At Hinkley High School in Aurora, KidsTek students took two concurrently enrolled classes through the Community College of Aurora this past fall semester. As a result of one of these courses, the majority of the students in the class have earned Certiport IC3 certifications, better preparing them for entry into the tech sector job market. IC3 stands for “Internet and Computing Core Certification,” and the proud certification-earners are pictured here.
For the current semester, our Hinkley students are enrolled in a computer networking class and are preparing to earn yet another certification, “Net+” by the end of the school year.
One of the biggest benefits for our students is that Net+ is a vendor-neutral technology certification that verifies the certified individual has the skills and knowledge needed to build, manage and protect the data network we all rely on when using computers.
According to the certifying body CompTIA, other Net+ certification benefits include :
· It is recommended as a first professional-level networking certification
· It’s held by nearly half a million people worldwide
· 12% job growth expected for Network & Computer Systems Administrators (2012 – 2022, according to the BLS)
· The leading vendor-neutral, globally-recognized networking certification
The students in our class are using online class software called LabSim in order to better understand what it would be like to work hands-on with networking technology. KidsTek instructor Steve Kessler explains, “The students are being exposed to real-world simulations getting them ready for Net+ and their future careers.”
At KidsTek’s 15th annual fundraising “Tech Leaders Dinner” held last week, our Hinkley students participated by running a demo table during the cocktail hour. The students were able to explain to our guests what they are learning in class, and they were featured in an article in the Denver Post, which can be read
here.
