Career and Technology Education

(301) 649-2844

Resource Teacher: Robert Hopkins
Robert_T_Hopkins@mcpsmd.org

The Staff:

• Geoffrey Finch – Cooperative Work Experience / Internships / On the Job Training – Geoffrey_D_Finch@mcpsmd.org
• Tiffany Gregory – Communications Systems Technology / Foundations of Technology – Tiffany_Gregory@mcpsmd.org
• John Holt – Communications Systems Technology / Internships / Pre-Engineering – John_T_Holt@mcpsmd.org
• Robert Hopkins – Technological Innovations – Robert_T_Hopkins@mcpsmd.org
  
• Nipun Manda – Computer Maintenance and LAN Management / Computer Maintenance Technology – Nipun_K_Manda@mcpsmd.org
• Pongpun Punhong – Foundations of Technology – Pongpun_Punhong@mcpsmd.org
• Sharon Speirs – Child Development – Sharon_A_Speirs@mcpsmd.org

Requirements:

Many of these courses satisfy the MCPS graduation requirements for Technology Education, Advanced Technology Education, and the Career Development Program. For an explanation of these and other graduation requirements, please see High School Graduation Requirements, on the MCPS website.

The Courses:

Child Development 1-3 / Child Development Internship (All grade; 1 credit each; Completion of all 3 credits of Child Development and the Child Development Internship fulfills the Career Development Program graduation requirement) – Students work with children in a variety of settings, supported by the study of child development from prenatal stages, through infancy and early childhood, to Grade 3. Knowledge of physical, intellectual, language, social, and emotional development is applied through planning lessons, teaching, observing, and studying three and four-year olds in the child development laboratory. Students develop competence in creative teaching techniques; developmentally appropriate practice; program management; child behavior and guidance; interpersonal relationships; health, nutrition, and safety standards; child abuse and neglect regulations; special needs of diverse populations; applications of technology; and workplace skills.

Communications Systems Technology (Grades 10-12; 1 credit; fulfills either the Technology Education requirement, or one credit of the Advanced Technology Education requirement) – Communications Systems Technology is a course for students who enjoy the challenge of solving problems by using electronic and computer imaging, audio-video production, lasers, and fiber optics, and satellite telecommunications. Solutions to problems are constructed by using different technology processes and systems, exploring emerging technologies, using multimedia to manipulate and code information, and solving problems dealing with communications technologies.

Computer Maintenance and LAN Management (Grades 11-12; 1 credit; Prerequisite: Computer Maintenance Technology; fulfills the Career Development Program requirement) – Students continue the Local Area Network (LAN) maintenance skills learned in Computer Maintenance Technology. Upon successful completion of the course, students are qualified CISCO Network Technicians.

Computer Maintenance Technology (Grades 10-12; 1 credit; Exploring Technological Concepts and Matter and Energy are highly recommended courses to precede this course) – Students learn basic technical and problem-solving skills needed to diagnose and repair computers and local area networks (LANs). Basic computer and LAN design and architecture, board level programming and repair, hardware and software problem diagnosis and repair, and LAN installation and troubleshooting are study topics. Students completing this course are qualified to take the A+ industry certification examination.

Cooperative Work Experience (CWE) (Grades 11-12; 1 credit) – The first semester of the CWE course provides orientation to the world of work including career planning, job search and interview techniques, employee-employer relationships, promotions, evaluations, and termination procedures. Second semester includes consumer information for the working person. Units include personal financial planning, money management, income tax preparation, investing, establishing credit, and purchasing of insurance and housing.

Cooperative Work Experience with On-the-Job Training (CWE with OJT) (Grades 11-12; credits vary according to class length; 1 credit of CWE combined with 3 credits of OJT fulfill the Career Development Program requirement) – Combined with the standard CWE class, this class adds a real world job experience in which students are employed in the local business community in a career-related area. OJT is supervised by the CWE teacher/coordinator; students receive both pay and graduation credit for this experience. Seventy-five hours of concurrent work experience are required for each one-half credit of on-the-job training.

Entrepreneurship (Grades 10-12; 1 credit) – Entrepreneurship is an elective course designed to help students interested in owning their own business develop the competencies necessary to be a successful entrepreneur while examining Entrepreneurship as a rewarding career opportunity. Students develop self-assessment, entrepreneurial; technological, financial, legal, marketing and managerial skills, while being introduced to local, national, and international trends and resources, Students will select an area of entrepreneurial career interest and explore the various aspects of creating, managing, and expanding a business enterprise. Potential venture capital for students are available through the Coleman Foundation Grant.

Exploring Technological Concepts (All grades; 1 credit; fulfills the Technology Education requirement) – An introductory course for students that enjoy the challenge of solving problems by using tools, machines, computer systems, and materials. Students construct solutions to problems by using different types of technological processes and systems. Students work in groups to explore mechanical systems, natural resources, energy (and alternative energy sources), and innovations in technology. The role and impact of technologies are explored along with career opportunities in technical and engineering fields.

Pre-Engineering (Grades 10-12; 1 credit; fulfills either the Technology Education requirement, or one credit of the Advanced Technology Education requirement) – This course is for students interested in exploring a career in engineering or as a technician. Activities include challenges dealing with creating solutions to engineering problems using tools, machines, computer systems, and a variety of materials. Students explore product designs to learn how they work, then construct prototypes, models and testing apparatuses by using CAD/CAM systems, robotics, computer modeling, and simulations. The role and impact of engineering on technology are explored along with career opportunities in technical and engineering fields.

Technological Innovations (Grades 9-12; 1 credit; 9th graders may only enroll in this course if concurrently enrolled in Biology; fulfills either the Technology Education requirement, or one credit of the Advanced Technology Education requirement) – This course is for students interested in exploring physical, information,and bio-related technologies. Students are involved in the research and exploration of product design by experimenting and collecting data. Students then use tools, machines, and computer systems to problem-solve, design, and construct prototypes of innovative solutions to everyday problems.