How to Launch Your Teen's Career in Technology: A Parent's Guide To The T In STEM Education

by Charles Eaton, Todd Thibodeaux (Foreword)

The book, "How to Launch Your Teen's Career in A Parent's Guide to the T in STEM Education," is part of CompTIA's NextUp initiative to interest teens in tech careers. NextUp is funded by CompTIA and managed by Creating IT Futures. Charles Eaton's "T in STEM" guide provides parents of tweens and teenagers - from middle school through high school- with an insider's view of today's tech careers and reveals a vibrant, diverse industry bursting with opportunities that are easier for eager students to seize than many may imagine. Eaton provides parents and other readers with practical counsel and resources in the "T in STEM" • Defining the role of a "technologist" in varied businesses and industries at companies large and small around the globe. • Busting seven common myths about technology careers, such as "Technology is all about coding and math" and "To work in technology, you need a four-year college degree." • Scoping the level and depth of opportunity in the tech-related job market, an industry with more than half a million open positions in the U.S. at any given time. • Providing pointers for recognizing traits in young students that suggest they will succeed in technology careers. • Identifying "educational pathways", such as makerspaces and boot camps, that motivated parents can place their tweens and teens on today that will prepare them for tomorrow - and deliver some fun and entertainment in the meantime. • Introducing readers to an array of diverse people working as technologists today, who followed a variety of paths to success.

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2017

About the author

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Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for both educators and parents who are looking to guide their children in their pursuit of a career in a tech field. It’s filled with real information, facts, statistics, and first-hand accounts that help the reader give the reader an honest opinion about what to expect in a tech job. It also has a section that helps bust the myths surrounding those jobs. It isn’t solely focused on kids who excel at math and science but offers career paths for all students. One of my favorite things about this books was the profiles of professionals that give a primary account of their jobs. It gives the reader an idea of the paths that are available and gives you an idea of how diverse the tech population can be. I think this book would be helpful to any parents interested in helping their child in following a tech career path. It would also be beneficial to guidance counselors and librarians who are helping in the same respect.

[Brian Sonnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who it’s for: Parents, Guardians, and anyone interested in helping teens succeed in our changing world. This book is a step-by-step guide for parents to help teen’s understand the need to broaden their definition of technology.

Readability: HIGH! At 96 pages, this book is not overly complicated, erudite or obtuse. In plain English the author efficiently guides the reader to the understanding that there is more to technology than just computer programming and hardware. This book is also very entertaining to read with excerpts from professionals in the technology fields and firsthand accounts of the need for a better understanding of technology related fields.

What I liked about it: I loved the fact that this book backed up its assertions with data that highlights the need for jobs that are outside of the “doctor or lawyer” paradigm. This book addresses the fact that currently we have a shortfall in the United States of talented people who can do jobs that are in high demand related to STEM careers. This book also makes a point to point out that STEM jobs are not just for White males or Asians, emphasizing a need for diversity in STEM careers.

What I did not like about it: The only thing that I would have changed about this book would be to have more of it. It was great to read about those in Technology fields and I liked the fact that the author included a healthy distribution of individuals, but I would have loved to hear more from those that he interviewed for the book. I really enjoy firsthand accounts of industry, so for me more stories would have been great. Overall, I think this is a great book!

[Michelle]

I loved reading this book because it is packed with insightful information about technology careers and pathways to becoming a technologist. This book demystifies IT careers and inspires anyone with an interest in developing technology skills to believe they can be a technologist regardless of their race, gender or background. This is a great resource for parents who want to expose their kids to careers in technology and answers questions about STEM jobs. I enjoyed reading the personal accounts from people who became IT experts, Myths and Facts about the IT world and various career pathways, some unconventional that can lead to very rewarding and financially lucrative jobs.