MPICT Featured in CENIC Quarterly Update

Coverage of MPICT Executive Director, James Jones' presentation at the 2013 Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) Annual Conference was a featured article in CENIC's most recently published quarterly newsletter.  The conference, held March 11-13, 2013, provided James the opportunity to preview findings from the ICT Foundational Competencies Employment Demand in California report and, obviously, it was very well received! Read the article or view the presentation.

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2013 Winter Conference Interviews

Following are links to a series of interviews conducted at the Winter 2013 ICT Educator Conference in San Francisco on MPICT's YouTube Channel.

Check 'em out!

MPICT Winter Conference 2013 Interview Recordings

1)    Interview with John Carrese & Zhenya Lindstrom (California Community College Economic and Workforce Development Centers of Excellence)

2)    Interview with Peggy Maxson (Department of Homeland Security)

3)    Interview with Karl Cureton (National Minority Technology Council)

4)    Interview with Dave Nelson (VMware) & Rich Weeks (NDG)

5)    Interview with Kim Yohannan (EMC) & Rich Weeks (NDG)

6)    Interview with Steve Wright (iima4biz)

7)    Interview with Ross Brunson and Chuck Bixby (Linux Professional Institute)

8)    Interview with Interview with Dr. Carol Engler (Ashland University)

9)    Interview with Mark Conway (NetApp)

10) Interview with Shari Liss (iisme; Industry Initiatives for Science and Math  Education)

11) Interview with Chuck Bixby (LPI), Ross Brunson (LPI), and Rich Weeks (NDG)

12) Interview with Mike Qaissaunee (Brookdale CC & ICT Center/STCC)

13) Interview with Nic Xenos (Juniper Networks)

14) Interview with Jane Ostrander (Experiential Learning Center)

15) Interview with Una Daly (Community College Outreach)

16) Interview with Jeff Larson (SFUSD)

17) Interview with Elizabeth Wallner (Wallner Consulting Services/JSPAC)

18) Interview with Ron Lichty on Agile Methods

19) Interview with Ann Beheler (Convergence Technology Center)

20) Interview with Donna Milgram (IWITTS)

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Class of 2013: What's Pushing Women Out of the Sciences

Originally posted by Bruce Kasanoff here
May 21, 2013

Graduates of 2013, you don't need to hear from another gray-haired man. The invitation to create this speech arrived the same day my daughter - who is also graduating this month - sent me a draft of her senior thesis. I took this as a sign it would be more helpful for me to share insights from one of your own.

Alyssa's thesis explores why women drop out of STEM majors: science, technology, engineering and math.

In the United States, men comprise about 75% of all STEM majors. There are many reasons why this is a problem, but let me just state the most obvious. For economic reasons, we need far more people to go into these majors; if half our citizens shy away from these majors, we will never have as much talent as we need.

I'd like to suggest that it is up to you to solve this problem. Not because my generation can't solve it, but because we haven't.

Alyssa attends Hamilton College in upstate New York. When it comes to attracting women to STEM majors, Hamilton actually does better than many colleges and universities. Most of their science departments, except for Computer Science and Physics, have roughly equal numbers of men and women. For the first time ever, this year their math department has more female than male majors.

Alyssa interviewed two groups of women at Hamilton: current STEM majors and those who are STEM "dropouts."

Both groups perceived that STEM classes tend to be competitive and unfriendly, in contrast to how other courses are taught at Hamilton. The majors "dealt with it," but even they didn't like it.

To quote from Alyssa's thesis: most dropouts and majors agreed that the competitive culture and climate of the classroom was the worst in the introductory courses. These courses tended to encourage memorization and had a weed-out feel... students often felt like professors did not necessarily want to see them succeed.

College is supposed to be hard. You are supposed to be challenged. There is nothing wrong with that. Hamilton has many other majors that are also difficult, but female students perceive that they are not as competitive and unfriendly.

Hamilton is a small, liberal arts school. I can only imagine what many of you faced in larger schools. One thing is for certain: too few female graduates will be entering STEM professions this year, even though many of you remain interested in STEM areas.

Alyssa's thesis also reports that: the STEM dropouts were students who had legitimate interest in the fields, and who may have pursued the majors to completion had they not perceived an unwelcoming and dissatisfying culture. The STEM majors, on the other hand, were intensely dedicated and goal driven; most of them planned to become researchers or professors from a very young age and were not willing to let obstacles get in their way. That is, often times the STEM majors were unhappy with the STEM culture, yet had such a strong end goal in mind that they were willing to disregard their feelings about their courses, and sought out welcoming environments in other disciplines to compensate for their experiences in their major.
This is a huge problem, and it's not just because we're not attracting enough women into STEM majors. It's also a problem because we are teaching STEM professionals to interact in what some might consider to be an antisocial manner.

Our companies and institutions would be much better served by professionals who know how to collaborate on diverse teams. Increasingly, programmers and designers, engineers and marketers, data scientists and customer experience professionals must work side by side.

Some of you are STEM dropouts, but you still harbor an interest in these subjects. For you, I have two words: graduate school. It's not too late to give it one more try.

Some of you are STEM graduates. Some will go into teaching, or training. You will work with other disciplines. At the risk of sounding like an old softie, I urge you to work towards a kinder, gentler, and more welcoming environment. I find it difficult to understand why computer science or math can't be taught in small groups, especially when I see kids in my neighborhood - literally kids - teaching each other to program, and to solve tough programming challenges.

The prolific author, Douglas Rushkoff, wrote a book called Program or Be Programmed. “Choose the former,” says Rushkoff, “and you gain access to the control panel of civilization. Choose the latter, and it could be the last real choice you get to make.”
The prolific author, Douglas Rushkoff, wrote a book called Program or Be Programmed. “Choose the former,” says Rushkoff, “and you gain access to the control panel of civilization. Choose the latter, and it could be the last real choice you get to make.”

Your generation can't allow programming and Big Data and product development and hard science to be the domain of half our population. You can't afford to condemn the women who all their lives have wanted to work in STEM professions to spend their careers as a minority.

My generation got it wrong. Yours can do far better.

Bruce Kasanoff (Twitter: NowPossible) can be found at Kasanoff.com.

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women & girls leadership summit 2013 (may 1 in sf)

Registration and additional details

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NCRIC Cyber Internship Program

Northern California Regional Intelligence Center
Cyber Internship Program

Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (“NCRIC”) Mission

The NCRIC’s mission is to coordinate the exchange of criminal intelligence, threats, and hazards and facilitate regional communication among Northern California Law Enforcement, First Responders, Government and Private Sector Partners.

Overview of Cyber Internship Program

The NCRIC Cyber Internship Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students interested in cyber threat intelligence and cyber security to work with Federal, State, local, and tribal government and law enforcement in support of the NCRIC mission.

Chosen cyber interns will learn about the intelligence and law enforcement fields through both formal and on‐the‐job training, and will be responding to real world threats, hazards, and situations.

Cyber interns will work with cyber threat intelligence analysts, the NCRIC information technology team, and all levels of law enforcement to produce cyber products and applications for NCRIC partners – including cyber threat and vulnerability assessments, novel mobile and web‐based applications, malware analysis studies, and cyber threat trend reports. NCRIC law enforcement partners include local Police Departments, FBI, DHS, DoD, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, and more.

Examples of potential projects cyber interns will work on include producing analytical products on malicious cyber actors, development of honeypot systems, drafting malware analysis reports, writing code to automatically input data from relevant sources into GIS databases for use during live‐events, creating mobile applications to warn NCRIC partners about threats in the field, developing NCRIC‐specific RSS feeds, and drafting trend reports on prevalent malware in the NCRIC Area of Responsibility (“AOR”).

Application Process

Participating colleges and universities are asked to submit up to six applicants for each semester or summer session. Students within the Computer Science, Information Technology, Geographic Information Systems, and Computer Engineering majors are especially encouraged to apply.

Applicants for the Cyber Internship Program must submit a resume, a letter of recommendation, a copy of his/her college transcript to date with current GPA, a writing or project sample, and a short summary discussing why he/she wishes to intern for the NCRIC.

These items must be sent via email to CyberInternship@ncric.org. Please scan and email the transcript copy, or fax it to the attention of “NCRIC Cyber Internship Program” at 415.553.7411.

The short summary must not exceed 500 words. The writing or project sample can include college‐course submissions or especially impressive non‐academic projects (e.g. a website, an example of a web‐based or mobile application, etc.). Selections are based upon academic achievements, professional projects and accomplishments, area of study, life/work experiences, and the needs of the NCRIC.

The applicants’ résumés will be examined, and within two weeks a telephonic “first stage” interview will be conducted by the NCRIC Cyber Unit. After passing through the first stage telephonic interview, the potential candidate will be scheduled for an on‐site panel interview with the NCRIC management staff. After these interviews a maximum of four applicants will be selected for the duration of the semester or summer. The initial offer is conditional pending successful completion of a background investigation.

Chosen applicants who are part‐time interns will be required to work a minimum of 180 hours at the NCRIC or an average of twelve hours per week. Full‐time interns will be required to work thirty to forty hours per week and as the need arises if there is a crisis or disaster.

Background Investigation

Selected interns will have to undergo an extensive background investigation conducted by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The initial offer is conditional pending successful completion of the background investigation.

Non‐Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”)

All cyber interns will also be required to sign an NDA, which will clearly state that all programs, systems, products, and other intellectual property developed or affected by the intern will be and remain the property of the NCRIC. Further, the unauthorized disclosure of information to which the interns have access, or may obtain access, will be considered a breach of the NDA and may result in the termination of their relationship with the NCRIC and prosecution to the full extent of the applicable laws.

Position Details and Requirements

Internships with the NCRIC are uncompensated positions. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship. No interns will displace regular employees, and chosen interns are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.

All work done by the cyber interns will be done under the close supervision of existing staff. This work may include, inter alia, producing and handling sensitive information, responding to real threats to the NCRIC AOR, assessing and addressing NCRIC Partner vulnerabilities, and representing the NCRIC as a whole. As such, all cyber interns are expected to conduct themselves in the respectful and professional manner appropriate to the position of the internship. Any actions or conduct by the intern considered unbecoming of any employee, contractor, or other representative of the NCRIC will not be tolerated and will result in termination of intern status.

The NCRIC shall provide an educational work environment free of verbal, written, or physical conduct thathas the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the intern’s performance or that may create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. The NCRIC shall abide by all applicable laws and regulations.

The internship is designed to be a well‐supervised educational experience. The NCRIC will provide the training, tools, equipment and access to communication necessary to effectively and efficiently complete the tasks required. Failure to complete the mandatory work hours or poor performance will result in notification of the college or university to which the intern is associated and cancellation of intern status with NCRIC.

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Employers and Industry Invited to SF ICT Pathways Stakeholder Summit

San Francisco ICT Pathways Project

Stakeholder Summit

April 12, 2013

The Mid-Pacific ICT Center (MPICT) and the CCC ICT Collaborative, along with our partners, Boston-area Advanced Technological Education Connections (BATEC), San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), San Francisco Office of Workforce and Economic Development (OEWD), Bay Area Vido Coalition (BAVC), and WestEd, invite your to attend the third stakeholder summit for the San Francisco Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Pathways Project on April 12, 2013.  

The San Francisco ICT Pathways Project is completing the first year of its three-year effort to define, promote and facilitate a collaborative approach to filling the ICT workforce development pipeline in the San Francisco/Bay Area. With just two years left on the grant from BATEC, we're excited to report on the achievement of significant milestones and the development of mutually beneficial partnerships with the partners listed above that promise to sustain the outcomes and work in progress. Now is the time to vet our findings, outcomes, and plans for the next two years with our business advisory. Your assessment and feedback provides essential guidance and your participation will be extremely valuable.   

The objectives of this meeting are to

• Update stakeholders on project progress and outcomes
• Share how a SF ICT workforce ecosystem is forming
• Share 2013-2014 plans and get feedback
• Provide the opportunity for active working groups to convene and continue their work

Please RSVP to Olivia Herriford at oherriford@mpict.org 

 

Following are the details and logistics:

Who:

• SFUSD High School Faculty and Administrators in Computer Science, Networking, Digital Media, and related programs
• City College of San Francisco Faculty and Administrators in the CS, CNIT, Multimedia, Business Technologies and Broadcasting
• Interested local government and community based organizations
• Business industry and employer advisors
• (Please forward this email or let us know others we should invite)

When and Where:

• Friday, April 12th, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

City College of San Francisco Ocean campus

9am-12pm Multi-Use Building Room 251

12:00-3:00pm Pierre Coste Room (including lunch)

The project will cover substitute teachers for SFUSD faculty. Maps and parking permits will be sent to confirmed attendees the week of April 8th. Here's the draft agenda:

      I.   WELCOME, Coffee and networking (9:00-9:15)

     II.   Project Update (9:15 - 9:45)

1. Recap of goals
2. Report on progress, accomplishments

    III.   The Emerging Ecosystem (9:45 - 10:45)

1. OEWD/TechSF > CCSF and BAVC
2. BAVC > CCSF and OEWD/TechSF
3. MPICT > OEWD/TechSF, BAVC, SamaUSA

   IV.    Break (10:45 - 11:00)

    V.    Pathways to ICT Education and Careers in Other Communities (11:00 - 12:00)

1. BATEC: Progress in Chicago and Las Vegas
2. CDE: Progress with similar collaborations in Sacramento and Orange County

   VI.         Lunch (12:00 - 1:00)

Guest Speaker: Tammy Hagans BAVC Digital Pathways Graduate

  VII.    What's ahead (1:00 - 1:15)

1. 1. 2013-2014 Priorities and Projects

 VIII.    Breakouts to project working groups (1:15 - 2:30)

1. 1. CS Curriculum Articulation
   2. Broadcasting summer class
   3. MS Business Apps summer class
   4. Graphics 25 summer class

   IX.         Return to full group for report out (2:30 - 3:00)

Thanks and we look forward to your participation!

Olivia Herriford

Associate Director

Mid-Pacific ICT Center

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MEDIA CAREER TIPS: LUCKY 13

Digital Pathways | Posted on: Saturday, March 16 2013
By Carol Varney, Executive Director, BAVC

Last week I attended the Civic Center Community Benefit District Mixer and Reception for San Francisco City Supervisor London Breed. When addressing the assembled crowd, Supervisor Breed shared her desire to create jobs for youth in her district, to equip them with the tools they would need to attain jobs in the City, and her hope that this would be possible not just for young people in her district, but for youth citywide.

Supervisor Breed’s words were in my head as I listened, two nights later, to a career panel of six Bay Area-based media professionals sharing their career stories with an audience of BAVC Next Gen students, TechSF participants, city officials and the public. Over the course of two hours we got to hear from panelists who were the first in their families to go the college, many of whom took career paths that were not exactly “direct,” and each of whom gave straight talk based on their journey. Every one of them had a passion, but in the beginning, no real network to help get them to the their destination.

Michelle Channel from Mission Graduates moderated the discussion, and below are 13 take-away tips from Emma at Twilio, Carrie – an investigative news reporter and documentary filmmaker, Judy from IDEO, Jonathan from Zynga, Ryan – an independent audio engineer who works with Overlap and Ghostcat Studios, and CB from Community Bridge Video.

Top 13 Career Tips from the Field

1) Don’t burn bridges! The people sitting next to you right now are the ones who will hire you – and the ones you will hire – in the future.

2) Network. Stay in touch with people. You’ll get more jobs and connections from networking and the people you are talking to and in class with right now than from anywhere else. Don’t just call these people for work, call them to find out how they are doing. Do it because you want to and because it’s smart.

3) Don’t just send emails to the places you want to work – pick up the phone and call. Talk directly to people and ask to meet them in person.

4) Live below your means. Don’t spend all that you have.

5) Follow your passion. Keep a focus on what drives you because it will get you through the hard times.

AND

5a) It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to do right now. Pick a direction and be okay with going that way for a while. You can change direction and it’s not going to be the end of the world.

6) Limit how much you will work for free. Volunteering is great but you have to eat. If you are doing a job for no pay, make a deal with yourself about how long you will work for free and when that time is up, ask for a paycheck.

7) Persist. If you know what you want to do, persevere. Not every idea is a good idea and sometimes things will go very, very wrong, but do not give up. Learn from the mistakes you make, pick yourself up and get back to it.

8) Identify mentors. A mentor could be a teacher, a friend, someone in the industry you want to break into – anyone who provides you support and good advice. Along with your passion, mentors will help you to see your way through challenging times.

9) Be a generalist with a specialty. Understand the technology you want to work with, because even if you aren’t a hands-on technical person in the industry, understanding the language and how things work will get you hired and keep you employed. Keep those skills updated.

10) Know if a place you want to work is a good cultural fit: This is where being an intern, going for an informational interview or talking with employees at the place where you think you might want to work will make a difference. Is it the kind of place you can see yourself being happy?

11) Collaboration is key. Being able to work well with other people is extremely important. Learn how to work well on a team and you’ll keep being asked to join successful groups.

12) Show up on time. Be the one who is trustworthy, who works hard, and who people know they can count on.

And the final word from Jonathan Bach at Zynga?



13) “Don’t assume something is out of your reach. Try.”

BAVC supports students from throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, including residents of Visitacion Valley, North Beach, Ingleside, Balboa Terrace, Bayview, Sunnyside, the Mission, the Fillmore and Civic Center (including 10 students from Supervisor Breed's district), and youth who travel from as far away as Alameda, Daly City, Oakland, and even Suisun City. I hope the panel brought students in the audience one step closer to Supervisor Breed’s goal for youth in the City and the Bay Area to find employment right here. I know that when they had a chance to talk with the panelists in small groups the students asked questions for 20 minutes and I heard several asking for ways to stay in touch.

After the event I walked with panelist Carrie Lozano from San Francisco Public Library to Powell Station, along Market Street. Around Seventh Street we passed a group of five older men standing on the sidewalk chatting, and as we walked by one of them shouted out “Hey! Lady in the glasses! I just heard you talk and it was really inspiring! Thank you!”. Lesson 2 and 3? Check.



From all of us at BAVC, thanks to the panelists, to Mission Graduates, and to the library for hosting us after a last-minute site change! And thanks to the BAVC funders who believe that panels like this and programs like Next Gen and TechSF make a difference in the lives of the young people, and all of us, in the Bay Area community.

Photos by Ian Davis

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