Preparing Students for IT Careers - Teachers Honor Teachers
- Mark Vukovic, CTEC of Licking County, Lakewood Local Schools, Hebron
“Each year, Matthew finds new and engaging ways to spark creativity in his students and to get them interested in information technology as a career.”
-Mark Vukovic
Matthew Frischen is constantly innovating in his middle school Information Technology Lab at Lakewood Middle School in Hebron, Ohio. As a CTEC of Licking County Satellite instructor, he teaches technology to students in grades 6-8 and has been in this position for six years. Each year, he finds new and engaging ways to spark creativity in his students and to get them interested in information technology as a career.
Matthew gets his students interested in learning how to code, with several participating in the school's Girls Who Code program. He teaches students how to code Sphero robots, and students compete in challenges to make their robots perform different tasks. He helps his students learn about hardware by having them build DIY tablets with Raspberry Pi small single-board computers-- he's not just teaching students how to use tablets, he's helping them build them! Now that Ohio is predicted to need thousands of additional employees who specialize in IT, Matthew's need to innovate has become even more essential.
Preparing students for jobs in the metaverse, Matthew has students use Merge Cubes to build both augmented and virtual reality apps. Last December, he helped set the mood by running a school-wide contest where students decorated the hallway with lights and synchronized music. Students learned how to program the lights to blink at specific points during the song. This sort of activity really helps students see the benefits of learning about technology and lets them have fun while learning.
As a high school teacher who inherits Matthew's students later in their schooling, I can honestly say that his students have really benefited from his innovative teaching. They understand the fundamentals of IT, but they also have an energy and excitement for learning. They often become the best coders in the class and help the other students figure out what's going on.
I'm so grateful that Matthew’s work with students prepares them for learning more advanced tech when they get to high school, which will help prepare them for their next educational experience in college or a career in technology.
“Matthew is a great IT teacher who genuinely cares about his students and encourages them to learn by trying new things. He is helping to prepare them for Ohio’s booming IT workforce!”
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation launched a new program last fall inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Mark Vukovic expresses his admiration for fellow teacher, Matthew Frischen. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.