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About the Networking & Multimedia Teacher
at
Kent-Meridian High School
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| Without a textbook or any K-12 Training Materials for the Networking and Multimedia Courses; We continued to build the course from scratch. I thought, "Networking In A Nutshell" would be a good symbol for our new high tech launch. |
So many have asked about what Networking and Multimedia Courses are about and what my background is, that I simply had to prepare this brief overview and thank you to those who have helped to launch a new and challenging high tech set of classes. What, as a teacher have I done to prepare me for this
challenge. And, what skills are required to take on a brand new course.
Up till now I simply have been so busy that
I have not had the time to share what’s been happening around my neck of
the woods. Please, just skim the following overview.
I have some
exciting statistics to share at the bottom of this brief. (All thanks to
my wonderful students, who put their best forward. And to Dave Bilyeu who
never gave up on me, and continued with great counsel, wisdom and guidance
in all things educational. And special thanks to Sandy Schwartz for her
vision about the courses and programs that she has stood behind
110%.
Mike McKerracher M.Ed.
Educational,
Professional & Technical Background
I... Continuing Teacher Certificate, 08/17/92. Endorsements
in;
- K-12 Art
- 4-12 History
- 4-12 Social Studies
- 4-12 Computer Science (Required, 24 college credits of
computer training)
2... Initial Vocational
Certification, 07/05/01. Certificated to Teach;
- Computer Applications
- Graphic Communication
- Audio-Visual Media Production
- Computer Maintenance
3... Central
Washington University 2 Year Vocational Training Program,
07/05/01
4... Masters in Education with a
Technology Emphasis, City University, 09/2000
- Thesis Project; Networking & Multimedia Course Book,
Emphasis on
- Internet Applications in the Classroom and Digital Web
Page Portfolios as a
- 3 Year Project Based Presentation of Academic and I.T.
Computer Skills.
5... Computer I.T. and
Networking Specific Professional Training Background.
- Certification, Applied Networking Fundamentals. ARG,
(American Research Group).
- Certification, Troubleshooting & Maintaining PC’s.
RCTech Inst. (Rockhurst College, NSG).
6...
9000 Verified Hours of Business Experience & Professional Employment
as:
, Volt Enterprises.
Managed 300 artists computer graphics team to
meet
production goals for the Ad Art for the Yellow Pages West of the
Mississippi.
MASH CORPSMAN, 2 Years. Vietnam/Germany
Duty Stations.
1st Armored Division and U.S.A.R.U.R.E.R’s
Graphic Production Artist. Managed team art projects.
Art Director for the Herald Examiner
Movie Ad Page. Origional art, and managed the team
to
produce the 4-8 page Movie Ad Page for the
Daily Morning Edition. Never missed a deadline.
Graphic Artist, Commercial, Production Arts
Manager for Ashby and Associates.
Managed
the, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor Foundation account. The, BMX
Magazine account.
The production/design of the Beverly Hills
Motoring Accessories Catalog, account.
Computer Graphic Artist/Designer,
Northwest Advertising, Seattle WA.
Structural, Architectural, and Civil
Draftsman/Designer for;
Johnson & Braun
Design Team, Seattle. Dean Reed & Associates A.I.A., Mercer Island.
William McKerracher, Structural/Civil and Consulting Engineers,
Century City.
College Teacher. La Salle European
Extension College. Subjects; Drafting,
Commercial Art.
Taught American military college credit courses in Scotland,
England,
Germany and Italy Bases. West Coast College. Subjects;
Western Civilizations 101. U.S. History, 152.
Survey of Philosophy,
211. Adjunct Facility to Fresno State University. Class size 60 to 93
students.
US History and Hist of Civ classes had large groups of Asian,
Spanish, Mid-East, and
Europeans who were ESL. A 4 language team group
program was developed to solve the
problems.
After receiving my contract I taught
a full load of classes and I spent the first 2 years in Graduate
Training, a 2 Year Vocational Program, constant professional training in
Networking Administration, and an average of 25 extra hours a week since
1996 just to keep the lab, training, and teaching at pace with the
students.
I could have been a regular teacher and just do my
regular preps. But I determined to do all I could to help build a
great program that would give high school students, real voc job
preparation. Real college credit value for their extra efforts. And, real
certification possibilities at the high school level. This required much
more than giving handouts, a text book, training and a
grade.
Through my extra efforts. (Not asked,
required, or paid for).
- I set up the KM Web Page in 1996. Then worked with Mrs.
Smith and at the end of the year turned the project of managing the KM
Web site to her and the Business Department.
- Created the Multimedia and Networking Courses in 1996-97.
There were no text books. There were no
other high school
classes I could model from. A school in Issiquah and Highline later
modeled their
class from our Networking Program.
- Worked to get the extremely complex certification
requirements aligned with the Networking SLO’s ELR’s so that the course
could be articulated with Green River Community College, Highline
College, Renton Technical College.
- Worked to set up a multi professional certification
multi-track training program so that students can prepare and pass the
following IT Recognized Certifications. MCP, MCSA, Net+, Novell CNA, A+,
as well as train in Cisco Cert Prep.
- 22 of our students are now Certified Network
Administrators.
- 8 of our students are attending Seattle Arts. Largest
number of students from a single school in Northwest.
- 118 Students have earned between 16 and 40 college credits
through our Tech Prep Program Association. We just had a film made about
our fantastic students and program.
- Many of our students are choosing to go to college after
high school because of the bridge of
familiarity they have
through Networking and Multimedia Classes.
- Our class have won Gold as State Champions in the
Technical App’s Devision of Skills-USA Competition. 2 of our students
went to Nationals and placed in the top 10% of the
nation.
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