Dan River Information Technology Academy (DRITA)

这项名为“丹河信息技术学院(DRTA)”的计划是为那些对IT或STEM职业感兴趣的贫困人群中的高中生申请的一个为期三年的项目。Drita的总体目标是为有前途的非裔美国人或西班牙裔青年提供机会，(1)发展扎实的信息技术技能，(2)获得所需的背景和鼓励，使他们能够在STEM领域继续接受高等教育，包括IT本身和其他需要高级IT知识的领域。在三年的课程中，总共将招收96名学生。每名Drita参与者将收到500小时的基于项目的内容。该项目包括学年单元和一个主要的暑期部分。授课内容将包括基本IT技能培训；动画、虚拟环境建模、高级网络、编程、地理信息系统、机器人和游戏设计等领域的内容课程；外部培训；专业会议/贸易展的模拟，以及大学/职业咨询。家长参与是该计划不可或缺的一部分，包括为家长提供向参与者学习的机会、联合访问大学、信息会议以及大学录取过程中的个人援助。

This proposal, the "Dan River Information Technology Academy (DRITA)," is a request for a three-year program for high school students from underserved populations who are interested in pursuing IT or STEM careers. The overall goal of DRITA is to provide opportunities for promising African American or Hispanic youth to (1) develop solid Information Technology skills and (2) acquire the background and encouragement needed to enable them to pursue higher education in STEM fields, including IT itself and other fields in which advanced IT knowledge is needed. A total of 96 students will be recruited over the course of the three years. Each DRITA participant will receive 500 hours of project-based content. The project includes both school-year modules and a major summer component. Delivery components will include a basic IT skills orientation; content courses in areas such as animation, virtual environment modeling, advanced networking, programming, GIS, robotics, and gaming design; externships; a professional conference/trade show "simulation," and college/career counseling. Parent involvement is an integral part of the program and includes opportunities for parents to learn from participants, joint college visits, and information sessions and individual assistance in the college admission process.