Fanshawe gets into gaming

As years progress, technology will only evolve.

“Our (Fanshawe) graduates will be very much in demand as they enter the workforce,” said Kevin Weaver, Chair of Fanshawe's School of Information Technology. “There will always be a high demand and need for technology jobs.”

In response to the current technology demands, Fanshawer is introducing three new graduate certificate programs in its School of Information Technology and School of Contemporary Media, as was announced at the introduction of Tech Week on March 30.

Information Security Management, 3D Animation and Character Design, and Game Development-Advanced Programming are new courses that will run for a period of eight months each coming Fall of 2009 and fall of 2010.

According to Weaver, the newly introduced programs at Fanshawe will add to the already diverse programs that are offered at the post-secondary institution.

Information Security Management key focus is for students to focus on businesses and organizations as they build safeguards in order to better protect sensitive data and a customer's personal information. Students enrolled in this course will also learn how to prepare both the strategic and operational aspects of all information security.

3D Animation and Character Design will provide successfully enrolled students with advanced training in digital animation, which will include life drawing and storyboarding, 3D modeling, and animation. Shaders, texture mapping and lighting, character design, video editing and also audio effects. Graduates of this program will be more than equipped to be able to work in the film and gaming industries in their futures.

Game Development-Advanced Programming will have students focus on unique aspects of video development: graphic effects, animation systems, artificial intelligence, physical modeling, sound and scripting systems. The students enrolled in this course can expect to work with current and custom game engines and components.

Weaver said in an interview, he wishes that students take advantage of this amazing opportunity and be part of the new courses available come this fall.

Weaver suggested, students should not only look at the courses as having a student sitting at a desk in front of a computer. It is much more interactive than that.

Marilyn Sinclair, CEO of Tech Alliance in London, Ontario admitted at the Tech Week event on March 30 that Fanshawe has a key standing business commitment to the London community and will continue to do so in the future.

According to the October 2008 Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) report, Ontario will need between 61,780 and 85,972 technology workers between now and 2015.

The report also stated that Fanshawe's new courses starting the fall of 2009 would give students who have already earned degrees or diplomas a chance to develop highly specialized tech skills, making graduates of these newly introduced courses highly sought after by employers in the tech sectors.

Weaver added there is still not enough female to male ratio in existing I.T. courses and is optimistic the numbers will even out in the future.

Girl Rock Information Technology (I.T) is an all girl event-taking place at Fanshawe College on May 8, 2009. The grade seven and eight girls attending the event will have the chance to meet successful women in exciting I.T careers and also learn how I.T works.

There will be numerous workshops that will engage girls' minds where they will learn about various software and web languages.

Girls planning on attending the second annual event should register by no later than April 31, 2009. First come first serve basis for the first 200 girls.

For further contest and event details feel free to contact Karen MacIntyre at girlsrockit@fanshawec.ca