Skyline College under the direction of Andrea Vizenor, the Director for Career and Workforce Programs (CWP), has partnered with Apple Technologies to bring in the latest in cutting edge Apple technologies and hands-on learning opportunities for Skyline College students, staff, faculty and administration. This partnership has led to Skyline College being one of six community colleges in the nation and the only one in California who will begin offering Apple’s newly released App Development curriculum, featuring “ Swift” – as part of computer science and technology pathways. The Swift curriculum features a series of industry driven modules, support materials, and project-based learning resources, created to prepare students for careers in computer programming and to teach the elements of app development using Swift, which is a popular programming language for building apps on Apple IOS devices. Students will have the ability to learn to code and design fully functional apps, while gaining critical job skills in software, app development and program design.
Skyline College faculty from various departments including: Engineering, Network Engineering, Art, and Digital Media and Design have all been heavily engaged in integrating Apple Technology into their courses and are working to expand this partnership to best support Skyline College students in using the most relevant and applicable technology in the current workforce. Nick Langhoff, Professor, Computer Science/Engineering, participated in the App Development Summit hosted by Apple in August, where he was able to work alongside over 30 professors from across the nation to explore the many possibilities these resources have in the classroom.
Additional pathway partnerships include our Business and Entrepreneurship professors working with Apple Retail to provide students tours and informational sessions regarding the many exciting careers in leadership at Apple retail as well as participation in two training workshops that provide students with core skill development in skills Apple seeks from high performing team members.
Also as part of the Apple partnership Skyline College had the opportunity to purchase 70 iPads and hosted a two-day Career Education Faculty Training Institute, where faculty and partner high school teachers engaged in hand’s-on training using iPads. Participants were able to work with iPads where they learned exciting instructional strategies to build increased enthusiasm in the classroom, a variety of educational apps and tools designed to support deeper learning while enhancing skill development of students in high demand technology skills.
Those first to experience the innovative Apple technology training elements were close to 75 high school students from Bayview Hunters Point and the Mission as part of our Workforce Readiness and College and Career Connection event with the Garden Project hosted on July 17 – 20 , 25 current Skyline College students and staff on July 18 at our Technology Career Pathways Workshop, and finally, as part of our Future Scholars Camp we hosted 30 middle school students from the Orange Park Boys and Girls Club on July 21 – 24. Moreover, as part of the July 18th workshop, Professor Soledad McCarthy was able to bring her Entrepreneurship class to join the workshop where the session assisted them iin developing skills that they were able to get ready for their finals where they were going to be using Apple numbers and graphing programs. Each workshop was very interactive and students were able to receive one-on-one guidance as needed. Apple App’s featured in all of the trainings were: Notes, Keynote, Garage Band, Pages, Numbers, Everyone Can Code and Swift.
The Center for Career and Workforce Programs is excited to host additional Apple Technology opportunities for faculty, staff and students and is excited to support the integration of Swift App Development tools into Skyline College’ Computer Science pathways and expanded opportunities with Apple Retail for Business and Entrepreneurship pathway students. A big thank you to Nick Langhoff and Soledad McCarthy for their enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication to bringing innovative and relevant career and workforce opportunities to students.
Article by Andrea Vizenor
