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Ms. Mona Bickham
Program Consultant for Business and Marketing Programs
Louisiana Department of Education
Mona Bickham introduced IC³ testing and certification to teachers
and students in Louisiana classrooms. She presents regularly to teachers
and administrators about the value of certification, especially IC³.
She has arranged for testing labs to be set up at education conferences
to help teachers experience IC³ certification. She has promoted
the use of IC³ exams in connection with the Introduction to Business
Computer
Applications course. Mona has also worked with Certiport, Thomson-Course
Technology, and the Louisiana Education Administration to structure a
program that makes exams more available for students.
Mr. Fernando Bogantes
Director, Educación Técnica
Ministerio de Educacion Publica
Costa Rica
Fernando Bogantes heads up the Technical Education Department at the
Ministry of Public Education in Costa Rica. Under his administration, Fernando
implemented
a program that includes the desktop productivity certification of more
than 1,000 teachers, and could reach as many as 30,000 students around the
country. Currently he is also developing a program that includes IC³ certification
of 1,000 teachers and more than 10,000 students nationwide. Costa Rica
is
committed to elevating the level of computing knowledge of its young
people, and Fernando is in charge of overseeing this national initiative. He
is
hoping his efforts will make a difference and that his students will
be better prepared to successfully tackle the socio-economic challenges in
the region.
Mr. Peter Byrne
Peter Byrne has been the driver of the Digital Community Project, established
three years ago throughout 12 inner-city apartment complexes in Dublin,
Ireland, in conjunction with the Dublin Institute of Technology. IC³ is
an integral part of Peter’s roadmap for this project. IC³ is
being used as a way of promoting digital literacy and building confidence
among
individuals who are unemployed and who don’t possess computer skills.
As a result of this initiative, one student achieved IC³ certification
and Microsoft Office Master Instructor certification, and has gone on
to take
increasingly technical IT exams. This individual was unemployed and is
now training other people. Peter also held an awards ceremony for IC³ candidates,
which was attended by the President of Ireland. The Prime Minister of
Ireland
previously attended the initial launch of the Digital Community Project.
Jane L. Campbell,
Mayor,
City of Cleveland
Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart,
Chief Technology Officer,
City of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Jane L. Campbell and Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart,
the city’s Chief Technology Officer, have been the driving force behind
Cleveland’s “Computer Learning
In My Backyard (CLIMB)” program.
The largest citywide digital literacy initiative of its kind to date in
the United States, CLIMB will offer technology training, financial literacy,
and IC³ training and certification to 30,000 low-income residents over
the next five years. The Cleveland newspaper The Plain Dealer reports that
up to 85 percent of the U.S. has Internet access in the home, according
to a 2004 U.S. Department of Commerce report, yet less than half of Cleveland
has such access. With computer and Internet skills no longer optional for
success on the job, the objective of the CLIMB program is to help close
the digital skills gap for an important segment of Cleveland’s population
that needs a helping hand. With these validated skills, new avenues for
higher paying jobs will open up for program graduates and Cleveland will
benefit by building a stronger online community of tech savvy residents.
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Ms. Crystal Chercoe
Project Manager
Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet
The First Nations aboriginal people of northern Manitoba, Canada often
live in rural, remote communities with limited access to the resources of
the average urban dweller. In fact, Internet connectivity was only introduced
to First Nations in January 2003. In addition, aboriginal Manitobans have
graduation rates as low as 25% and often struggle with basic literacy. Crystal
Chercoe was the visionary behind the Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet Regional
Management Organization, and sourced funds to introduce a youth employment
initiative where youth worked as lab technicians in the schools to assist
in promoting digital literacy and technology adoption. Experiencing a 90%
completion rate and a 55% post placement rate, this program was introduced
nationally after the first year. The IC³ component was added in the second
year to provide a tangible certified outcome for youth participants. Out
of 27 youth, 10 were certified. As a result of these successes, Manitoba
First Nations SchoolNet will be introducing an IC³ training program as part
of its e-learning strategy to build digital literacy in Aboriginal communities.
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Ms. Julia Fallon
Program Developer for Technical Education
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction,
State of Washington
Julia has been a wonderful advocate for IC³ digital literacy in her position
with the State of Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction. She has mapped IC³ to the Washington State “DigiTools” program,
which allows schools to receive advanced funding from the state if the schools
implement a program such as IC³. Julia is also a frequent speaker, promoting
digital literacy curriculum within the state. She has encouraged schools
to incorporate IC³ in their curricula, and several of the high schools are
now set up as testing centers.
Mr. Mohammed Saed El Khatani
Computer & Internet Manager, Jeddah Education Region
Saudi Education Ministry – Jeddah Computer Club
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Mr. Mohammed Saed El Khatani is encouraging the introduction of IC³ certification
into the Saudi school system. As an example of how Mohammed is promoting
digital literacy through IC³, the Jeddah Computer Club, under his management,
is training school teachers at no cost with the stipulation that each teacher
who earns IC³ certification and the IC³ Authorized Instructor credential
commit to teach and support 100 students through the IC³ certification process.
The cost of the training is funded by the Ministry of Education and corporate
sponsors. More than 500 teachers have certified through this initiative
and are promoting IC³ in their schools. Mohammed is working with the Ministry
of Education to officially recognize IC³ and to establish IC³ as a requirement
for teachers to be promoted within the education system.
Mr. Russ Klein
Business Education Specialist
Utah Office of Education
Russ has been a pioneering advocate of digital literacy and motivating
Utah students to earn their IC³ certification. Through Russ’s efforts,
the Utah State Office of Education has approved IC³ as both a test-out
and end-of-course exam option for all high school students across the state
for the new state-mandated Computer Technology course. Utah leads the U.S.
in IC³ exams administered, which is a direct reflection of Russ’s
desire to place IC³ into the school system. He is constantly negotiating
with the state government to acquire additional funding to mandate IC³ into
ALL schools in Utah. His attitude towards digital literacy in education
is respected by educators and state government officials.
Mr. Julian Luke, Department
Head, and Ms. Darlene Woodward, Program Coordinator
Durham Training Solutions
Durham Continuing Education
South Oshawa, Ontario
Julian Luke and Darlene Woodward of Durham Training Solutions have exhibited
extraordinary vision and commitment to increasing digital literacy in the
city of Pickering, Ontario, Canada. When they learned of IC³, they contacted
Certiport with a plan to positively impact not only their own organization,
but their entire community Through their Pickering Digital Literacy Project,
they have worked tirelessly to achieve their goal of making the city of
Pickering the most digitally literate city in the world. To achieve this
goal, businesses, government institutions, and educational partners have
worked cooperatively in establishing IC³ as a digital literacy standard.
The Honorable Willie Miranda
Mayor
The Autonomous Municipality of Caguas
Caguas, Puerto Rico
The honorable Willie Miranda is currently the Mayor of the Autonomous Municipality
of Caguas, in Puerto Rico. Mayor Miranda is a tireless advocate of digital
literacy and the advancement of computing knowledge among students, faculty,
and government personnel in general. His understanding of the necessity
to elevate education levels in his country in order to stay competitive
with the rest of the world has motivated Mayor Miranda to initiate and support
several digital literacy projects using IC3 as the fundamental tool to unlock
the fascinating world of technology. The mayor’s CIT Caguas Project
is a pilot of 550 candidates receiving training and certification in IC3.
The project is expected to be adopted countrywide.
Mr. Bjorn Norstrom
Teacher
Colchester Middle School
Colchester, Vermont
Bjorn Norstrom is responsible for single handedly establishing the IC³
program in the state of Vermont. He has impacted students and staff at Colchester
Middle School by establishing a Certiport Center at the school and implementing
IC³ as the foundation of the school’s Information Technology program
in its efforts to comply with No Child Left Behind, state, and national
standards. Bjorn also partnered with Saint Michael’s College to provide
the IC³ course for graduate school education credit. While an instructor
at Northlands Job Corps Center, Bjorn established the first Certiport Center
in Vermont. He was also the first IC³ Authorized Instructor in the state.
Mr. Lynedon Van Ness
Information Technology Teacher/Technology Coordinator
Leilehua High School,
Wahiawa, Hawaii
Lynedon Van Ness has centered his career on the development of digital
literacy in all his learners, whether they are students or faculty. As a
direct result of Lynedon’s promotion of the IC³ certification program,
students were able to use their skills as second-year IT Academy students
to work on campus as support specialists and tutors. After graduation, these
students have used their experiences and IC³ certifications to obtain employment
at their universities and private companies. Two have obtained employment
at State of Hawaii public schools as technical specialists supporting users
with various Internet programs, Microsoft applications, and hardware issues.
In order to fund the IC³ program in the very low income area of Hawaii with
no budget for the classes, Lynedon created a program where students use
their skills and knowledge to build custom computers for individuals and
schools. The funds raised are used to fund the IC³ program, purchase instructional
materials, and pay for the student testing fees.
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Mr. Dennis Wright
Instructional Specialist
South Kitsap School District
Port Orchard, Washington
Dennis Wright has been instrumental in the development and coordination
of South Kitsap School District’s IC³ program. His vision and abilities
have helped South Kitsap receive grant funding to train and certify more
than 150 staff in the basics of digital literacy that would not have been
possible otherwise. Likewise, 9th grade students attending the district’s
three junior high schools are receiving instruction and certification opportunities.
The IC³ program, as used by South Kitsap School District, forms the foundation
of the Information Technology Career Cluster. Understanding that skills
build upon skills, the district has benefited from a clearly defined set
of standards for foundational skills that allows students to attempt more
challenging coursework in the future. South Kitsap believes that IC³ skills
and knowledge are the prerequisite for advanced coursework such as Microsoft
Office Specialist, Microsoft Certified Professional, Oracle SQL, Network+,
and A+.
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