How to Prepare Students for 21st- Century Tech Careers

A recent study conducted by CompTIA found that students feel classroom technology makes learning more interesting and fun — with 90 percent indicating that the use of technology in school will help them land jobs in an increasing digital economy.

And although students expressed confidence in their tech abilities, they said there were skills they wanted to learn more about in school, namely computer troubleshooting and programming/coding. It was surprising that these tech fundamentals took precedence over more “glamorous” options, like robotics or mobile apps. Yet computer troubleshooting provides one of the best entry points for tech careers because of established training and certification programs — not to mention a steady supply of job openings.

So how can teachers and administrators incorporate more technology —especially to teach core fundamentals, like programming and troubleshooting — into their classrooms, without spending enormous amounts of money?

In Chicagoland, students at Leyden High School are taking a technical support elective that functions like a modern-day IT ticket help desk. Students share the workload of answering the phone and responding to emails, writing and assigning tickets and troubleshooting problems, everything from fixing loose cords to changing out motherboards. Students also help teachers set up labs and projectors, and work on independent pathways to complement their IT studies.