CLASS DESCRIPTION & REGISTRATION

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

The mission of IT Computer Wiz Kids (Wizkids) is to give youth and adults the confidence to pursue careers in Information Technology (IT) and the computer industry in a fun, exciting, learning environment and to provide technology education and job training that will prepare them for life. As a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, Wizkids is committed to teaching youth and adults about technology from underrepresented and underserved communities.

Through hands-on, experiential team-building activities and a life skills-based interactive approach, we uncover people's hidden talents and guide them through multiple Information Technology (IT) learning development channels. Our students range from K- seniors because it is never too soon or too late to instill a sense of purpose in their lives. Listed below is a brief outline of our signature courses

STEAM -ME

Our signature programs will introduce students to STEAM-ME (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education concepts of Coding/Programming, Networking, Financial Literacy, Money Management, Trading and Investing, Cybersecurity, and Electronic Etiquette and Internet Safety lessons.

Programs consist of 6, 8, and 16 weeks, as well as a 32-week full school year program. The course modules are once a week 1.5 to 2 hours in length with 15 to 20 students;

4-Week_ Computer Building & Troubleshooting Flyer.png

The Computer Petting Zoo

The Bits Ages 3-5– The Computer Petting Zoo, Workshops, 4-6 week programs - Hands-on activity taking desktop computers apart by “Dissecting the Computer” and understanding how it works, identifying each component, and putting it back together. Students will have a brief history of computers, and identify the internal parts of a computer and their proper placement. Students will be introduced to programming with Scratch & Code Monkey and will learn programming concepts and the fundamentals of coding by introducing them to languages including Ruby, JavaScript, Python C, and C++. These languages will serve as entry points for learning how to program. Students will take post and pre-tests during the program.

Introduction to Computer Systems, IT and STEM-ME

Byte – Introduction to Computer Systems, IT and STEM-ME- 4-6 week-long session for 1st – 3rd graders and 4th and 6th graders.

The program for students K-3rd grade will start with students setting up a complete desktop computer and learning the history of computers and the internet. Next, the students will be introduced to keyboarding concepts by first learning how to point, click, select, and understand the keyboard and its functions. Students will then be introduced to typing by first learning their home keys and the principles of typing. Also, students will disassemble a computer and thus learn about all of its components and how it works. Most importantly, students will develop critical thinking skills through an introduction to coding, programming, gaming, computers, and mobile game development. Extra Credit Financial literacy is a crucial life skill that empowers successful money management, entrepreneurship, and decision-making skills from a young age. The coursework aims to provide children and young adults with a foundation understanding of financial concepts, enabling them to develop healthy financial habits and a savvy outlook on money.

Intro to STEAM-ME (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts & Math)

Kilobyte (6 Weeks) – Introduction to STEAM-ME (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education concepts of Coding/Programming, Networking, Financial Literacy, Money Management, Trading and Investing, Cybersecurity, and Electronic Etiquette. In our Internet Safety lesson, students will understand how to navigate online safely. The sessions will prepare students to work in the computer technology field by developing skills that build their self-confidence and self-sufficiency, thereby improving their ability to grow into productive citizens. IT Computer Wiz Kids combines its community outreach efforts with those of existing organizations, including non-profits, government agencies, and private companies.

Electronic Etiquette & Money Management

IT Computer Wiz Kids intends to expand its programs further by teaching students the proper modes of electronic communication, including how to develop a professional appearance and online profile (i.e. resumes, business greetings, attire, and grooming). Also, students will be guided in how to demonstrate appropriate Internet ethics and honesty by developing safe, healthy, and respectful relationships online using social media networks (i.e. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). Moreover, students will be enriched by learning about personal finance, understanding their relationship with money, and how to curb detrimental behaviors that can lead to future financial pitfalls.

Techno-Chic - For Teen Girls Only

TechnoChic -Learn to Create, Build, & Troubleshoot Computers: Boys move over because it is time for girls to shine! This class offers girls an opportunity to explore the IT part of the STEM-ME world. Guest female IT professionals will speak about various careers within the field.

Participating female students will learn to;

• Understand the fundamentals of computer components and how to troubleshoot

• Learn about C++ and other programming languages

• Learn about career development for women in technology

• Familiarize students with money management principles and online etiquette

• Teach students how to build and troubleshoot a personal computer (PC) gaming

• Instruct students about Internet safety

Middle and High School Students

Advance Computer IT Training

Megabyte (16 Weeks) - Advance Computer IT Training - A 16-week-long program for middle to high school students, including four week session curriculum focusing on each of the disciplines we teach 1) the A+ Certification career preparation 2)Coding/Programming, 3) Cybersecurity Networking 4) Financial Literacy/ Money Management, and Electronic Etiquette, by building a Wiz Kids Help Desk Initiative. During the course, students will obtain hands-on job experience throughout their internship. As an added bonus, the program follows our "You Build It You Keep It" motto. Students will build and configure their very own Dell desktop computer and peripherals or laptop computer during the program, which they will take home once the course concludes.

Help Desk Summer Program

Gigabyte (6-8 Week Summer Program) - Wiz Kids Help Desk Youth Initiative Program: Our goal is to build an in-house “help desk” managed and serviced by the students and the IT support staff. This in-house technical resource will allow schools and local communities to save funds on costly computer repairs. Students gain insights and technical skills they need to be successful in the workforce and in life. In addition to learning about computers, students will also develop the life skills and confidence to repair and troubleshoot their own home PC’s as well as working with IT Professionals. A highlight of this class is that students will benefit from learning the various facets of Electronic Etiquette. This part of the program offers valuable information on how to develop and use proper modes of communication online, how to utilize the Internet to communicate with email, how to explore Internet ethics and honesty, how to develop safe, healthy, and respectful relationships online; and the proper use of social media networks such as Instagram, Facebook and X/Twitter.

Students will learn to repair and troubleshoot computer problems by developing and running the help desk managed by IT Computer Wiz Kids. In addition, students and their families will now have a place where they can have their computers repaired by interns and their mentors who are A+ Certified and currently working in the IT field. IT Computer Wiz Kids’ goal is to become a trusted service provider by working with the school's current support IT, maintaining schools’ networks, and by upgrading, repairing, and installing computer hardware. Also, by working with schools’ technology teachers and their resident IT service staff members (who are normally assigned to more than one school), IT Computer Wiz Kids will be able to:

Give students within their school hands-on experience, confidence, and an internship in IT;

Teaching students the fundamentals of a computer call center, IT service center or help desk;

Collaborate with corporate sponsors to adopt schools and provide interns with technical support from technology programmers, web designers and network administrators in local small businesses and Fortune 500 IT firms, banks and law firms, interns will be provided with interns who have been trained to immediately assume their duties with minimal supervision.

Advanced Job Preparedness Program

Terabyte (8 Week Advanced Job Preparedness Program/One Year Internship) Students will be employed and salaried at a help desk run by IT Computer Wiz Kids and managed by interns to obtain hands-on experience repairing and troubleshooting laptops and desk tops alongside corporate mentors youths are placed in internships. At the same time, participants will be prepared to take the A+ certification exam.

Advanced students assist professional IT technicians and mentors in troubleshooting and repairing computers at their mentor’s sites. The I-Team Mentor Technology Program works with professional IT techs who will instruct students in the following areas where students work and obtain hand-one experience with hardware repair, identifying and swapping parts and troubleshooting PCs and laptops, increasing the speed, diagnosing and optimizing hard drives, upgrading memory and re-imaging/restoring computers. Students will also learn to troubleshoot issues outside the PC by understanding networks, servers, printers and cable management. Our goal is to give students the ability to support and maintain PCs and laptops for businesses and prepare students for the workforce, and provide them with the foundation and study to take and pass Google Career and CompTIA A+ (Plus) IT Certifications.

Build Your Own Computer

PC Giveaway: You BUILD it, You KEEP it! In this course, students will learn how to build and install operating systems and how to upgrade, troubleshoot, and repair their personal computers and laptops. Upon completion of the class, each student will be awarded a Dell Intel Dual Core desktop computer including a flat panel LCD, keyboard, mouse and Windows with Microsoft 365. In addition, students will also be prepared to study for the A+ Certification training;

TechnoChic (Teen Girls Only) Learn to Create, Build, & Troubleshoot Computers: Boys move over because it is time for girls to shine! This class offers girls an opportunity to explore the IT part of the STEM-ME world. Guest female IT professionals will speak about various careers within the field.