We Build Tech Summit

Description

The first-ever We Build Tech Summit is focused on connecting and engaging Middle Tennessee's tech professionals and tech educators to increase alignment, understanding, and partnership between those communities. With over 1,500 jobs open in technology in Middle TN today, and over 500,000 nationally, strong connections between education and employment are critical to our economic future. To do this, the education providers at both the K12 and Postsecondary levels need better connections to technology professionals to understand the skills and tools their students will need. Conversely, employers must understand how these education systems operate to build the best partnerships possible. Format includes educator professional development sessions, lunch, breakout sessions targeting key conversations between groups, concluding speed networking, and reception.

The We Build Tech Summit at a Glance:
10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Educator Professional Development Sessions
12:00 - 1:00 pm - Lunch & Business/Community Arrival
1:00 - 4:00 pm - Summit Breakout Sessions
4:00 - 6:00 pm - Reception at Quinn's Neighbourhood Pub & Eatery


 

Agenda

Opening Remarks

Morning: Professional Development

Session 1 – Option A

Title:	Raspberry Pi & Scratch in Your Classroom
Presenter:	Dinah Wade, FSSD
Description:	Come get a piece of Raspberry Pi and learn how to Scratch the surface with coding! Learn the basics of the Raspberry Pi computer and Scratch Coding website. Whether you’re new to coding or can navigate html with the best of them, RaspberryPi and Scratch are for everyone. As very affordable and often free resources, learn the basics and discuss with peers on best practices for using in the classroom. The presentation will include a discussion about how to integrate Scratch and the Raspberry Pi into all curriculum areas.

  Session 1 – Option B

Title:	How to Start a Code Club
Presenter:	Ryan Jackson (Maplewood High School) + John Wark (Nashville Software School)
Description:	Nashville is an up-and-coming technology hub, yet only five of our city’s public high schools offer a formal computer science program.  Extracurricular coding clubs can address the opportunity imbalance, giving more students access to the benefits of learning to code and program.  Even if you’ve never written a line of code, you may be the ideal person to set up a coding club at your school.   Let us help you get started.  Join Nashville Software School and MNPS teachers who have already blazed the trail.  We’ll share our experience, provide resources, and help you avoid pitfalls along the way.  You’ll leave this workshop with tools to grow new coding opportunities for your students;  you may even decide that you’d like to learn more about coding, too.

  Session 2 – All

Title:	We Build Tech
Presenter:	Mary Hayes, CEO Workbay LLC
Description:	Let's face it. Navigating the options in tech - whether it's your college major or your next job - can be confusing and complex. But it doesn't have to be. We Build Tech makes career exploration easy by displaying videos of real people, in real jobs, explaining what they do and how they got there. It provides online training associated with specific careers that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Then students can identify post-secondary education options, internships, and jobs that align with careers that interest them. With its own LMS, educators can track student use and explore technical careers alongside their students from any device. Learn how to use We Build Tech in your classroom from the creator of the We Build Tech system, Mary Hayes, CEO of Workbay LLC.

 

Lunch

Remarks delivered by: President Janet Smith (Columbia State Community College) Matt Largen (Williamson, Inc.) Kenny Crapse (JPMC)  

Afternoon: Breakout Sessions

Session 3: Track 1 (45 mins each)

Title:	Understanding Computer Science in Nashville's K12 Schools: MNPS & WCS
Presenter:	Donna Gilley (MNPS: Director of CTE) and Dave Allen (WCS: Director of CTE)
Description:	Curious about the technology classes students can access in our area public schools? Trying to get involved with K12 classes but not sure how? Learn more about the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and Williamson County Schools current programs, curriculum, and volunteer needs. These two district serve over 100,000 students collectively and are charged with preparing your future employees. Get to know what's happening in local classrooms and then get involved. You'll hear from the Directors of Career and Technical Education (CTE) from both school districts during this session.

 

Title:	Hiring Beyond the Bachelor Degree: Panel
Presenter:	Panel: Alishah Novin (HPA – A Cognizant Company), Josh Cournoyer (Iron Yard), Metro ITS, and John Wark (Nashville Software School). Moderated by Susan Lewis (Deloitte).
Description:	With over 1,500 open positions in tech, Nashville is getting creative with training and hiring tech talent. Hear from companies that look for talent beyond the traditional 4-year degree - from community colleges to accelerated learning programs to apprenticeships to self-taught whiz kids. This panel will consist of employers and educators discussing the importance of innovative training and hiring practices for Nashville's growing tech scene.

Session 3: Track 2 (90mins)

Title:	Workshop: Soft Skills in the Technical Workplace
Presenter:	Pane: Patrick McAnally (Leadership Tennessee), Finn Breland (Lipscomb University), and Kim Sarubbi (Taurean Consulting Group).
Description:	Communication. Problem Solving. Critical Thinking. Continuous Learner. Companies are constantly searching not only for technical talent, but for talent with strong "soft skills" to be trained on their company’s particular technical stack. How can educators and companies work together to instill the qualities employers say are lacking in graduates at an earlier age? During this workshop facilitated by Leadership Tennessee, work together to better understand the gaps employers are facing, the challenges educators face, and identify strategies to move everyone forward.

  Session 4: Speed Networking (All)

Title:	Be a Connector
Presenter:	Nashville Technology Council
Description:	Get to know the rest of the attendees before happy hour! Meet the educators, technology professionals, and community leaders around you in quick succession during a fun and interactive speed networking activity. Everyone in attendance has raised their hand to say they want to help build stronger connections between business & education – this is where the rubber meets the road. Make your connections, then head to happy hour to build on your day’s conversations.

Closing Remarks

Delivered by: Alishah Novin (HPA – A Cognizant Company)