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Written by Brian McCormack
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Saturday, 27 June 2009 |
A group of teachers from various school around the Big Country recently spent some time at Texas State Technical College (TSTC). The teachers were taken on in depth tours at the nearby campuses, including spending two days observing the Sweetwater campus as part of the Real Tech program.
The consensus among the varied group of teachers at the end of the week was simple — TSTC is a valuable asset for many graduating students. One of the teachers who visited the campus, Donnetta Shelton of Brownwood ISD, is one of the educators who lavished praise on the school and what it has to offer. "TSTC is one of the best kept secrets in West Texas," she said. "Every instructor I met was enthusiastic about their program. It's a well-oiled machine."
TSTC offers a wide variety of curriculums. From the tried and true vocational nursing program to the premier wind technician courses, TSTC can provide an alternative to those wishing to attend college, but not interested in a four or six year degree.
According to school officials, many graduating students have no problem with finding jobs, oftentimes, a company is waiting to hire the student on the day of graduation. "In several areas, students have jobs waiting for them, sometimes within a month of graduating," Shelton added.
The success that TSTC grads have had is just one positive facet of the school. Another is the cutting-edge technology that TSTC has utilized in order to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to modern methods of education. A good example of such advancements is the integration of online learning. Not your average stare and read online learning either. The introduction of the internet phenomenon, Second Life, is currently being used as a medium to both teach, and break up the monotony of the traditional classroom setting.
For those of you who may not know what Second Life is, it is an online world in which you can create a character that resembles you — or is completely different than you — and just about everything you can do in real life, you can do in a pixelated version in Second Life. Including showing up at your school and attending class.
Instructors create characters as well (they are called avatars), and once logged in, you may attend classes at the appropriate times, all the while interacting with real people via their online personas. If it sounds far out, it is. TSTC has reigned in the power of online learning and elevated it. many universities are scrambling to create their own Second Life classes in order to keep up with the times.
Melissa Kelley, a business teacher at Blackwell feels that offering programs such as the wind technician courses are invaluable to graduating students wishing to stay in the area to find a career. "We have kids in Blackwell that literally have wind turbines in their back yards," she said.
Joni Coons, coordinator for the Real Tech program believes it was a worthwhile experience for both the teachers and the college. "It was a great opportunity to have these guests on our campus," she said. "We wanted to make them aware of all the career opportunities we offer. They left with a different perception."
Perhaps Robby Russell, from Lueders-Avoca ISD said it best when he addressed members of TSTC's staff, "It's obvious that you all have a great passion for what you do." |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 29 June 2009 )
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