Project Profile

Comprehensive Information Technology Education in Rural Appalachia (CITERA) emphasizes career and educational pathways and provides information technology (IT) skills and knowledge to North Central West Virginia 7th through 9th grade educators and students. CITERA seeks to meet the current need for technology workers in the United States by introducing students to IT concepts and careers at an early age through workshops and student IT-STEM modules. The CITERA team members are: the Institute for Scientific Research, Inc., Fairmont State College, the EdVenture Group, Inc., and nine school districts of North Central West Virginia. CITERA targets 7th through 9th grade teachers, students, and guidance counselors. Science and mathematics teachers participate in a two-week professional development workshop during the summer in which they develop IT-STEM-based modules. The teachers also participate in a one-week student laboratory experience for students immediately following the professional development workshop. Guidance counselors participate in the first two days of the teacher workshop and in follow-up activities during the school year, when project, education, and career information is covered.