Photo: Contributed
Tealya Wilcox and Erik Moore participated in Gateway to Technology.
The Gateway to Technology program is expanding across the Okanagan after enjoying much success in Penticton.
The Okanagan College pilot program helped high school students understand how current technology will shape their careers, and 13 students who attended Grades 10 to 12 in School District 67 took part earlier this year.
“Code seemed like magic,” Tealya Wilcox, who graduated from Penticton Secondary School last month, said in a press release. “But our instructors explained how things work during lectures and we have the chance to apply what we learn in hands-on sessions.
“While this may not be key to the heavy mechanic training I hope to pursue, having the skills to understand technology and its many applications is important.”
The project, which included students from Penticton Secondary School and Princess Margaret Secondary School, worked so well that it will expand to Vernon this fall. There are plans to implement it in Kelowna (SD23), Oliver (SD53) and Salmon Arm (SD83) as well in February 2020.
Gateway to Technology programming will be one of the electives offered within each school district, and students will receive credits towards graduation.
The program covers two main components: information technology essentials, and an introduction to coding and web development.
“We know technology plays a significant role in our lives, and that will only continue to grow in the future,” Okanagan College continuing studies and corporate training director Dr. Dennis Silvestrone said. “With the completion of the pilot program, we’re exploring opportunities to continue opening doors for more students to become aware of the possibilities for careers and education in the world of technology.
“If the project builds or heightens a passion for this type of work, it will have been successful.”
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