IT Induction Day

The day was organised and facilitated by Pippa Goode, of Education Business Links-Birmingham Solihull EBP and was part of the induction programme for 45 higher &15 advanced students starting the first IT diploma course at Solihull 6th form college, involving 3schools and 2 colleges in the area.

The programme for the induction day started with a key note address from James Wilby from Land Rover who spoke to all on the topic of “You are Potential Future Employees", The presentation raised awareness of the changing needs in business within our changing world.

The next session was a series of three workshops where IT professionals from local companies rotated in pairs around the groups.
IT experts could only answer yes/no/maybe, building the students’ communication skills.

After the job is guessed, students learn more about the job content, looking at skills, qualities and qualifications required, led by the questions within the attached booklet, thus building a real job profile with the help of real job professionals.

This was followed by a carousel of 3 workshops:~
1) Teambuilding Skills ~ led by the RAF, and also included information and advice about the    variety of IT careers within the RAF.
2) Design an IT Diploma logo ~ students worked in teams to brainstorm ideas and then using computer software to design a logo for the IT diploma Solihull, to be used on all stationery items, memory sticks etc for the coming year.
3) Interactive IT workshop ~ Neil Emery from, nti (new technology institute) part of Birmingham City University, ran a practical workshop which featured the adding of a soundtrack to a Sega Game using Apple Mac and a garage band.

Finally the plenary included an innovative crossword with the diploma IT as its theme, also judging the new IT diploma logos.

The day concluded with thanks to the employers and students and the presenting of prizes to the winners.

Feedback was good and the day enjoyed by all.

This model of induction could be replicated to use with all diploma lines individually or as a blanket induction for a combination of diplomas.