February 2000

BACKGROUND: By the year 2005, the information technology industry projects a shortage of 380,000 workers. Already, businesses, banks, schools and other organizations -- even homeowners -- are lining up for computer networking and other services that cannot be provided because of this serious shortfall. This face presented West Albany High School electronics teacher Dave Hudson with a "golden opportunity" to branch out from his traditional electronics curriculum and engage students in a new program involving business partnerships and real work experiences.

WHAT HE DID: Hudson started the Computer Network Engineering Program, a two-year curriculum that leads to job placements or advanced-placement credit for college. With technology changing so quickly, Hudson knew he couldn’t do it alone – so he formed a partnership with Cisco Systems, the word leader in the computer networking industry. Cisco sponsors Hudson’s program by supplying Web-based curriculum, routing and switching equipment and technical support. The program includes a student-run computer service and repair business. This partnership resulted in West Albany High School’s state-of-the-art technology lab. About 60 students are in the network engineering program.

Hudson also joined the StRUT alliance, a program that channels industry donated equipment to schools. "Students are learning high-demand skills through real-life activities," Hudson said.

He’s helped start a similar two-year program leading to an associate’s degree at Linn-Benton Community College.

STUDENT LEARNING AND OUTCOMES: Students learn all phases of networking from wiring to router configuration. By the end of the program, students can design, build and maintain a network the size of the school district’s. These skills are in high demand, so Hudson has confidence his students may graduate with several job offers. Students can also earn 20 community college credits (which can be applied to four-year colleges). Hudson’s students also earn the Cisco Certified Network Associate’s (CCNA) certification, accepted by the industry as proof of entry-level technology job skills. Through the computer repair program, students can also earn the A+ certificate.

RESULTS: Hudson is among the recipients of the 1999 Oregon Innovators in Education Award and was honored at the Feb. 18 Innovators in Education Conference in Corvallis. His curriculum impressed Linn-Benton Community College, so he trained LBCC instructors to offer the same program. "Students often come back to visit and tell me what they’re doing as adults," he said. "When a student tells me about their career and how I helped, I’m rewarded." Hudson’s students recently began working with Diamond Multimedia, a computer product manufacturing company whose technical support center is near the school. Students will learn customer and technical skills during job shadows and business observations. Hudson is developing a customer support help desk for district computer problems, patterned after Diamond Multimedia.

MORE INFORMATION: See Hudson's report on the Computer Network Engineering program, (195k ) with photos and more details. He created it as a recipient of the Oregon Innovators in Education Award.