Ohio IT Skills Podcast

Gary Lambert (ACCEL), Zanesville-Interview

Download Ohio IT Now podcast - Conversation with Gary Lamber of Zanesville

With the announcement of Ford's intention to close numerous plants and lay off more Ohio auto workers in the next couple of years, we are reminded that Ohio is in critical need of plans and facilities to re-train its workforce - to make people more flexible and better able to adapt to the ever-shifting industry base and job market.  While statewide policy-makers ponder next steps - some local community organizations are already moving ahead to provide extended experience and education for school children - and proven certification programs - like the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) - for those already in the workforce and needing new options to insure job viability and security.  This audio interview is with Gary Lambert, head of the The Appalachian Center for Collaborative and Engaged Learning (ACCEL) in Zanesville.  Gary has been building creative programs for technology training, and is about to join OITC's project promoting the ICDL.  ACCEL is also a member of the Ohio Community Computing Network, an organization that facilities community-based organizations working with technology training and education.  (This podcast is 12:45 long.)

Large-scale statewide programs, combined with grass-roots efforts reaching into the smallest communities - working together hold the promise for higher skill levels for all Ohio workers, and stronger competitiveness for the state's economic growth.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

First Podcast Edition

Download OhioITNow-Podcast-1-15-06.mp3

And be sure to subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or your favorite podcast aggregator - via the "Subscribe to my Podcast" link in the right-hand column. (This edition is 17 minutes long.)

This entry is the first edition of what is expected to be a weekly podcast, covering information of interest to the Ohio IT community.

Items mentioned include:

• Consumer Electronics Show - there is so much coverage of this event it's difficult to choose any handful of sources that could do an adequate job combined.  However, the Engadget people do a great job, and this site at least will whet one's appetite.


• MacWorld - the only event that Apple's Steve Jobs seems willing to attend - because he can control the stage, no doubt - was the site once again this year of a series of announcements that will please music and media lovers of all types (consumers anyway), as well as Mac-0-philes everywhere.  Aside from the news that over 850 million legal tracks of iTunes music have been sold, combined with 14 million iPods in the last quarter alone - is the much sooner-than-expected appearance of Intel-based Macs - the beginning of a complete change-over.  Faster, better, more and more.  In addition to the Apple site itself, don't miss the blow-by-blow description of Jobs' presentation - a master of industrial show business!


• One Ohio-specific item - news from an exciting new start-up in Athens - the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, an initiative of the College of Communication at Ohio University.  With funding from local sources plus a contract with the Smithsonian, the new organization promises some new developments for Southeast Ohio.

Lastly, there is an announcement about a pending launch of a new initiative from the Ohio IT Clearinghouses and other organizations concerned with education and IT in the state.  It is the Ohio Computing Unlimited initiative.  It will promote courses that enhance basic computing skills for Ohioans - as well as making available a certificate called the International Computer Driving License - a credential with worldwide recognition.  In addition to the discussion in the podcast, more information will be available online soon.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)