Intro To Convergence Technology

Intro to Convergence Technology June 19, 2007 Convergence Technology Center

Two important concepts: “The World Is Flat” – Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist The world is connected to do instant business without the constraints of geographical or political barriers. Individuals can have a huge impact on the global economy. “Who Moved My Cheese” – Dr. Spencer Johnson You don’t have to cling to doing things the way they’ve always been done. Change can be a good thing.

Let’s ask ourselves: Are we ready to take our place as a leader, or are we falling behind? The future depends on our recognizing and leading

Change requires:  Leaving

the comfort of how we’ve always done things in business, community, and education

 Providing

education and training for jobs we haven’t yet defined

We need to lead change: 

So our students develop skills continually to be gainfully employed throughout their working lives



So our students in populations that traditionally have not valued higher education receive the help they need to succeed



So our neo-millennial students can learn in a way that speaks to them

Neo-millennial students Are digital natives who by high school have spent: - More time playing video games - More time talking on cell phones - More time watching TV …than reading books

The teaching challenge:  Workers

growing up in the 21st Century will have 7 or more careers  Education must be relevant and engaging  Too much content to be taught in class (IT power is doubling every year.)  We have to teach them to teach themselves and to frame and solve problems

Although jobs went down…  Dallas

portion of the DFW Metroplex lost 100,000 jobs between 2000 and 2003 (Center for Economic Development and Research Report, 2003)

 Registrations  Cisco

mirrored job loss

registration at CCCCD down 550 students from 1999 to 2004  Telecom program had no graduates in 2004

However…

The time to prepare for a job is when others are getting laid off. Peter Senge, Fifth Discipline, 1990

Changes started happening…  Rapid

rise in home use of cable modem and DSL (broadband)  Decrease in cost of computer equipment, especially models aimed at the home  Rapid rise in telecommuting population  Voice over IP gains popularity  Fiber to the Premises (home) grows  Voice, data, and video begin co-

IT situation improving…  Computers

are not going away, and neither are IT jobs!  As manufacturing jobs vanished, other industries started.  For job-seekers who are flexible enough to acquire specialized training or education, the opportunities can be dynamic. jobs?

…So, where are these great Source: US BLS Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2012

4 of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Occupations are in IT! Occupation

Employment

Percent Change

2002

2012

***Network systems and data communications analysts***

106,000

166,420

57%

Medical records and health Information Technicians

69,000

101,430

47%

Computer software engineers, applications software

179,000

261,340

46%

Computer software engineers, systems software

128,000

185,600

45%

Source: US BLS Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2012

Local workforce predictions say This region will need to add at least 1300 convergence technicians in the next five years …So these great jobs will be found right here.

Source: http://www.interlink-ntx.com

Convergence Technology Center 



$2.469 million over 4 years, awarded August 1, 2004 Convergence Technology is: •

the blending or integration of voice, video, data, image into one flexible network

•

the bringing together of products and capabilities of multiple vendors so that they provide the services the customer wants (interoperability)

•

active in enterprise businesses and homes

Convergence Technology Center Personnel  Ann Beheler, PI and Exec. Director, CCCCD  Bette Plog, Co-PI, El Centro College  Christine Schubert, Senior Staff, Tarrant County College  Helen Sullivan, Director  Ann Blackman, Program Manager

Central Park Campus

Spring Creek Campus

Preston Ridge Campus

Tarrant County College District

Enterprise Convergence Technician Works in a large company handling support for: 

    

Voice (including old telephony and Voice over IP) Data (like regular computer networking) Video and Image Wired, wireless, different Qualities of Service Must have good communication skills

Home Technology Integrator  

Independent or working for a company Installs and integrates communications systems and entertainment systems in the home, including   



  

DSL and Cable Modem Wireless access WITH security Home entertainment/management systems RFid and smart devices

Must have great communication skills Likely the new entry level IT job! Can’t easily be off-shored!

Convergence courses: 



  

Developed from industry, national standards and gap analysis with existing courses New courses created, existing courses updated Two courses taught by case study Security covered in courses Focus on solving real business problems

Convergence Programs 72 contact hours for the degree  Broad

range of subjects covered deep enough  No silos  9-10 certifications possible  Good choice for students interested in technology  Math requirements are light for initial degree, but needed beyond the 2-year degree

Convergence Certificates Fewer hours  Still a broad range of courses  Introductory  Still no silos  Good choice for students interested in technology who think they may be interested

Results to date  





IT/Telecommunications registrations up almost 55% over 2004 Companies that traditionally recruited only 4-year graduates are recruiting from us now (Nortel, Perot Systems, for example) Cisco Channel Partners held recruitment fair on campus looking for grads First Convergence graduate landed job at ephipany

Questions and Answers

Helen Sullivan – [email protected]  www.convergencetechnologycenter .org 

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402356 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation