The Information Technology
Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)
program was established by the National Science
Foundation in direct response to the concern about
shortages of information technology workers in the
United States. The ITEST program funds projects that
provide opportunities for both school-age children and
teachers to build the skills and knowledge needed to
advance their study and to function and contribute in a
technologically rich society.
A project by guided by Dr. Kevin
Clark of George Mason University, "Game Design Through
Mentoring and Collaboration," is a partnership with
McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC
and is designed to teach high school students video game
design, and in turn, allow mentoring opportunities for
these students to teach middle school students. The
project incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics (STEM) content, with and emphasis on
career and educational paths.
The students also work with scientists
and experts to design and build educational games that
can be utilized by other students and teachers.
The program targets traditionally
underrepresented students from the Washington, DC area
with the vision of being a model for other distance
learning efforts. The program introduces
fundamental concepts of Information Technology (IT) as
students develop human animation, multimedia authoring
and rapid game prototyping using 3D tools.
This is a "hands-on" program with a
strong emphasis on non-traditional approaches to
learning and the intensive use of information
technologies such as: web-based programming, GIS,
architecture, database management, motion capture, LAN
network management.
In 2009, the partnership expanded with
the addition of Gary A. Johnson Company & Associates,
LLC (GAJCO). The company developed a 4-week
leadership academy for prospective student mentors with
a focus on leadership, mentoring, STEM careers and
business etiquette.
In the summer of 2009, Be The Game,
LLC and Gary A. Johnson Company & Associates, LLC
sponsored several Wii Learning Events for the DC
Public School System's Parent Family Resource Center
and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. These
program are scheduled to expand in 2010.
