navigate: home: magazine: fall 2001: article

Penn State Mont Alto Technology Center offers programs at the mall By Karen L. Trimbath
Adult learners receive comprehensive training in a variety of computer-related programs at Penn State Mont Alto’s Technology Center, located in the Chambersburg Mall.	To paraphrase a familiar saying, the mall does have it all — the Chambersburg Mall, that is. The mall, located in Franklin County, is the home of Penn State Mont Alto’s Technology Center, which offers a range of sophisticated computer and Internet-related programs for adult learners who want to become technology specialists or simply become more proficient with the latest software.   The center provides students with convenient, high-quality instruction, complete with hands-on tutoring in a teaching laboratory and internships with area companies, Karen Jewell, director of Continuing Education at Penn State Mont Alto, said.   “We’re really proud of what we’ve done here since opening our facility at the mall in 1998,” she added. “We’ve paid attention to what the people in the community want, such as more computer and Internet-oriented education, for instance, and we’ve developed a strong niche in technology training certification.”   The Chambersburg Center, which includes the Technology Center, focuses on continuing education and adult learning, and its staff is committed to creating a community presence through credit and noncredit programs.   The center’s technology offerings have attracted several hundred members of the community, many of whom are already working, looking for a career change or laid off, according to Jewell and the center’s instructors. Prospective students can drop by during mall hours and register for classes, buy books and receive personalized instruction in the center’s three technology labs.   According to Gregory Peck, faculty development specialist who teaches at the center, program offerings are expanding to give students the training they will need to succeed in the real world. “In technology, you must grow constantly or you die.”   Students who enroll in the center’s technology programs can later become certified as webmasters, computer repair and network technicians, and networking router specialists, or they can pursue other computer-related tracks. Certification is awarded to those who pass rigorous tests upon completing the required courses.   Technology Center offerings include: the Cisco Networking Academy Program. Students learn how to design, build and maintain computer networks. Cisco Systems is the world’s largest manufacturer of routers, or hardware switches, that play an important role in Internet networks. the Webmaster Certificate program. Students gain an overview of Internet technology, as well as learn HTML and Java. the Microsoft Certified System Engineer program. Students enroll in a series of courses on Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional software to prepare them for subsequent exams. The AccuTech Business Institute of Frederick, Md., an authorized Microsoft training provider, administers the program in collaboration with Penn State Mont Alto.   A new electronic publications program, focusing on commonly used publishing software, such as QuarkXPress and Adobe Photoshop, is being developed for the future. This 452-hour program will be aimed at those who work for area printing companies and others who want to enter this field.   Adult learners can also receive comprehensive training on Microsoft Office 2000 software for the home and office. These students are granted a certificate of completion upon satisfactory completion of the courses or passing the Microsoft Office User Specialist tests.   This outreach effort even extends to the senior citizens who stroll up and down the mall for exercise. At the end of their walk, these mall walkers can visit the Penn State Mont Alto Technology Center to attend an introductory seminar on computers.   Most of the courses are taught by Don Harvie, instructor; John McAtee, technology training coordinator; and Peck, all of whom have years of experience in computer technology and repair. They said they respect the time and financial commitment made by their students.   “Many of these students see technology as the road to a better future,” said Harvie, who teaches for the Cisco Networking Academy.   Added McAtee, who teaches computer repair and Microsoft Office User Specialist classes, among others, “Many of the more specialized programs are very intense, often requiring several hundred hours of classroom hours, and our students are willing to make the effort necessary to succeed.”   The Technology Center staff members work with local businesses and school districts to place students in technology internships. Students who complete their course work in the specialized programs are often able to find high-paying jobs in their new field, while others gain the skills they need for their current positions.   “Overall, we serve a lot of different people,” Jewell noted. “This area of the state is home to several different providers of adult education, so the competition is tough. We’ve continued to maintain good relations with other schools, while building our niche in computer technology. And we’re always assessing the community’s needs.” An outreach program of Penn State Mont Alto Continuing Education