Berbee Derby - Team ITA! (update / re-post)

AJ Daughtry Krill
- Lead Tech Instructor -

This November, we had an ITA Team participate in the Berbee Derby again!

We thought we'd update with you with how the experience went, through the words and photos of one of our students. She participated in it last year as well, and here's her story from this year's event:

The Berbee Derby was lots of fun this year, just like last year. My brother and I got up early thanksgiving morning to run (a true accomplishment for my brother, who usually sleeps in until noon on weekends). The motto for them is "just like a thanksgiving day parade... only faster!" and that's exactly what it is!  Imagine yourself, racing past people with turkey costumes and all other kinds of thanksgiving getup! It's so much fun, and it's a great experience because there's usually someone you know there who you didn't even expect to see!  I saw some people who go to my school right before the race started, and I got to say hi to them. I ended up seeing my uncle after I finished the race, and I found out he ran the 10k. I didn't even know my uncle ran at all, so it was a pretty cool surprise. It's always kinda chilly, but that's just part of the fun of running on thanksgiving! You should definitely run the Berbee next year!

Also, here are some new photos:

PREVIOUS POST:

The IT Academy has recently received a generous grant from the Technology Education Foundation that the Berbee Company set up and endows with the proceeds of a charity run/walk called the Berbee Derby.  ITA was also the very first recipient of grant funds from TEF back in 2004!  For the past two years and into the future, to show our support and gratitude, ITA has been organizing an ITA Team to participate in the Berbee Derby!

The event takes place on Thanksgiving morning, at 9 a.m., starting at the Berbee campus in Fitchburg. Participants can register for either the 5K run/walk or the 10K run.  Cost is $25 and it includes a Berbee Derby event t-shirt that is personalized with "Team ITA" printed on it.

Different staff members, DoIT collegues, and ITA students along with their families have participated in the past two years!

Here's what one ITA student had to say about her experience:

The Berbee Derby was a great experience. Sure, it was on Thanksgiving morning- but that's part of how great it was! There were so many people there of every imaginable athletic ability, old and young alike. It was pretty cold, but we were mailed these nice little hand warmers and some complimentary toffee along with our Team ITA t-shirts (which are very cool!). The atmosphere was very fun, and they had a tent with coffee for those of us who don't wake up that well. I also saw some friends I didn't even know were coming!

The best part is completing the race. You watch as each and every person crosses the finish line, and everyone looks so happy! And, it doesn't matter what time slot you are given. Finishing and achieving your goal is all that matters.

I'm really glad I came, and next year you should come too!

It sounds like it was a great experience for her and her family to share!


If you are interested in the Berby Derbee, check this out:
View this Slide Show from the 2010 Event!


Stay tuned to find out if there will be a Team ITA in 2011!

~ITA Staff

Annual ITA Halloween Costume Contest delivers more treats than tricks

Alison Wilson

- ITA ACT and College Prep Instructor -

Each year, ITA encourages students to look deep within themselves to come up with the BEST Halloween costumes possible. While few students participated this year, the costumes did not disappoint. Not only did these students have the opportunity to go trick-or-treating in each of their classes, but ITA staff was on the lookout for the most creative, fun, inspiring, or well-executed costumes.

Without further adieu, I present to you the Halloween Costume Contest participants of 2011!

This student sported the unofficial uniform of the US Women's soccer team.

Our very own Party Rock Anthem Robot!

The classic masquerade mask for a sophisticated costume. Also, she loves trees...

It was impossible not to smile when walking past Dipsy, the green Teletubby.

Here is a very convincing crusader, complete with sword and chainmail!

I’m not even sure who this ninja was; this costume was just that good!

Wow! Nice interpretation of Raggedy Ann, red Converse and all! You rock!

Arrrrrr, mateys! This here be another ITA student as a pirate!

We even had a mime costume. And, some nice miming talent along with it!

With so many AWESOME costumes, it was difficult for staff to choose the winners. In the end, it all came down to just a few votes…

Our runner-up is a TIE between Dipsy and Raggedy Ann. Each of them will receive a $20 Best Buy gift card!

This year’s costume contest winner is the robot from LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” music video. He will receive an iPod shuffle and a $15 iTunes gift card!

A huge thanks to Mary, Sarah, Brianna, Brenna, Ian, Ninoska, Adrian, Josh K., and Islam ! You will each receive a raffle ticket for the End-of-Semester prize raffle!!

Photos by: A.J. Daughtry Krill

Back to School Technology Preview...

This year at the IT Academy, students will have the various opportunities to enjoy and learn about all kinds of things!

Here is a list of some of the things we have in store for the Technology Labs:

Poster Mosaic: Each student creates one piece of a whole illustrated poster!
"Campfire Tales": Creative storytelling through digital audio!
Social Justice Social Media: Students bring a cause and learn how to effectively educate others about what they care about!
Self-Portrait: Illustrate your self or your friends in creative ways!
Accessibility and Assistive Technology: Creative journey into how technology can help in many, many ways!

Using AfterEffects in Post-Production: Learn ways to use AfterEffects to adjust the video you've captured and add the subtle visual qualities that can transform the viewer experience. 

Space Text: Moving typography in film using AfterEffects!
Going Green: An exploration of the green movement in technology!
Hack This:  Not that kind of hacking... learn to make technology work for YOU in ways it wasn't necessarily designed for.
Data Visualization: Learn about the unusually fascinating and exciting world of visualizing data!
Audio Equipment Virtualization: Using virtual synthesizers, drum machines, patch cords, and effects racks -- ON A BROWSER! http://audiotool.com/app
Polyvore Magazine Layout: Learn some of the tricks of the trade in magazine page layout, using a super cool and fun website! http://www.polyvore.com/

Commercial Fun! Make short (50 seconds or less) commercials, focusing on storyline and product placement.
How DOES that work? Ever wondered how that worked? Learn some tools to find out!

It's going to be quite a semester! Keep looking out for future updates and see the amazing work of our students as these workshops unfold!

Many Uses of Computers Camp 2011: The Introduction to Labs, Labs, Labs!

Today was the first day of the Many Uses of Computers Camp for the new cohort of ITA, the class of 2015.

The 30 students began their lab with an introduction of themselves, the ITA instructors and interns, and then continued to learn each other's names with the Drop the Sheet name game.

After the introductions to staff and students, the class was split 15-15 and proceeded to their assigned labs for the rest of camp. This assures that each student can be helped and not lost within a large group.

Upon arriving in the appropriate labs, the students talked about their technology story - what kinds of technology they have experienced working with, and then dove right into learning about the accounts that they would have to navigate with and around for the next four years of ITA: Google, Wisc, and Panda.

Once the students knew what these programs were, they began exploring each one of them as they set them up.

The first day ended with an hour of storytelling, but not the kind where the instructors sit up in the front of the room and read to the students; instead, the students were guided through a memory activity where they were to recollect an event in their life... their 8th grade graduation. This was their first blog post and beginning of the documentation of their next four years at ITA.

Welcome Class of 2015! You will do great things!

Stepping Towards the Future

April Arevalo
- ITA Tech Instructor -

I feel that having the students thinking about speech, dialog, words and how they can be used to express feelings, thoughts, the past and present is a great way to develop clear and meaningful messages in student projects. For me personally being able to write down what has occurred in my life is a huge tool to help me reflect on what I've accomplished, and how I can change my future. Lately I have been thinking about inspirational words and how to incorporate technology to display something positive. I recently thought of doing an "inspirational word" poster in Adobe Illustrator. I think it will be a great way for the students to realize that being creative and original and having fun and is a key part to portraying a strong message.

When students get to create in a way that involves colors and different aspects of "art" they don't necessarily see that a message is being formed. When more than one glance is taken, thousands of messages can be portrayed, ones that they hadn't thought of the first time. I saw this to be true while I assisted in the Mandala Custom Workshop. The students seemed to be creating things that were captivating to the eye and at a second glance deeper messages were shared. There were themes of nature and the beauty of the universe. Projects like this are beginning to open the minds of the students to something more than just doing projects because they have to.

By coming up with clearer messages, I feel the students will appreciate what they are creating a lot more and pursue future creation on their own.