Our scientists and staff members have long served the National Science Foundation on an array of projects that promote the sciences to schoolchildren and the public. From haptics devices that allow blind children to “see” their way across a Martian surface, to bringing the latest instruction techniques to classrooms across Appalachia, the WVHTC Foundation’s educational projects are committed to using technology to make a difference.

CITERA Program

Comprehensive Information Technology Education in Rural Appalachia (CITERA) is a project for students and teachers that emphasizes career and educational pathways and provides information technology (IT) skills and knowledge to West Virginia 7th through 9th grade educators and students. CITERA creatively integrates IT concepts into national and state Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum standards. During summer workshops and yearlong follow-up activities, participating teachers receive over 120 contact hours.

The CITERA team members include nine school districts of North Central West Virginia.

Benefits to CITERA participants include:

• Exposure to real-world projects using cutting edge technology;
• Communication with IT professionals to discuss educational and work requirements of IT employment ;
• Learning about Educational Pathways to IT careers;
• Learning new technology to enhance lessons;
• Reviewing inquiry-based learning approaches;
• Reviewing technology standards and 21st Century tools; and
• Developing engaging lesson plans.

ExPEDITE Program

Expanding Pathways for Educational Development and Information Technology Experiences (ExPEDITE) is a project that provides students clear educational pathways to an Information Technology (IT) career.

This project meets the growing IT workforce demand for science and engineering technicians, and improves the technology education of students and the educators who prepare them. ExPEDITE brings together three primary elements: secondary education, higher education, and traditional and high- technology industry, representing a full range of experience from theory of teaching to IT application and employment.

The ExPEDITE team is comprised of highly qualified education and IT professionals from the WVHTC Foundation, Marion County (W.Va.) School System, Pierpont Community and Technical College, and Fairmont State University.

The ExPEDITE project develops the next generation of IT professionals, while considering regional and national industry needs.

ExPEDITE’s many activities include:

• Providing Information Technology internships with local area companies to high school students, community college students, and university students;
• Providing Information Technology fellowships to Marion County high school teachers, Pierpont Community & Technical College professors, and Fairmont State University professors;
• Developing and publishing a career awareness brochure highlighting 10 area Information Technology professionals and career options
• Developed recommendations to aid in seamless educational pathways in the area of IT for secondary and post-secondary programs in Marion County, and at local colleges and universities.