BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HIGH TECH INDUSTRY LEADERS IN

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Eileen SmithE2i Creative Studio

UCF Institute for Simulation & Training

E2i Creative Studio

IST location within $8B region; growth directly linked to available labor• Farm system for the

industry, both present and future

• Research into learning of the course of a lifetime

New Toys/Tools: Serious Games

• Connecting data, environments and activities• Incorporating next gen artistic and scientific

tools and techniques • Understanding the concept of rigor and how

to evaluate risk• Designing solutions based on intellectual and

emotional literacy

Designing for Engagement

We have the technology to allow multi-sensory, multi-modal personalization, and the modern learner has tools at their fingertips for ubiquitous access to available technologies.

Designing abstraction, stylized realism = broadening of appeal; allowing more depth of exploration.

24/7 (access to) Learning

Learners synthesize experiences between: – classroom (compulsory education)

• Performance environment; social interaction with peers; dedicated quality educator

– informal learning centers (free-choice learning)• Learner-driven based on interests and

motivations• Non-linear; motivation environment

– home, everyday life (“cognition in the wild”)• Transfer environment

– From societal level to homestead level

• Extension to family group specifics– Oral histories/ first person narratives

21st Century Skills

- Problem solving

- Designing the optimal solution

- Working in (distributed) teams

- Understanding cultural context

In short…the old process standards…

E2i Creative Studio

E2i Creative Studio

E2i Creative Studio

Discussion topics:- Timing of industry

needs for labor vs. academic semesters

- Timing of student readiness for internship bridging to career

E2i Creative Studio

E2i’s internship program: Each semester between 6 and 12 interns are training at E2i, working with the professional team on funded research; over 4 years with funded workforce development internships

E2i/CSCF interns have been hired at regional high tech companies such as ECS, DISTI, Cubic, US Army, multiple small startup firms in Orlando…and E2i itself!