Mission

The National Center for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) is recognized nationally as a leader for its expertise in developing and distributing comprehensive ICT content supporting business and industry’s efforts to educate and train the ICT workforce. The ICT Center incorporates emerging technologies in which the creation, storage and movement of information is of critical importance and is a key resource for developing and securing appropriately-skilled Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) technicians and technologists.

ICT Center Builds Community of Practice

In 2007, the National Center for Telecommunications Technologies formed an Information and Communications Technologies Community of Practice (ICT COP) to provide community colleges with program assistance, a forum for the exchange of ideas, an interactive workspace, and a dynamic library. Three years later, the organization adopted a new name—The National Center for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT Center)—and expanded its role as a resource center to become the hub of a vibrant, growing ICT COP.

As it has redefined what an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Resource Center does, the ICT Center has found a unique niche among the ATE community. By hurdling traditional barriers of information-sharing and utilizing emerging technologies to reach, support, and educate students, faculty, business, and industry throughout the United States, the ICT Center makes content on current and emerging trends and information from subject-matter experts readily available.

ICT Center Engages Community Via New Media Technologies

ICT Center is a leader in the utilization of new media technologies to disseminate technician education information. The information, once disseminated, is used by thousands of individuals who view the information and use it to teach or to enhance their personal technical knowledge. During 2010, ICT Center reached more than 400,000 users through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube videos, and podcasts. As a National Science Foundation ATE Resource Center, ICT Center staff members share their expertise in new media technologies with the ATE community and other community college educators. Their hands-on presentations at conferences throughout the country have prompted many educators, students, and members of the technical workforce to utilize social media tools.

Major ICT Center goals include:

  • Dissemination of innovative, effective, and current information and communications technologies (ICT) curricula.
  • Making the knowledge of subject-matter experts readily accessible to industry and academia.
  • Providing information and education for ICT students and technicians to meet industry needs.
  • Sharing strategies to include underrepresented populations in the ICT field.
  • Pioneering the use of social media and emerging technologies in education.