Oakland County's Tech248 technology collaborative is partnering with the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office to host the state's third annual Google CS First event for upper elementary and middle school computer science enthusiasts.
The activities take place Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road in Southfield. Students from 20 Oakland County schools that use the Google CS First curriculum have been invited to participate. They will experience a range of hands-on interactive activities that connect what they learn in the classroom to real world careers in advanced computer science and digital media technologies. This is the first time the event will be held in southeast Michigan.
"We're excited to host the Google CS First event in Oakland County," County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "Computer programmers are among the most in-demand professions across the country and events like this help build interest in the field as we prepare the next generations of tech workers to help support our Tech248 initiative and the county's 2,000 information technology companies."
The Michigan Film & Digital Media Office has been a longtime Google partner and promoter of computer science education. The partnership seeks to increase the students' computer skills, challenge them to tackle difficult problems, increase the number of underrepresented students in the technology sector and demonstrate the positive impact computer science skills can have in building careers.
Google, along with Aero Design Services, Alchemie, Amtech/GHI Electronics, DASI, DigiBit, Stefanini, The MARS Agency, Lawrence Technological University, and Oakland University, will engage students with robot, virtual reality and augmented reality demonstrations.
Tech248 companies often collaborate to attract, develop and retain talent while promoting Oakland County as a global technology hub. The most in-demand jobs in the information technology sector include software applications developers, computer systems engineers/architects, IT project managers, computer systems analysts and computer user support specialists, according to the Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan.
"From software development and gaming to connected cars, mobile technology and cyber security, Oakland County is home to more than 42,000 jobs in the tech field," said Greg Doyle, Tech248 program manager. "Google CS First will feature tech ambassadors from our membership who are excited to share their passion for computer science with young students from our area."
Published: Mon, Feb 26, 2018
