TechCharlotte: 2017 Summer Immersive Workforce Experience Program

A Partnership To Impact The Youth Of
The City of Charlotte

At We Connect The Dots we’ve developed a unique training methodology steeped in Neuroscience research, which we integrate with STEAM experiential project-based learning programs. We teach students how to learn, collaborate, and work more effectively in a “brain-friendly” way. Helping students to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset and transforming into Life-long learners.

With a focus on STEAM (science, technology, education, arts and math) our programs support building the strategies for critical thinking, synthesizing information and broadening understanding of career opportunities in STEAM industries. Our metrics clearly demonstrate a shift in thinking by students who participate in our programs, producing students who are
well informed, more confident, and able to empower their own future.
 

At We Connect The Dots our teaching approach is combined with experiential learning and brain-based research to ensure students come away with positive outcomes and skills they can apply today and in their future. There is nothing more enjoyable than to see a student intense in their learning experience that they cannot be easily pulled away from their work. The learning experience becomes a creative energy like a magnet. Helping a student find his or her passion is a wonderful, yet intense feeling, and seeing it happen often can be a very rewarding experience for the students and facilitators.

The most important thing you can do for a child is to give them the gift of education. However, in that process of giving a positive learning experience, you must integrate the importance of self-empowerment. Teaching a student how to empower their own learning and develop them into lifelong learners, leads to successful careers and creates a sustainable future. Students that are excited to learn and enjoy teaching others in the process of their own learning develop into amazing leaders.

A core component of all of WCTD programs is teaching the value of diversity and how important different perspectives of thinking and problem solving impact innovation. Working in teams of girls mixed with boys creates the real world experience for students. Teaching diversity at a younger age will ensure our female students sustain in careers where there is a higher ratio of male population, which over time will create the shift we seek.

Our program offers skills that transfer to nearly every industry and this will help create a broad impact and economic benefit. The Bureau of Labor Statistic states “computers and information technology (IT) touch nearly every aspect of modern life. Information technology can help with such diverse tasks as driving motor vehicles and diagnosing diseases. IT enables integration and communication between businesses anywhere in the world.” https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-2/careers-in-growing-field-of-information-
technology-services.htm

This program transcends current levels of transferability: it offers to close yawning gaps of increased demand that workers be technologically savvy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 47 percent growth in IT over the 2010-2020 time period for all industries. “Because of the high demand for computer systems design and related services, all the occupations in this industry have fast growth rates and high wages relative to the same occupations across all industry. The Bureau of Labor Statics adds, “While many occupations may not directly involve computer system design and related services, all occupations in IT have fast growth rates and high wages relative to the same occupations across industries”. See the table below:

Student Learning Outcomes From Our Program

In Partnership with the City of Charlotte

&

The Microsoft Citizenship Team

To learn more about our Workforce Experience Programs or to speak with someone from our program team email events@we-connect-the-dots.org or call us at (631) 468-7475