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AKRON -ÊIt's only the second semester for Brad Hagg's applied networking class at Tippecanoe Valley High School, but it has already generated a lot of enthusiasm.
Mandy Kates, a junior, is taking the course this semester. "I'm excited about it. I think it's a good learning opportunity," she said.
"It was great," said senior Lucas Cox, who was one of the first six students to take the course last semester. "It was the best class I had all four years of high school. I actually learned something."
"I learned more from this class than any other," said Kim Carr, a senior and one of the first students to take the course last semester.
Hagg, Tippecanoe Valley's director of technology, said, "The goals and objectives are to get the students experience and knowledge about hardware and software and networking and, most importantly, about Microsoft networking."
With constant changes in technology, Hagg said, the class gives the students a foundation to build on, familiarizes them with hardware and software and "it gets rid of the fear (of technology) that may be there. It gives them confidence."
TVHS is the only high school in Indiana with the program. Four state colleges offer the program.
In one to two weeks, the students from the first semester class will take a Microsoft examination, administered by a Sylvan Prometric Academic Authorized Testing Center. Those who pass will be Microsoft Certified Professionals, a title that can enhance the students' chances of receiving great job opportunities and high entry-level salaries. According to the latest survey, Hagg said, a person with zero to six months of computer education and who has passed at least one examination can earn an entry-level salary of $36,000-$40,000. That does not take into account whether the student is a college or high school graduate.
The exam is not like any test the students have taken before.
"It's like taking the bar exam," said Hagg. "Only 10 percent pass."
"It's a very tough test," said senior Evan Boggs.
The class began in the fall semester of 1999 with six students - B.J. Hall, Rory Jewell, Carr, Boggs, Cox and Maria Contreras.
"It's always good to be the first ... to be the guinea pigs," said Jewell.
Cox said he was excited to find out he was accepted into the class. He said a person who takes the class should want to know about computers. "There's no reason for anyone who doesn't want to be in there to take (the opportunity) away from someone who does."
Jewell said, "Everyone needs to know about this stuff."
"(My parents) encourage me to take all the computer classes I can because that's the future," said Carr.
The first semester class also had the opportunity of putting Mentone school online. The six students designed everything "from the ground up," Hagg said, including installing software in 120 computers, networking computers and hooking up computer cables.
This semester, five students and a teacher are taking the course. The low number isn't because of a lack of interest, though.
"Microsoft recommends you don't have any more than 16 because of the complexity of the information," Hagg said. "Initially, we had between 14-16 students vying for the positions in class."
Because it is a pilot program, Hagg said, they decided to go with only six students this year. To decide who would be in the class, the students were surveyed. The answers to the survey were studied, the students' past academic performances and ability to retain complex knowledge were looked at. He said the process will be more structured in the future.
The class won't be in next year's scheduling, though. Microsoft has a new program and Hagg wants to take the next year off to familiarize himself with the program before passing the information on to the students.
Microsoft only provides the curriculum for the course. Hagg added the computer networking and student involvement with the schools' technology himself to enhance the program.
Jewell said he will use what he's learned from the class in the future. He plans to go to ITT to study electronic technology, though he's not sure exactly what he will do with it. He said the class taught him many important computer skills.
Hagg's students' only recommendations for the class is for more hands-on class time.
"They thought the book work was kind of strenuous, they wanted more hands-on experience," said Hagg.
"You learn the most by doing stuff hands-on," said Boggs.
But for the first semester, the students gave Hagg thumbs-up.
"He's very knowledgeable," said Boggs.
Cox said, "He did a good job."
More information on the program can be found on the Internet at microsoft.com/aatp
