Teacher Spotlight- Richard Heater
What is the most significant new or different aspect to your program this year?
“This year students are taking a more independent approach to completing their work, similar to jobs in the career field”.
What are some of the more common career pathways your students take when they leave CPACTC?
“Students can start as Help Desk Support, IT Technician, or Network Technician. Some students will go to college while others go into the work force”.
What training/unit do employers seek that helps students get their foot in the door?
“Students are able to work independently, troubleshoot problems, and have good customer service”.
What are some of the recent technologies and/or trends in the profession with which students become familiar?
“Networks are becoming increasingly centralized to manage through Software -Defined Networks. AI integration is increasing in a many of the network tools”.
What unit/topic do students struggle with the most in your program? Why do you think that is?
“Terminology, there are many different parts and remembering the correct names for each is sometimes a struggle. Computer components change over time, as an IT Technician you must understand the old and new components.
Explain a typical day in your program.
“Start with a warm-up question related to the day’s topic. We spend some time as a group discussing the topic. Then the students work individually or in groups to complete simulation labs or hands-on assignments”.
What advice would you give students who have completed your program?
“Continue to learn. Technology is always changing, and you need to keep up with the changes. Computer components from 5 years ago are now old technology. We need to stay current or risk becoming irrelevant”.
How many years have you been at CPACTC?
“I have been at CPACTC for six years”.
What was your experience before coming to CPACTC?
“Before joining CPAVTS I was in the Army performing different jobs related to Information Technology”.
Program Spotlight- Students
Summarize what you learn in your program in ONE SENTENCE (if you can).
“Computer networking and computer hardware”.
What is the hardest part of your program?
“Switching, routing, and wireless essentials”.
What is the most fun part of your program?
“Group projects”.
What is some recent technology you are learning to use in your program that is specific to your profession?
“Cisco IOS”.
What are your plans for after high school? BE SPECIFIC!
“Two years at HACC for an associate’s in computer networking, and 4 years at Dickinson for whatever I decide to go for at that point”.
What is going to be the highlight of the year?
“Completely reorganizing the classroom and running all new cable”.
What are you proud of learning how to do in your program?
“Ethernet cabling and configuring cisco devices. I am currently 4th in the state for telecom cabling
Explain a typical day in shop.
“Get in shop, do assignments, practice on physical equipment”.
How is your program at CPACTC different from other classes you have had in the past? Can you give some examples?
“They can’t even compare, all in all totally different structure”.
What advice would you give to a beginning Level 1 student who is just starting the program or to a student who is considering enrolling in your program at CPACTC?
“Mr. Heater always knows, he may not say anything... but he knows”.