FL, NJ & TX Students Highlight ACTE

The Cabling Lab sponsored by C-Tech and co-sponsored by our Program Recognizers, featured students from Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, Lubbock, TX, Sussex Tech, Sparta, NJ and Technical Education Center Osceola (TECO), Kissimmee, FL demonstrating the skills learned in C-Tech’s programs to wire the lab for communications networks with both Copper and Fiber Optic cabling.

The Lab represented both commercial and residential installations.  The co-sponsors for the event were Berk-Tek, Hubbell Premise Wiring, Leviton Voice & Data, Ortronics, Siemon and Specified Technologies.  Each of these companies contributed products that were featured in the Lab.

By Friday afternoon the students had a telephony and security networks operating, as well as data networks running over Copper and Fiber.  Thanks to a donation by Omnitron Systems (www.omnitron-systems.com) of Media Converters, the students were able to run data over the installed Fiber Optic cables.  Additionally, they “wired” a wireless network, which using an Ethernet-based security camera, sent streaming video of the Cabling Lab to two PCs within the convention hall. 

Here’s what instructor Brenda Dickey from Byron Martin had to say after the event.  “As well as demonstrating cabling skills, the students also learned life skills such as working with others (whom they had never met before) to achieve a common goal.  They learned how to ask questions and troubleshoot.  They also gained experience working with adults and learned what goes into making a convention.  They experienced frustration, fatigue, confusion, success, joy, and ‘high-fives’…students can’t learn all this by sitting in class.”

"The experience our students received in Florida with C-Tech ranks as a home-run for the Lubbock Independent School District," according to Rick Stewart, Coordinator, Byron Martin.  "We are receiving added benefits each week from the exposure of this trip.  Our Fiber Optics team (Brenda Dickey and Dusty Thomas) are promoting their electronic and networking class using the experiences learned at the conference.  We would love to continue our partnership with C-Tech.  C-Tech is a class organization, and our students and teachers were more than impressed.  Thanks again, C-Tech, for the opportunity that made this trip possible for our students."

Teachers and administrators were not the only ones impressed by the event.  "It was an excellent learning experience," shares Lamar Arnau, a student from TECO.  "The other booths had lots of cool stuff, but we had the best booth by far.  It was also good to see the other students working and learning.  It would be good if other students had the opportunity to go to events like this one, so they could also have an excellent learning experience like I had."

Shannon Dickey, who traveled to Orlando thanks to the sponsorship of The Siemon Company (see related story), is very excited about her experience.  “I learned how to apply my classroom experience to the real world.  Being able to participate in the ACTE Cabling Lab helped me to realize the networking ‘big picture’”.