Breakthrough New Curriculum Allows High Schools To Teach Real-World Software Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Peter Demarest
Micro Endeavors, Inc.
8001 Lansdowne Avenue
Upper Darby, PA 19082
peterd@microendeavors.com
610-449-4680 x240

Breakthrough New Curriculum Allows High Schools
To Teach Real-World Software Development

UPPER DARBY, PA. -- April 5, 2001 -- Micro Endeavors, Inc. announces the launch of I.T.SkillsPlus -- an innovative suite of curricula and related services that allows secondary and post-secondary schools to teach computer programming at a level never before possible.

For years, high schools and colleges, have struggled to produce graduates that meet the ever--increasing demand for skilled computer programmers. The problem has been two-fold: a lack of curriculum that focuses on real-world software development, and a lack of teachers with necessary programming skills. Micro Endeavors I.T.SkillsPlus solves both of these problems.

As a software development and professional training company with over 18 years of experience, were in a unique position to produce such a program" says Peter Demarest, Director of the program. We understand the needs of industry and the needs of education."

I.T.SkillsPlus takes a fresh approach to teaching programming by modeling the real world in several ways. First, the students are encouraged to experiment, explore, and discover to gain the necessary technical knowledge. Second, the course emphasizes the development of soft skills that companies are looking for such as analyzing business requirements, database design, teamwork, resourcefulness, project management and software development methodology.

I.T.SkillsPlus teachers are trained to facilitate and coach rather than instruct. This eliminates the requirement for teachers to be skilled programmers. Too often when teachers become programmers they leave to go into industry. I.T.SkillsPlus reduces that risk.

In addition to soft skills, students gain knowledge and experience in specific, high-demand technologies such as Web and Client/Server Development, Visual Basic, ActiveX, ASP, SQL, COM+, ADO, VB Script, JavaScript, and HTML.

In the end, a successful student of this two-year curriculum should be ready to take their first exam and become a Microsoft Certified Professional (in software development). From there, they can continue on to college or go directly into the workforce.

Bernie Carrozza, Superintendent at Upper Darby High School in Pennsylvania, began the program in September of 2000. He states This new initiative is breaking new ground and taking Upper Darby School District to the next level. We know of no other initiative that parallels this program."

Other schools feel the same way. I.T.SkillsPlus has an impressive list of schools that are planning to implement the program in the fall of 2001, including: Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Washington DC, and Baltimore County.

Micro Endeavors, Inc., located in Upper Darby, PA, is a Microsoft Certified Partner and Technical Education Center (CTEC). Founded in 1983, the company specializes in custom software development, technical training, courseware development, and staffing. Microsoft recognized the company in 1999 as one of the top three CTECs in the world.

For more information, visit www.itskillsplus.com or contact:

Peter Demarest
I.T.SkillsPlus Director
Micro Endeavors, Inc.
8001 Lansdowne Avenue
Upper Darby, PA 19082
peterd@microendeavors.com
610-449-4680 x240