career preparation to bridge the gap between academics and hands-on experience. Akin to an internship but within the confines of the educational system, students can grow their technical knowledge while also developing essential human skills in a collaborative environment. The reality of technical jobs is the ability to work on a long-term project along with peers, supervisors, and clients, which requires that tech education finds ways to prepare students for the workforce. 

So many students get stuck in the Catch-22 of applying for an entry level job that requires some level of experience, and educational programs can be solving for this, from internships to other ways of gaining real world experience. Students would benefit from gaining hands-on experience with AI tools and technologies, automation processes, and critical thinking within the modern workforce. 

MAXX Potential has combined IT education and career preparation into the Internship Simulator that bridges the gap between academics and hands-on experience. 

This innovative platform allows participants to grow their technical knowledge while also developing essential human skills in a collaborative environment. Within the simulator, students tackle real-world problems faced by IT departments, working alongside peers and receiving guidance from experienced professionals. 

By integrating technical training with robust human skills development, MAXX Potential ensures that participants are not only prepared for current job demands but are also equipped to adapt to future technological advancements. A balanced educational approach provides students with the resources they need to succeed in their career pathways, making them resilient and versatile in an increasingly automated world. 

Interested in exploring how the Internship Simulator can integrate into your educational institution? Learn more about the Internship Simulator and contact us.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Preparing Students for Tech Careers

Durable Skills for an Automated Future

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

Artificial Intelligence and automation are becoming a big part of our world. If you’ve done an Internet search recently, then you’ve probably observed that the first answer to your query is an AI-generated response. The world as we know it is vaulting to the future, and it begs the question: how do we best prepare students for the future?

We believe the key is equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an environment where AI and automation are prevalent and innovating. This comes from fostering adaptability, continuous learning, and interdisciplinary knowledge. We might not know what the future holds, but we do believe that the interdependence of tech and human skills will be foundational.

The Interdependence of Tech and Durable Skills

The approach of combining technical skills alongside professional skills ensures that students become proficient in using technology but also build resilience to work in an innovative field. We’ll explore how fostering adaptability, versatile problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and smart reasoning can help students stay ahead no matter what the future brings. 

Exploring AI for Adaptability and Lifelong Learning

The rapid pace at which these technologies advance means that the skills and knowledge required today might be obsolete tomorrow. That doesn’t mean that students should not work with this technology; in fact, students who can interact with the newest technologies will be more ready for continued advancements. Just as it’s been an art to learn the best way to search the internet, learning how to best prompt LLM models takes time with lots of trial and error. 

As students interact with AI systems, they’ll inevitably encounter challenges and complexities that will test their problem-solving skills. This is a critical part of the learning process. By facing these difficulties head-on, students can develop a growth mindset, understanding that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset will serve them well in a tech career where adaptability is key, and where they may need to pivot or learn new tools quickly.

By staying informed and following their curiosity about the latest trends and breakthroughs in AI and automation, students can discover, learn, and build on their skills that will likely be relevant and in demand. Moreover, by embracing a culture of continuous learning, students position themselves as valuable assets in any tech-driven workplace, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Merging STEM with Humanities for Innovative Learning

Interdisciplinary learning is foundational for the multifaceted challenges of the tech industry. By blending STEM education with arts and humanities, students can develop a more holistic understanding of the world around them. This fusion encourages versatile problem-solving skills, enabling students to come up with creative solutions that a purely technical approach might miss.

Understanding cultural nuances and human behaviors can lead to the development of more user-friendly and accessible technology. Moreover, subjects like philosophy and ethics can play a significant role in guiding future tech professionals to consider the broader implications of the technology they create, ensuring that it serves to enhance society rather than detract from it.

In real-world settings, tech professionals rarely work in isolation; they are often part of multidisciplinary teams where clear communication and understanding of different viewpoints are key to success. By gaining insights from arts and humanities, students can learn to articulate technical concepts to non-experts and appreciate the contributions of colleagues from different backgrounds. This interplay of knowledge and skills makes for a more adaptable and well-rounded individual, or in other words, a whole human ready to innovate in the tech world.

Coordinating Group Success with Emotional Intelligence and Communication

Emotional intelligence and leadership skills are often grown best within the context of group projects and experiential learning environments. Students interact with others who might work differently than they do,  and they dip into recognizing and managing emotions within a team. This collaborative atmosphere asks each student to step into leading roles, practice empathy and task management while preparing them for similar challenges they’ll face in the tech industry.

Communication skills are also refined through these hands-on projects. Students must articulate technical concepts clearly and work together to solve problems. Collaborating with diverse teams and explaining the specialty to people who don’t work with that area of expertise is vital for future work environments.

Navigating Technology with Good Ethics and Data Literacy

The rapid advancement of technology has caused a stir when it comes to data literacy and ethics, and that’s why it’s important to consider navigating technology from the lens of moral philosophy. What does it look like to encourage students to assess technology’s societal impact, explore the problems of data privacy, and recognize the pitfalls of algorithmic bias? Asking students to delve into these topics will help them as the tech continues to innovate.

A lot of today’s living happens online, and we still have lives in the physical world where people are deeply impacted by their digital interactions. Students know this. Every technological advancement comes with some level of social impact, and it’s a good exercise for students to consider the wider effects of their innovations alongside society and the environment. Developing reasoning skills alongside an awareness of technology’s societal role will enable students to forge solutions that are not only innovative but also socially conscious, preparing them to lead the charge in a tech-driven future that prioritizes the public good.

Creating a Learning Environment for AI and Technical Prompting

When it comes to technology, the best thing for students is to train them in durable skills and let them get hands-on with new Artificial Intelligence advancements. As a company devoted to learning, we understand the importance of allowing future technologists to experience the latest technologies, and we’ve developed a learning environment that gives MAXX Potential Apprentices access to a range of AI options within a controlled space that prioritizes data loss prevention and quality content. This customizable AI assistant that we call MAXX GPT can be built for your company or educational institution. Reach out to MAXX Potential to find out more about building a GPT for your needs.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Preparing Students for Tech Careers

Durable Skills for an Automated Future

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

Artificial Intelligence and automation are becoming a big part of our world. If you’ve done an Internet search recently, then you’ve probably observed that the first answer to your query is an AI-generated response. The world as we know it is vaulting to the future, and it begs the question: how do we best prepare students for the future?

We believe the key is equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an environment where AI and automation are prevalent and innovating. This comes from fostering adaptability, continuous learning, and interdisciplinary knowledge. We might not know what the future holds, but we do believe that the interdependence of tech and human skills will be foundational.

The Interdependence of Tech and Durable Skills

The approach of combining technical skills alongside professional skills ensures that students become proficient in using technology but also build resilience to work in an innovative field. We’ll explore how fostering adaptability, versatile problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and smart reasoning can help students stay ahead no matter what the future brings. 

Exploring AI for Adaptability and Lifelong Learning

The rapid pace at which these technologies advance means that the skills and knowledge required today might be obsolete tomorrow. That doesn’t mean that students should not work with this technology; in fact, students who can interact with the newest technologies will be more ready for continued advancements. Just as it’s been an art to learn the best way to search the internet, learning how to best prompt LLM models takes time with lots of trial and error. 

As students interact with AI systems, they’ll inevitably encounter challenges and complexities that will test their problem-solving skills. This is a critical part of the learning process. By facing these difficulties head-on, students can develop a growth mindset, understanding that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset will serve them well in a tech career where adaptability is key, and where they may need to pivot or learn new tools quickly.

By staying informed and following their curiosity about the latest trends and breakthroughs in AI and automation, students can discover, learn, and build on their skills that will likely be relevant and in demand. Moreover, by embracing a culture of continuous learning, students position themselves as valuable assets in any tech-driven workplace, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Merging STEM with Humanities for Innovative Learning

Interdisciplinary learning is foundational for the multifaceted challenges of the tech industry. By blending STEM education with arts and humanities, students can develop a more holistic understanding of the world around them. This fusion encourages versatile problem-solving skills, enabling students to come up with creative solutions that a purely technical approach might miss.

Understanding cultural nuances and human behaviors can lead to the development of more user-friendly and accessible technology. Moreover, subjects like philosophy and ethics can play a significant role in guiding future tech professionals to consider the broader implications of the technology they create, ensuring that it serves to enhance society rather than detract from it.

In real-world settings, tech professionals rarely work in isolation; they are often part of multidisciplinary teams where clear communication and understanding of different viewpoints are key to success. By gaining insights from arts and humanities, students can learn to articulate technical concepts to non-experts and appreciate the contributions of colleagues from different backgrounds. This interplay of knowledge and skills makes for a more adaptable and well-rounded individual, or in other words, a whole human ready to innovate in the tech world.

Coordinating Group Success with Emotional Intelligence and Communication

Emotional intelligence and leadership skills are often grown best within the context of group projects and experiential learning environments. Students interact with others who might work differently than they do,  and they dip into recognizing and managing emotions within a team. This collaborative atmosphere asks each student to step into leading roles, practice empathy and task management while preparing them for similar challenges they’ll face in the tech industry.

Communication skills are also refined through these hands-on projects. Students must articulate technical concepts clearly and work together to solve problems. Collaborating with diverse teams and explaining the specialty to people who don’t work with that area of expertise is vital for future work environments.

Navigating Technology with Good Ethics and Data Literacy

The rapid advancement of technology has caused a stir when it comes to data literacy and ethics, and that’s why it’s important to consider navigating technology from the lens of moral philosophy. What does it look like to encourage students to assess technology’s societal impact, explore the problems of data privacy, and recognize the pitfalls of algorithmic bias? Asking students to delve into these topics will help them as the tech continues to innovate.

A lot of today’s living happens online, and we still have lives in the physical world where people are deeply impacted by their digital interactions. Students know this. Every technological advancement comes with some level of social impact, and it’s a good exercise for students to consider the wider effects of their innovations alongside society and the environment. Developing reasoning skills alongside an awareness of technology’s societal role will enable students to forge solutions that are not only innovative but also socially conscious, preparing them to lead the charge in a tech-driven future that prioritizes the public good.

Creating a Learning Environment for AI and Technical Prompting

When it comes to technology, the best thing for students is to train them in durable skills and let them get hands-on with new Artificial Intelligence advancements. As a company devoted to learning, we understand the importance of allowing future technologists to experience the latest technologies, and we’ve developed a learning environment that gives MAXX Potential Apprentices access to a range of AI options within a controlled space that prioritizes data loss prevention and quality content. This customizable AI assistant that we call MAXX GPT can be built for your company or educational institution. Reach out to MAXX Potential to find out more about building a GPT for your needs.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

By MAXX Potential

  • Education, Internship

It’s no secret that an internship can be instrumental in fast-tracking a tech career. However, internships are hard to come by, and once you do have one, it’s not unusual to face hours of busy work rather than focusing on bringing value to the team’s project. Therefore, if you want an internship, you’re likely facing an uphill battle to find one.

“I went through an internship program between my junior and senior year at VCU, and then after graduating college I spent two years rotating through an IT Leadership Development program. As my career progressed a few years later, I found myself leading both the early career development and internship programs I was once a part of.” John Spauls, Integrator & Chief Operating Officer, understands the importance of an internship and where it can take you.

The Problems of Limited Availability and Inadequate Mentorship in Internships

Many students want an internship, and many are unable to find an internship that offers both experience and pay. In 2022, 21.5% of college students had an internship, which still means that nearly 80% did not. For those who don’t score an internship, they have to find other ways to build out their resume and score the career path of their dreams. 

Limited Availability of Tech Internships

“There was always a challenge of finding managers who would take on the interns.” Spauls shared from his experience of running an internship program. “Interns were often inexperienced and needed a lot of handholding to help them start to return value.”

For Spauls, his previous company valued internships, setting a specific number for how many interns they’d take for each of their programs. It was up to him to find managers who would take on the interns. A lot of managers liked the idea of interns, but when reality hit, interns were often viewed as a burden.

In a paper published in 2019 about internships, students emphasized that the limited availability of internships had a lot to do with what field you were in. Some science students had no access to internships whereas business students had multiple options for internships. This problem becomes exacerbated with the fierce competition for the limited internships, where students from well-known universities often scored the role.

Expand Opportunities via Partnerships

When it comes to expanding an internship program within a company, the best push for it often comes from the leadership. That buy-in is the encouragement that many managers need to take on the responsibility of an internship. 

“I always knew how many interns we would be bringing in for the summer. After we chose the number, I’d go out to find the project and the manager.” Spauls specified that because the number of interns came from leadership that he always had buy-in. “It was easy to say this is what the company wants – this is part of our talent pipeline to bring in people fresh out of college.”

Some other ideas to help with limited availability of internships include:

  • Focus on the benefits of internship programs (talent recruitment, fresh perspective, etc.)
  • Encourage collaboration between industry stakeholders
  • Foster partnerships with educational institutions and employers to make internships a part of academic programs, ensuring practical experience
  • Consider virtual internship opportunities to broaden access and allow skill building

Inadequate Mentorship of Interns

“You would give a manager two months’ heads up about their intern, and the day would arrive that the intern clocks in…and sometimes there’s no work for them to do.” Spauls recalled. “I would have the manager committed, but they didn’t prepare for the intern so that intern would just be twiddling their thumbs. It wasn’t always the best internship experience.”

Coffee runs, organizing paperwork, doing nothing – interns often find themselves doing menial tasks rather than participating in value-add activities that push a project forward. Individuals fresh from high school or college need some level of structured management, likely both a clearly-guided project and frequent check-ins. There’s an expectation that a manager is going to be both a mentor and coach to the intern. That isn’t always the case.

“A manager may be really good at helping their team prioritize different work items, hit deliverables, and be the first line of accountability, and that’s part of being an exceptional manager,” Spauls said. “But that manager is very used to working with experienced professionals who already know their technology. Put that same manager with a team of college interns, and they could get frustrated – college interns need additional guidance for the projects and professional environment.”

Interns often need some level of support and coaching from their manager and the professional team that they work with, and when they don’t get that, they face unclear learning expectations, limited work, and missed networking opportunities. The lack of support can impact the organization’s ability to tap into new ideas and achieve certain goals.

Select Experienced Professionals for Mentorship

“When I started running the internship program, I had my first taste of being both a manager and a coach.” Spauls commented, “Sure, we had interns who weren’t experienced with the technology, but I remember sitting down with an intern to discuss habit changes that would support having a 9 to 5 job.”

Interns needed guidance on the most basic soft skills expected in a professional environment. While some managers might have a knack for nurturing talent, not everyone does. One smart way to support the internship program is to provide training for managers who will have interns on their team.

“Our program had an onboarding orientation for the managers where we’d explain the process, assign interns, and share evaluation criteria. There wasn’t too much to it.” Spauls paused, “And then, it was up to the managers.”

Having managers who are trained to support interns is one step, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Other ways that could achieve the company goal of training new interns for a possible career at their company could include the following:

  • Structured mentorship programs: a formal plan that includes regular check-ins with goal setting and opportunities for skill development
  • Ongoing training for managers: resources to support mentorship development, including skills such as active listening, constructive feedback, and knowing what a supportive environment looks like
  • Peer mentorship networks: interns can learn from one another and support each other through the internship experience, offering camaraderie, knowledge sharing, and community

A Public-Access Summer Internship Simulator Event

“The simulator solves the main problems that I saw running the internship program,” Spauls shared. “We already have a company, fake by name but real by deliverables, that takes interns through different types of roles within a company where they solve real world scenarios.”

The simulator is a repeatable process. We can quickly develop new scenarios to take cohorts through with a number of tasks to complete within a team setting. It’s online, so that alleviates any problems with getting to a location. We have the ability to create an unlimited number of meaningful internship experiences to serve internship needs with educational institutions.

“We have people on staff who are providing feedback, and they are trained to provide valuable insights so that each intern can improve and grow.” Spauls pointed out. “That’s what we do. We help people succeed when they don’t have this type of technology experience or understanding of a professional environment. It’s a tremendous opportunity that likely provides a better experience than probably a lot of corporate internships.”

Are you looking for a technology internship experience for a student or an adult? The MAXX public-access summer internship simulator is live now. Explore and register for the upcoming public sessions here.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Bridging the Internship Divide: Strategies for Equitable Access to Internships

A Conversation with a previous Internship Program Coordinator

By MAXX Potential

  • Education, Internship

It’s no secret that an internship can be instrumental in fast-tracking a tech career. However, internships are hard to come by, and once you do have one, it’s not unusual to face hours of busy work rather than focusing on bringing value to the team’s project. Therefore, if you want an internship, you’re likely facing an uphill battle to find one.

“I went through an internship program between my junior and senior year at VCU, and then after graduating college I spent two years rotating through an IT Leadership Development program. As my career progressed a few years later, I found myself leading both the early career development and internship programs I was once a part of.” John Spauls, Integrator & Chief Operating Officer, understands the importance of an internship and where it can take you.

The Problems of Limited Availability and Inadequate Mentorship in Internships

Many students want an internship, and many are unable to find an internship that offers both experience and pay. In 2022, 21.5% of college students had an internship, which still means that nearly 80% did not. For those who don’t score an internship, they have to find other ways to build out their resume and score the career path of their dreams. 

Limited Availability of Tech Internships

“There was always a challenge of finding managers who would take on the interns.” Spauls shared from his experience of running an internship program. “Interns were often inexperienced and needed a lot of handholding to help them start to return value.”

For Spauls, his previous company valued internships, setting a specific number for how many interns they’d take for each of their programs. It was up to him to find managers who would take on the interns. A lot of managers liked the idea of interns, but when reality hit, interns were often viewed as a burden.

In a paper published in 2019 about internships, students emphasized that the limited availability of internships had a lot to do with what field you were in. Some science students had no access to internships whereas business students had multiple options for internships. This problem becomes exacerbated with the fierce competition for the limited internships, where students from well-known universities often scored the role.

Expand Opportunities via Partnerships

When it comes to expanding an internship program within a company, the best push for it often comes from the leadership. That buy-in is the encouragement that many managers need to take on the responsibility of an internship. 

“I always knew how many interns we would be bringing in for the summer. After we chose the number, I’d go out to find the project and the manager.” Spauls specified that because the number of interns came from leadership that he always had buy-in. “It was easy to say this is what the company wants – this is part of our talent pipeline to bring in people fresh out of college.”

Some other ideas to help with limited availability of internships include:

  • Focus on the benefits of internship programs (talent recruitment, fresh perspective, etc.)
  • Encourage collaboration between industry stakeholders
  • Foster partnerships with educational institutions and employers to make internships a part of academic programs, ensuring practical experience
  • Consider virtual internship opportunities to broaden access and allow skill building

Inadequate Mentorship of Interns

“You would give a manager two months’ heads up about their intern, and the day would arrive that the intern clocks in…and sometimes there’s no work for them to do.” Spauls recalled. “I would have the manager committed, but they didn’t prepare for the intern so that intern would just be twiddling their thumbs. It wasn’t always the best internship experience.”

Coffee runs, organizing paperwork, doing nothing – interns often find themselves doing menial tasks rather than participating in value-add activities that push a project forward. Individuals fresh from high school or college need some level of structured management, likely both a clearly-guided project and frequent check-ins. There’s an expectation that a manager is going to be both a mentor and coach to the intern. That isn’t always the case.

“A manager may be really good at helping their team prioritize different work items, hit deliverables, and be the first line of accountability, and that’s part of being an exceptional manager,” Spauls said. “But that manager is very used to working with experienced professionals who already know their technology. Put that same manager with a team of college interns, and they could get frustrated – college interns need additional guidance for the projects and professional environment.”

Interns often need some level of support and coaching from their manager and the professional team that they work with, and when they don’t get that, they face unclear learning expectations, limited work, and missed networking opportunities. The lack of support can impact the organization’s ability to tap into new ideas and achieve certain goals.

Select Experienced Professionals for Mentorship

“When I started running the internship program, I had my first taste of being both a manager and a coach.” Spauls commented, “Sure, we had interns who weren’t experienced with the technology, but I remember sitting down with an intern to discuss habit changes that would support having a 9 to 5 job.”

Interns needed guidance on the most basic soft skills expected in a professional environment. While some managers might have a knack for nurturing talent, not everyone does. One smart way to support the internship program is to provide training for managers who will have interns on their team.

“Our program had an onboarding orientation for the managers where we’d explain the process, assign interns, and share evaluation criteria. There wasn’t too much to it.” Spauls paused, “And then, it was up to the managers.”

Having managers who are trained to support interns is one step, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Other ways that could achieve the company goal of training new interns for a possible career at their company could include the following:

  • Structured mentorship programs: a formal plan that includes regular check-ins with goal setting and opportunities for skill development
  • Ongoing training for managers: resources to support mentorship development, including skills such as active listening, constructive feedback, and knowing what a supportive environment looks like
  • Peer mentorship networks: interns can learn from one another and support each other through the internship experience, offering camaraderie, knowledge sharing, and community

A Public-Access Summer Internship Simulator Event

“The simulator solves the main problems that I saw running the internship program,” Spauls shared. “We already have a company, fake by name but real by deliverables, that takes interns through different types of roles within a company where they solve real world scenarios.”

The simulator is a repeatable process. We can quickly develop new scenarios to take cohorts through with a number of tasks to complete within a team setting. It’s online, so that alleviates any problems with getting to a location. We have the ability to create an unlimited number of meaningful internship experiences to serve internship needs with educational institutions.

“We have people on staff who are providing feedback, and they are trained to provide valuable insights so that each intern can improve and grow.” Spauls pointed out. “That’s what we do. We help people succeed when they don’t have this type of technology experience or understanding of a professional environment. It’s a tremendous opportunity that likely provides a better experience than probably a lot of corporate internships.”

Are you looking for a technology internship experience for a student or an adult? The MAXX public-access summer internship simulator is live now. Explore and register for the upcoming public sessions here.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Understanding Large Language Models in Education: A Quick Guide for Teachers

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

What's the Buzz About LLMs?

Students are increasingly harnessing the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for academic tasks such as research and homework. These AI systems are trained on enormous datasets, making them adept at understanding and generating human-like language.

When used correctly, LLMs have the potential of being a warm-up for creativity or an assistant in brainstorming. This technology is known for making things up so it’s crucial that educators understand how to implement this technology in the classroom.

“There are not going to be shortcuts to the learning process – there are going to be better ways to learn and worse ways to learn,” says Jack Goodman, Studiosity’s founder and chair, in ComputerWeekly. “But you won’t learn to know what you think if you don’t learn to express yourself with language.”

How LLMs Function

In simple terms, these models predict the subsequent word in a text string based on the preceding words. This ability allows them to interact in a human-like way, answering questions, summarizing articles, or even engaging in dialogues. 

“Another important development is the use of pre-training, where a language model is first trained on a large dataset before being fine-tuned on a specific task.” ScienceDirect article points out. This pre-training and fine-tuning process greatly enhances the model’s performance, making it not only more accurate but also more versatile in handling specialized tasks, from academic research to customer service interactions.

Want to learn more about how this technology works? Dive deeper into the subject with our AI Learning Resources.

The Double-Edged Sword of LLMs

The efficiency of LLMs brings both opportunities and challenges. As these systems become more advanced, they pose difficulties for anti-plagiarism tools to differentiate between student-created and AI-generated content. This increasing proficiency can be both an asset and a potential issue, particularly in academic settings.

Other concerns raised are about students and educators relying too heavily on the model, negatively influencing critical thinking and problem solving skills. LLMs have the ability to transform the education landscape, and educators and students need to know how to use this tool best.

An Action Plan for Educators

To navigate this complex landscape, educators should be well-informed about the capabilities and limitations of LLMs. This knowledge will help in formulating educational policies that promote the ethical and effective use of such tools. For actionable insights and comprehensive guidelines, educators can check out our AI Learning Resources.

LLMs provide a great resource for educators to create personalized learning experiences for their students. For example, the models could be used to analyze a student’s writing and provide tailored feedback and suggested resources to assist the student’s learning. This frees up an educator to focus on other parts of education.

Educators can effectively prepare for a future where LLMs will play an increasingly significant role in the educational environment.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041608023000195

https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Large-language-models-harnessed-for-education

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Understanding Large Language Models in Education: A Quick Guide for Teachers

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

What's the Buzz About LLMs?

Students are increasingly harnessing the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for academic tasks such as research and homework. These AI systems are trained on enormous datasets, making them adept at understanding and generating human-like language.

When used correctly, LLMs have the potential of being a warm-up for creativity or an assistant in brainstorming. This technology is known for making things up so it’s crucial that educators understand how to implement this technology in the classroom.

“There are not going to be shortcuts to the learning process – there are going to be better ways to learn and worse ways to learn,” says Jack Goodman, Studiosity’s founder and chair, in ComputerWeekly. “But you won’t learn to know what you think if you don’t learn to express yourself with language.”

How LLMs Function

In simple terms, these models predict the subsequent word in a text string based on the preceding words. This ability allows them to interact in a human-like way, answering questions, summarizing articles, or even engaging in dialogues. 

“Another important development is the use of pre-training, where a language model is first trained on a large dataset before being fine-tuned on a specific task.” ScienceDirect article points out. This pre-training and fine-tuning process greatly enhances the model’s performance, making it not only more accurate but also more versatile in handling specialized tasks, from academic research to customer service interactions.

Want to learn more about how this technology works? Dive deeper into the subject with our AI Learning Resources.

The Double-Edged Sword of LLMs

The efficiency of LLMs brings both opportunities and challenges. As these systems become more advanced, they pose difficulties for anti-plagiarism tools to differentiate between student-created and AI-generated content. This increasing proficiency can be both an asset and a potential issue, particularly in academic settings.

Other concerns raised are about students and educators relying too heavily on the model, negatively influencing critical thinking and problem solving skills. LLMs have the ability to transform the education landscape, and educators and students need to know how to use this tool best.

An Action Plan for Educators

To navigate this complex landscape, educators should be well-informed about the capabilities and limitations of LLMs. This knowledge will help in formulating educational policies that promote the ethical and effective use of such tools. For actionable insights and comprehensive guidelines, educators can check out our AI Learning Resources.

LLMs provide a great resource for educators to create personalized learning experiences for their students. For example, the models could be used to analyze a student’s writing and provide tailored feedback and suggested resources to assist the student’s learning. This frees up an educator to focus on other parts of education.

Educators can effectively prepare for a future where LLMs will play an increasingly significant role in the educational environment.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041608023000195

https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Large-language-models-harnessed-for-education

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Tech Exploration: the Student’s Key to Charting a Career Path

How Students Prepare for Their Future Career with Tech Exploration

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

Are you ready to discover how tech exploration can benefit students as they charter a career pathway?

Work-based learning allows students to sharpen essential skills, explore various tech career options, and develop their confidence in tech. From gaining valuable expertise to nurturing imagination, this exploration holds the key to unlocking a world of opportunities.

3 Benefits of Tech Exploration for Students

Embarking on a journey in Information Technology and Career and Technical Education as a student brings forth a plethora of benefits that can shape a future tech career pathway in an extraordinary way. Students who understand their interests and develop essential tech skills early will be ahead of their peers within the tech industry. Hands-on, work-based experiences enhance technical abilities, problem-solving aptitude, and critical thinking prowess, equipping students with the tools to excel in any tech-related role.

Whether interested in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, or UX design, students can work on projects that focus on each. This exploration opens up different paths and paves the way for students to follow their interests into a fulfilling and dynamic career.

Work-based learning nurtures innovation within the safety of an explorative environment where students can experiment with new ideas and push boundaries.

Developing Essential Tech Skills

From coding and programming languages to data analysis and problem-solving, students who explore areas of technology in middle school or high school create a strong foundation of technical skills for the rapidly changing industry. 

Hands-on experimentation expands student skills, and they develop tech-related skills that will power their future careers. A key mentality for many technologists is their problem-solving capabilities alongside curiosity to discover solutions. Students who tap into their curiosity and perseverance for solving technical problems are sharpening a much-sought-after skill.  

The ever-evolving tech industry needs people who are ready to pivot with the rapid changes and continue to learn. Tech exploration with work-based simulators is a transformative journey that equips students with essential skills, nurtures creativity, and prepares students for a dynamic career pathway in the tech industry.

Exploring Tech Career Options with a Simulated Work Environment

A simulated work environment is a great option in Career and Technical Education for students because it allows students to immerse themselves in different career options and gain valuable insights into each role. This simulator allows students to work on a project in roles like the following:

  • Information Security Analyst
  • Network Administrator
  • System Administrator
  • Network Incident Response Specialist
  • Security Incident Response Specialist
  • Scrum Master
  • Software Developer
  • Quality Assurance Specialist
  • Help Desk Technician
  • Data Governance Specialist
  • Business Intel Analyst

The student discovers what each position does in a day-to-day capacity. Students learn about the intricacies of coding, the power of data analysis, the importance of securing digital systems, or the art of creating seamless user experiences. They also step into the real challenges of working on a team, deadlines, and communication differences.

Tech exploration before choosing a tech pathway for continued education can help students better understand their career options. 

Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in Work Simulators

Tech exploration not only helps students develop essential skills and explore career options but also nurtures creativity and innovation. The world of technology is a playground for imagination, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring new ideas.

During a work simulator, students are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment with new concepts, and challenge conventional thinking. Students interact with projects for clients and face surprise challenges that simulate the tech environment. While they strive to create a great solution for their “client,” this is also a safe environment for trial and error.

The work simulator fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration where students share ideas and build upon each other’s work. Students develop hard and soft skills that will become applicable to their future careers. 

Tech exploration as a student is not just about developing skills and exploring careers; it’s a catalyst for creativity and innovation. It empowers students to think differently, challenge norms, and contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry.

How to Develop a Tech Exploration Program for Students

Schools, such as CodeRVA in Richmond, Virginia, understand how crucial it is to offer students the opportunity to dive into tech to determine their future career pathway through work simulation and experiential learning. Incorporating Career and Technical Education into the very core of the school system can transform future generations.

At a baseline level, STEM teachers can challenge students to take advantage of online resources and to build their own applications and programs. One of the best ways to learn about technology is to interact with it online, and the rapidly changing nature of technology means textbooks can’t keep up.

Together, we can help students be more ready for their future. MAXX Potential believes in providing work-based learning and mentorship to equip people from all backgrounds for their tech careers.

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

Tech Exploration: the Student’s Key to Charting a Career Path

How Students Prepare for Their Future Career with Tech Exploration

By MAXX Potential

  • Education

Are you ready to discover how tech exploration can benefit students as they charter a career pathway?

Work-based learning allows students to sharpen essential skills, explore various tech career options, and develop their confidence in tech. From gaining valuable expertise to nurturing imagination, this exploration holds the key to unlocking a world of opportunities.

3 Benefits of Tech Exploration for Students

Embarking on a journey in Information Technology and Career and Technical Education as a student brings forth a plethora of benefits that can shape a future tech career pathway in an extraordinary way. Students who understand their interests and develop essential tech skills early will be ahead of their peers within the tech industry. Hands-on, work-based experiences enhance technical abilities, problem-solving aptitude, and critical thinking prowess, equipping students with the tools to excel in any tech-related role.

Whether interested in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, or UX design, students can work on projects that focus on each. This exploration opens up different paths and paves the way for students to follow their interests into a fulfilling and dynamic career.

Work-based learning nurtures innovation within the safety of an explorative environment where students can experiment with new ideas and push boundaries.

Developing Essential Tech Skills

From coding and programming languages to data analysis and problem-solving, students who explore areas of technology in middle school or high school create a strong foundation of technical skills for the rapidly changing industry. 

Hands-on experimentation expands student skills, and they develop tech-related skills that will power their future careers. A key mentality for many technologists is their problem-solving capabilities alongside curiosity to discover solutions. Students who tap into their curiosity and perseverance for solving technical problems are sharpening a much-sought-after skill.  

The ever-evolving tech industry needs people who are ready to pivot with the rapid changes and continue to learn. Tech exploration with work-based simulators is a transformative journey that equips students with essential skills, nurtures creativity, and prepares students for a dynamic career pathway in the tech industry.

Exploring Tech Career Options with a Simulated Work Environment

A simulated work environment is a great option in Career and Technical Education for students because it allows students to immerse themselves in different career options and gain valuable insights into each role. This simulator allows students to work on a project in roles like the following:

  • Information Security Analyst
  • Network Administrator
  • System Administrator
  • Network Incident Response Specialist
  • Security Incident Response Specialist
  • Scrum Master
  • Software Developer
  • Quality Assurance Specialist
  • Help Desk Technician
  • Data Governance Specialist
  • Business Intel Analyst

The student discovers what each position does in a day-to-day capacity. Students learn about the intricacies of coding, the power of data analysis, the importance of securing digital systems, or the art of creating seamless user experiences. They also step into the real challenges of working on a team, deadlines, and communication differences.

Tech exploration before choosing a tech pathway for continued education can help students better understand their career options. 

Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in Work Simulators

Tech exploration not only helps students develop essential skills and explore career options but also nurtures creativity and innovation. The world of technology is a playground for imagination, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring new ideas.

During a work simulator, students are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment with new concepts, and challenge conventional thinking. Students interact with projects for clients and face surprise challenges that simulate the tech environment. While they strive to create a great solution for their “client,” this is also a safe environment for trial and error.

The work simulator fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration where students share ideas and build upon each other’s work. Students develop hard and soft skills that will become applicable to their future careers. 

Tech exploration as a student is not just about developing skills and exploring careers; it’s a catalyst for creativity and innovation. It empowers students to think differently, challenge norms, and contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry.

How to Develop a Tech Exploration Program for Students

Schools, such as CodeRVA in Richmond, Virginia, understand how crucial it is to offer students the opportunity to dive into tech to determine their future career pathway through work simulation and experiential learning. Incorporating Career and Technical Education into the very core of the school system can transform future generations.

At a baseline level, STEM teachers can challenge students to take advantage of online resources and to build their own applications and programs. One of the best ways to learn about technology is to interact with it online, and the rapidly changing nature of technology means textbooks can’t keep up.

Together, we can help students be more ready for their future. MAXX Potential believes in providing work-based learning and mentorship to equip people from all backgrounds for their tech careers.

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms Students into IT Professionals

Equipping the Next Generation of IT Professionals

By MAXX Potential

  • Education
From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms IT Professionals

For students interested in the tech industry, CTE programs transform the trajectory from classroom to career through work-based learning experiences.  

During the 1960s and 1970s, vocationally-based education reached a high point, and then in the 1980s, the focus shifted to college course preparation. A growing body of career and technical education research and data revealed that jobs are changing and new skills are required for tech careers.

“Young people used to follow a path right out of school to the factory with just a little bit of job training, [but] those jobs are not there anymore,” said Neil Ridley, director of the State Initiative at Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce, in an article about modernizing career and technical education. “High school shouldn’t be seen as just a pipeline anymore; it’s a building block.”

As of March 2022, the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) conducted a study on CTE in the state of Florida that revealed that there’s a skills gap of 54% of jobs that require skills training at the educational level between high school and college. Meanwhile, only 45% of Florida workers possess this level of training.

To prepare students for their future careers in tech, CTE is crucial.

How CTE Transforms the IT Career Pathway

Career and technical education goes hand-in-hand with traditional education by elevating technical skills and professional abilities through real-world work and experience. Students who participate in CTE programs step into an environment that prioritizes in-depth technical training alongside company partnerships. 

Students of all abilities benefit from CTE programs. Over the years, CTE research studies have revealed that students with disabilities who participate in CTE programs are 5% more likely to graduate from high school on time and 20% more likely to be employed after graduation. 

Students Experience Cutting-Edge Technology

CTE information technology programs allow students to experience cutting-edge technologies and industry trends for projects. It means working on hard and soft skills for real-world tasks rather than just being exam ready. 

“People have such outdated and just wrong impressions of what career education is,” Paul Fain said in a CTE basics article. “It’s not for dirty jobs, as many people think – drill press operator comes to mind. Many of these roles are in high-demand, high-tech fields.”

Internship is often a part of CTE programs, and some employers see it as the key to developing their team, so that entry-level individuals can learn while they earn. The tech industry offers a lot of opportunity for people without traditional education because the industry changes so rapidly.

Students who participate in CTE programs build out their resume and acquire high-demand professional skills, including communication, collaboration, and leadership 

Students Learn How to Collaborate and Solve Problems

“They didn’t give me the answer, but they gave me the support.” Kume Goranson, Ed.D., Executive Director at CodeRVA, and Rob Simms, MAXX Partner discuss what makes work-based learning experience so important for today’s students who are gearing up for their careers.

When students take on a long-term, work-based project along with a team of classmates, they’re working for a client, whether real or simulated. The client often has an idea of what they want, and the students must figure out how to meet the client’s expectations, project manage, troubleshoot, and interact professionally.

What makes work-based learning experiences so different from a school group project is that the team of students face real-career frustrations. They may face a client who says one thing, but after seeing the rough draft, realizes they want something else.

A real part of any job is facing a project that has no instruction manual.

Students Take Risks in a CTE Program

A CTE program allows students to gain real-world experience through work-based learning that’s either a work simulation or an employer partnership. 

This hands-on learning helps students test the waters of their potential future IT career under the watchful eyes of CTE program facilitators. CTE information technology mentors are available to students to discuss difficult challenges within their long-term project. Students can take risks within the safety of the program without possible career repercussions.

CTE programs often rely on partnerships with local companies to provide industry information, examples of tech challenges, and other supplemental instruction. From these partnerships, students expand their knowledge and their network.

Future Trends and Opportunities in CTE for IT Professionals

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career pathways are vital for future economic growth, societal adaptability, and innovation. The rapid changes within the tech industry means that traditional programs fall behind the cutting-edge advancements, and CTE programs have the ability to allow students to see what’s happening in tech careers right now.

Emerging technologies mean that textbooks cannot keep up with industry trends, and traditional education needs to find ways to help students be prepared for their futures beyond the typical user experience of smartphones and computers. CTE programs help students explore evolving tech career paths while prioritizing lifelong learning. 

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms Students into IT Professionals

Equipping the Next Generation of IT Professionals

By MAXX Potential

  • Education
From Classroom to Career: How Career and Technical Education Transforms IT Professionals

For students interested in the tech industry, CTE programs transform the trajectory from classroom to career through work-based learning experiences.  

During the 1960s and 1970s, vocationally-based education reached a high point, and then in the 1980s, the focus shifted to college course preparation. A growing body of career and technical education research and data revealed that jobs are changing and new skills are required for tech careers.

“Young people used to follow a path right out of school to the factory with just a little bit of job training, [but] those jobs are not there anymore,” said Neil Ridley, director of the State Initiative at Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce, in an article about modernizing career and technical education. “High school shouldn’t be seen as just a pipeline anymore; it’s a building block.”

As of March 2022, the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) conducted a study on CTE in the state of Florida that revealed that there’s a skills gap of 54% of jobs that require skills training at the educational level between high school and college. Meanwhile, only 45% of Florida workers possess this level of training.

To prepare students for their future careers in tech, CTE is crucial.

How CTE Transforms the IT Career Pathway

Career and technical education goes hand-in-hand with traditional education by elevating technical skills and professional abilities through real-world work and experience. Students who participate in CTE programs step into an environment that prioritizes in-depth technical training alongside company partnerships. 

Students of all abilities benefit from CTE programs. Over the years, CTE research studies have revealed that students with disabilities who participate in CTE programs are 5% more likely to graduate from high school on time and 20% more likely to be employed after graduation. 

Students Experience Cutting-Edge Technology

CTE information technology programs allow students to experience cutting-edge technologies and industry trends for projects. It means working on hard and soft skills for real-world tasks rather than just being exam ready. 

“People have such outdated and just wrong impressions of what career education is,” Paul Fain said in a CTE basics article. “It’s not for dirty jobs, as many people think – drill press operator comes to mind. Many of these roles are in high-demand, high-tech fields.”

Internship is often a part of CTE programs, and some employers see it as the key to developing their team, so that entry-level individuals can learn while they earn. The tech industry offers a lot of opportunity for people without traditional education because the industry changes so rapidly.

Students who participate in CTE programs build out their resume and acquire high-demand professional skills, including communication, collaboration, and leadership 

Students Learn How to Collaborate and Solve Problems

“They didn’t give me the answer, but they gave me the support.” Kume Goranson, Ed.D., Executive Director at CodeRVA, and Rob Simms, MAXX Partner discuss what makes work-based learning experience so important for today’s students who are gearing up for their careers.

When students take on a long-term, work-based project along with a team of classmates, they’re working for a client, whether real or simulated. The client often has an idea of what they want, and the students must figure out how to meet the client’s expectations, project manage, troubleshoot, and interact professionally.

What makes work-based learning experiences so different from a school group project is that the team of students face real-career frustrations. They may face a client who says one thing, but after seeing the rough draft, realizes they want something else.

A real part of any job is facing a project that has no instruction manual.

Students Take Risks in a CTE Program

A CTE program allows students to gain real-world experience through work-based learning that’s either a work simulation or an employer partnership. 

This hands-on learning helps students test the waters of their potential future IT career under the watchful eyes of CTE program facilitators. CTE information technology mentors are available to students to discuss difficult challenges within their long-term project. Students can take risks within the safety of the program without possible career repercussions.

CTE programs often rely on partnerships with local companies to provide industry information, examples of tech challenges, and other supplemental instruction. From these partnerships, students expand their knowledge and their network.

Future Trends and Opportunities in CTE for IT Professionals

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career pathways are vital for future economic growth, societal adaptability, and innovation. The rapid changes within the tech industry means that traditional programs fall behind the cutting-edge advancements, and CTE programs have the ability to allow students to see what’s happening in tech careers right now.

Emerging technologies mean that textbooks cannot keep up with industry trends, and traditional education needs to find ways to help students be prepared for their futures beyond the typical user experience of smartphones and computers. CTE programs help students explore evolving tech career paths while prioritizing lifelong learning. 

Is your school district ready to jump into career exploration with a focus on work-based learning to empower students for their tech career paths? Schedule a consultation today at MAXXpotential.com/schedule-a-consultation.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

By MAXX Potential

  • Apprenticeship, Education

A shifting tech landscape demands that technologists center themselves in strong mental models while growing their timeless talents to ensure their career longevity. One of the constants in technology is change. 

This resiliency in thinking and skills will help technologists to excel in their tech careers no matter how the tech industry changes, grows, or pivots.

How Mental Models Make You A Stronger Thinker

“For me, it’s like, how do you picture and put things in your brain?” Rahim Islam, MAXX Potential Solution Delivery Manager, shared. “That’s how I think of mental models.”

Farnham Street explains that, “A mental model is simply a representation of how something works. We cannot keep all of the details of the world in our brains, so we use models to simplify the complex into understandable and organizable chunks.”

What we can learn from this is that as we each continue in our careers we can build on our mental models for analyzing problems.

first principles image

A Popular Mental Model: The Concept of First Principles

According to Farnham Street, First Principles is one of the core mental models because, “First-principles thinking is one of the best ways to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash creative possibility.”

“It really comes from philosophy.” John Dlugokecki, MAXX Potential Partner, shared. “So breaking things down into indivisible axioms is the very academic explanation, and then using those axioms to create foundational truths for building your solution.”

This way of thinking is not how many adults choose to think. In fact, most people lean into the established “this is how it’s always been done.”

Believe it or not, the humans that think best in the concept of first principles are children.

Children rely on the question “why” to understand the world around them. Their constant litany of “why” often annoys their parents, babysitters, teachers, and nearby adults. Yet, this technique of exploring the world helps children make connections.

Bringing the concept of “why” into the boardroom can frustrate coworkers, and it can get to the root of a problem. When a team of people are willing to follow the “why” to its root, great things happen.

5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

Beyond mental models, we’ve determined five timeless talents to help technologists in an ever changing tech industry. We believe that strengthening the following talents can help you ride the changes in tech: communication, adaptability, problem solving, lifelong learning, and collaboration.

Communication

Being able to explain an idea through words, whether spoken or written, is an essential skill for technologists who plan to make tech their long-time career. The key component clarifies confusing information and streamlines project collaboration.

Adaptability

Technology is known for its rapid change, and with that knowledge, technologists must exercise their adaptability. How quickly do you pivot to new ideas? Are you willing to try different styles and systems of doing things? What do you do to stay relevant in an ever-changing environment?

“As long as you’re comfortable being in a state of not having everything mastered and you’re comfortable with that, you tend to open up a lot more to learning more, to feedback, to new ideas.” Rahim observed.

Problem Solving

When it comes to problem solving, John pointed out that, “Using the right tool for the right job may sometimes mean using older, more established tools. If you’re just upgrading or replacing for the sake of replacing, that’s not necessarily good problem solving.”

Lifelong Learning

Part of technology is constantly learning new ideas, systems, and possibilities. The more tools you understand and are exposed to, the better for knowing what tool works best in different situations. When you’re a technologist, you’re committing to a career filled with unending learning.

Collaboration

Engineers and technologists need to consider the people aspect of their projects and solutions. When you’re working with a team or a client, technologists prioritize how the end users will interact with the final product. The newest trends and technologies are exciting, but if no one can use it, what’s the point?

Partner with MAXX to invest in the future

Are you ready to work with eager and talented MAXX Apprentices who exhibit these five timeless talents? Partner with MAXX Potential today at MaxxPotential.com/Business-Solutions.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE

5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

By MAXX Potential

  • Apprenticeship, Education

A shifting tech landscape demands that technologists center themselves in strong mental models while growing their timeless talents to ensure their career longevity. One of the constants in technology is change. 

This resiliency in thinking and skills will help technologists to excel in their tech careers no matter how the tech industry changes, grows, or pivots.

How Mental Models Make You A Stronger Thinker

“For me, it’s like, how do you picture and put things in your brain?” Rahim Islam, MAXX Potential Solution Delivery Manager, shared. “That’s how I think of mental models.”

Farnham Street explains that, “A mental model is simply a representation of how something works. We cannot keep all of the details of the world in our brains, so we use models to simplify the complex into understandable and organizable chunks.”

What we can learn from this is that as we each continue in our careers we can build on our mental models for analyzing problems.

first principles image

A Popular Mental Model: The Concept of First Principles

According to Farnham Street, First Principles is one of the core mental models because, “First-principles thinking is one of the best ways to reverse-engineer complicated problems and unleash creative possibility.”

“It really comes from philosophy.” John Dlugokecki, MAXX Potential Partner, shared. “So breaking things down into indivisible axioms is the very academic explanation, and then using those axioms to create foundational truths for building your solution.”

This way of thinking is not how many adults choose to think. In fact, most people lean into the established “this is how it’s always been done.”

Believe it or not, the humans that think best in the concept of first principles are children.

Children rely on the question “why” to understand the world around them. Their constant litany of “why” often annoys their parents, babysitters, teachers, and nearby adults. Yet, this technique of exploring the world helps children make connections.

Bringing the concept of “why” into the boardroom can frustrate coworkers, and it can get to the root of a problem. When a team of people are willing to follow the “why” to its root, great things happen.

5 Timeless Talents for a Shifting Tech Landscape

Beyond mental models, we’ve determined five timeless talents to help technologists in an ever changing tech industry. We believe that strengthening the following talents can help you ride the changes in tech: communication, adaptability, problem solving, lifelong learning, and collaboration.

Communication

Being able to explain an idea through words, whether spoken or written, is an essential skill for technologists who plan to make tech their long-time career. The key component clarifies confusing information and streamlines project collaboration.

Adaptability

Technology is known for its rapid change, and with that knowledge, technologists must exercise their adaptability. How quickly do you pivot to new ideas? Are you willing to try different styles and systems of doing things? What do you do to stay relevant in an ever-changing environment?

“As long as you’re comfortable being in a state of not having everything mastered and you’re comfortable with that, you tend to open up a lot more to learning more, to feedback, to new ideas.” Rahim observed.

Problem Solving

When it comes to problem solving, John pointed out that, “Using the right tool for the right job may sometimes mean using older, more established tools. If you’re just upgrading or replacing for the sake of replacing, that’s not necessarily good problem solving.”

Lifelong Learning

Part of technology is constantly learning new ideas, systems, and possibilities. The more tools you understand and are exposed to, the better for knowing what tool works best in different situations. When you’re a technologist, you’re committing to a career filled with unending learning.

Collaboration

Engineers and technologists need to consider the people aspect of their projects and solutions. When you’re working with a team or a client, technologists prioritize how the end users will interact with the final product. The newest trends and technologies are exciting, but if no one can use it, what’s the point?

Partner with MAXX to invest in the future

Are you ready to work with eager and talented MAXX Apprentices who exhibit these five timeless talents? Partner with MAXX Potential today at MaxxPotential.com/Business-Solutions.

MORE POSTS

Why the Push for More Tech Skills in Schools Might Be Misguided

Employers Rate Critical Thinking at 98.5% Importance but New Job Seekers are Rated at 55.8% Readiness By MAXX Potential The rise of Artificial Intelligence has

READ MORE

The Passionate Programmer: Unveiling Tech Side Projects that Inspire

By Barbara Brutt, MAXX Potential Content Marketer “Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough

READ MORE

Is Your Workforce Ready for Generative AI Adversaries?

Defending Against the Deep

READ MORE