Computer Programming Gtcc
Mike Collins
The spotlight is on Mike Collins, Professor of Computer Science, Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), North Carolina.
Mike Collins graduated from the University of Arkansas with a PhD in Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, and for 18 years taught in a private liberal arts university.
In 2010, he encountered Oracle Academy and decided to use his skills and Oracle Academy resources to help resource-challenged students, joining the teaching staff of the GTCC Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Division within the Computer Science Department.
Today he teaches database design and programming courses to students pursuing Associate in Applied Science degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology fields of study. He also instructs students wishing to gain database skills as part of other degree programs.
Most of his database teaching uses Oracle Academy curriculum.
Oracle Academy: Why did you opt for Oracle Academy?
Mike Collins: The bottom line is Oracle Academy materials are invaluable. They provide an industry-standard curriculum and software to colleges that might not otherwise be able to afford such valuable resources. Having access to this free training resource definitely helps teachers at the community college level.
The second objective was to give students the ability to work on the material without having to load anything at all onto a laptop or computer lab. It's all done with Oracle Academy's online platform, which frees us up to access the materials from anywhere with a web browser. We can go on anywhere!
Oracle Academy: What courses do you teach?
It's all done with Oracle Academy's online platform, which frees us up to access the materials from anywhere with a web browser. We can go on anywhere!
Mike Collins: My two-year IT major track is called Database Management. Most of the courses in this program incorporate the Oracle Academy curriculum for teaching Database Foundations, Database Design and Programming with SQL, and Programming with PL/SQL. In addition, I teach courses covering database concepts, database analysis, and emerging programming technologies.
Oracle Academy: How do you use Oracle Academy curriculum?
Mike Collins: As an example, we use the Oracle Academy content for teaching Structured Query Language (SQL). At the end of each section on SQL, there's a TryIt/Solve It set of practice questions, for which students use the Oracle APEX software development platform to work out the practice problems before submission for grading in the class.
One of the resources—Solve It with SQL—is a fun workshop where students play the role of a SQL superhero. It's an interactive way to learn and solve a series of crimes through testing SQL terminologies and commands. The platform offers loads of creative ways to get to grips with programming.
Oracle Academy: Are you excited about the new Oracle Academy Cloud Program?
Mike Collins: Yes, I'm excited about getting exposed to the Oracle Cloud in an educational setting. I'm hoping to integrate Oracle Academy Cloud Program resources into our data mining and analytics courses, using, for example, the NoSQL database for very large data sets. It's an area we have not gotten into because we did not have access to a cloud environment. Now we do.
Oracle Academy: Are all your students database majors?
Mike Collins: No. I get students from many other disciplines joining my courses. We've structured the courses so that a student in any other discipline can get a database programming, information technology, or management certificate in just one semester. It's an appealing option for students who are not database majors to take a semester worth of database classes and earn a database certificate.
Oracle Academy: Do you encourage them to pass Oracle professional certification exams?
Mike Collins It's on my to-do list. I will be suggesting that they try for the Oracle Database Foundations Certified Junior Associate certification. It's a challenging test, but the certification certainly makes a difference on a resume when going out into the workforce. The Oracle Academy coursework provides the basic skills to successfully pass the certification exam; but if the need arises, I may put together a super-study course.
I have that certification myself and it might serve as an incentive! What's also nice is the computer-based testing company Pearson VUE allows students to sit for the certification exam at home. Finally, Oracle Academy provides a discount coupon for any Oracle Academy member or their students to attempt the certification exam at a significant discount. I think that will increase the interest in and demand for the certification.
I'm excited about getting exposed to the Oracle Cloud in an educational setting. I'm hoping to integrate Oracle Academy Cloud Program resources into our data mining and analytics courses...
Mike Collins Some graduates transfer to North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina Greensboro, or other four-year institutions. But a significant number go out and get programming and similar entry-level database jobs. Guilford County lies in the Greensboro and Winston-Salem area, and we have lots of medical IT opportunities and several high-tech industrial parks where companies are eager to hire graduates with Oracle database and programming skills.
Further east, the Raleigh-Durham area is extremely popular with technology vendors, also offering plenty of opportunity. Raleigh, our capital, has plenty of IT-related government jobs.
Oracle Academy: How do you stay up to speed with changes in technology?
Mike Collins It's just a matter of checking what's new on the system. Oracle Academy offers a selection of different seminars for educators, and that's a good way to keep one's professional development current. As members, we have access to self-study instruction, workshops, and a range of related resources.
Oracle Academy: What do you enjoy doing outside of database teaching?
Mike Collins Apart from getting to experience new places as a keen traveler, I'm an assistant coach on a Pop Warner football team based out of the Raleigh area. Several times we have been to the national championships at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, and have one national championship and one runner up to our credit.
I am also a competitive racquetball player and have competed in many regional tournaments over the years. And, finally, I enjoy competing in backgammon tournaments when the opportunity presents itself.
Thank you, Professor Mike Collins, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.
We enjoy highlighting Oracle Academy members who make an impact on their communities and students. If you would like to be featured or nominate another member, please contact us.
Source: https://academy.oracle.com/en/about-success-spotlight-mike-collins.html
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