Lego Children's Fund supports ITEC Game Design program

Lego Children's FundThe Lego Children's Fund is providing support for ITEC's Science and Art of Game Design program.

This new project will prepare students in our camps and classes to participate in a video game design competition ITEC will hold in collaboration with educational partners. The goals of the competition are to inspire students’ creativity, promote a strong sense of pride in their abilities as game designers, foster collaboration, and build a community of students from different schools who share enthusiasm for game design.

Working together with real game designers, middle school students will:

  • Explore the science and technology that exists inside today's games
  • Discuss the art of making games fun
  • Learn about the connections that knowledge they learn in school can have to making great games
  • Hone their skills by taking part in game design challenges


This is accomplished through creative, project-based learning where students play a wide range of games, improve games already made, and create new games completely from scratch.

 

Bringing STEM Skills up to Scratch

shabazz-student A recent article in MSU Engaged Scholar Magazine shows ITEC in action at St. Stephen's Community Church in Lansing.

Read more about how ITEC and community partners are Bringing STEM Skills up to Scratch.

ITEC awarded $600,000 for Sustainable Broadband Adoption


LANSING, Mich. – The Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC) has been awarded $600,000 for work geared to sustainable broadband adoption, an effort that is part of a $5.2 million federal grant to Michigan State University.

 

ITEC will partner with Lansing Community College and Capital Area Michigan Works! to offer high-tech training to mid-Michigan residents, developing and teaching the computer content needed for education and employment.

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ITEC Executive Director Kirk Riley on Lansing radio

ITEC Executive Director Kirk Riley talks with Walt Sort about ITEC's work in Lansing.
Our thanks to TalkLansing.net for spotlighting ITEC'S role in the Greater Lansing Next initiative.


Sept 8, 2010 Interview

August 31, 2010 Interview

ITEC awarded Dart Container Corporation 50th Anniversary Grant

Dart employees, ITEC families, and executive director Kirk Riley at Dart Container's 50th Anniversary CelebrationLANSING, Mich. – The Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC) is among five local organizations to receive a 50th Anniversary Grant from the Dart Container Corporation.

The grant will allow ITEC to expand its Science of Game Design program this fall.
 
"The Dart funding will enable ITEC students to learn math, science and technology in new and exciting ways," said Kirk Riley, ITEC executive director.

"ITEC students have fun right now designing their own video games and learning math and science in the process, and this funding will help that grow."

Game design is a field with high earning potential. According to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), 2009 median annual wages for game designers and other computer specialists was $77,010.
 
ITEC uses game design and other courses to get students excited about learning.

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