
The last day to register is this Friday, August 29th at 11:59 PM! Please read over the program policies and track information before submitting your registration request.
The last day to register is this Friday, August 29th at 11:59 PM! Please read over the program policies and track information before submitting your registration request.
The goal of the National IT Innovation Center’s (NITIC) Working Connections professional development is to equip IT faculty at two-year institutions of higher education with the expertise needed to teach their track content in a subsequent semester. This ensures that the most current information reaches their classrooms, either as a stand-alone course or as supplemental material to an existing course.
This hands-on training series introduces community college faculty to the core concepts of artificial intelligence using Microsoft’s Azure AI Fundamentals curriculum. Participants will explore responsible AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision—while gaining practical experience with Azure tools. Ideal for instructors seeking to integrate AI into their courses or prepare students for industry-recognized credentials, this track offers foundational skills and resources tailored for teaching in diverse classrooms.
Some Azure experience preferred.
None.
Laptop or PC. Webcam, dual monitors, speakers are highly recommended. A stable, reliable internet connection is needed.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Doug Hampton is currently an Associate Professor and Chair in the Information Technology Academics department at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in information technology, as well as a master’s in education. Doug is also pursuing a Doctorate in Instructional Design. In addition to his academic qualifications, he holds multiple certifications from industry leaders such as Microsoft, CompTIA, LPI, AWS, and Cisco.
Before his time at Sinclair, Doug began his educational career at a university, serving in a progression of roles from Instructor to Senior Director of Information Technology Academic Programs, spanning over ten years. He then advanced to a position as Program Coordinator at a community college in Kentucky, where he contributed for five years. In addition to his academic roles, Doug has gained practical experience as a Database Administrator and Network/Systems Administrator, furthering his expertise in the field of Information Technology.
Kyle Jones is the Assistant Dean of Technology, Grants, and External Partnerships, Professor, and AI Fellow at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. With nearly a decade of experience as Chair of the Information Technology Department, Kyle has led transformative initiatives in computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity education.
He has served as a co-Principal Investigator for many NSF awards, including the National Information Technology Innovation Center (NITIC). His work spans international cybersecurity collaborations, including those with the U.S. Embassy in Israel and Portugal, developing faculty externships that connect educators with industry, and national efforts to modernize cybersecurity and IT/OT education.
At Sinclair, Kyle leads AI education initiatives, including the AI Faculty Fellows program, the development of new cloud AI and business AI curricula, and institution-wide efforts to identify and integrate AI tools. He also co-leads workshops at Sinclair, such as “Artificial Intelligence for Educators,” supported by the NSF and NCyTE, which help faculty adopt AI into teaching and learning.
Kyle also recently presented at the CyAD Conference, focused on cross-disciplinary collaboration between manufacturing, IoT, and cybersecurity. His leadership extends into workforce development, where he partners with industry to address talent needs in IT, cloud, and data center technologies.
Beyond his administrative and grant leadership, Kyle is a dedicated educator, musician, and speaker. He regularly teaches and presents on AI, cybersecurity, and workforce transformation, emphasizing hands-on innovation, business impact, and preparing students for in-demand careers.
Develop the basic skills for administering servers in on-prem, virtualized, and cloud environments. Lab demonstrations will presented via VirtualBox – alternatives include VMWare, HyperV, and Parallels.
None (some basic computer and networking experience is recommended).
TBA.
Kinnaird, E., Fundamentals of Server Administration. Jones & Bartlett Learning. (2025)
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Chris Kinnaird is an Associate Professor, Senior in the School of Engineering and Technology at Miami Dade College in Miami, Fl. He has served as a faculty member there since 2005 and teaches subjects including networking, Linux, Cisco, and cybersecurity for the certificate, associate and bachelor’s degree programs. He holds industry certifications including CISSP, CompTIA Network+, Linux+, Security+ and EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker. He also serves on the college’s Business and Industry Leadership Team and is the convener of the school’s Cybersecurity Discipline Committee. Prof. Kinnaird recently presented at Hi-Tec and also has worked as a reviewer and technical editor for numerous academic textbooks and digital learning resources. He is the author of Fundamentals of Server Administration, published By Jones & Bartlett Learning.
In this track, you will gain the knowledge and skills to understand, teach, and effectively use Generative AI in the classroom. Participants will explore how generative models work, understand prompt engineering techniques, and create practical teaching resources using AI tools. Each session blends foundational learning with hands-on applications, case studies, and classroom-ready strategies. Participants will complete hands-on projects between sessions, bringing real classroom applications to share and refine with colleagues.
NOTE: This track will be a repeat of content provided in “Using Generative AI Tools with Prompt Design for Classrooms “ (Summer Working Connections, July 2024), “Using Generative AI Tools with Prompt Design for Classrooms” (Winter Working Connections, December 2024) and “AI and Data Science with Python” (Spring Working Connections, March-April 2025). Participants who previously completed either of these courses are not eligible to register for this track again.
None.
None.
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick 978-0593716717
Laptop or PC. Webcam, dual monitors, speakers are highly recommended. A stable, reliable internet connection is needed.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Wade Huber is a residential computer science faculty member at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, where he recently served on the committee developing CGCC’s Artificial Intelligence bachelor’s degree. He has over 25 years of experience as a software engineer in the telecom, semiconductor, and medical device manufacturing industries, where he applied AI techniques to solve real-world problems. During this time, he also taught math and computer science as an adjunct professor. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, and a Master of Science in Computer Science from The University of Texas at Dallas. Wade has been actively integrating AI concepts into his classroom for over four years, focusing on responsible use, student engagement, and practical applications.
The Industrial Control Systems (ICS) for IT Educators course is designed to bridge the gap between operational technology and information technology. This class provides IT instructors with foundational knowledge of PLCs (programmable logic controllers), focusing on their role in manufacturing, cybersecurity implications, and integration with modern networked systems. PLC simulators to be discussed: Wireshark, Nmap, LogixPro, CODESYS, Node-Red, Open PLC, PLC Fiddle, Factory I/O, MBlogic, ScadaBr, PLC Ladder Simulator, and various distros of Linux.
Familiarity with the networking/scripting and/or programming side of IT. (Note: The type of programming will be PLC ICS based Boolean and we will cover the foundations of this on the first day.)
None.
Laptop or PC. Webcam, dual monitors, speakers are highly recommended. A stable, reliable internet connection is needed.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Rodney Cobb is the Program Coordinator for Mission Critical Operations at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina. He instructs courses in Mission Critical Operations, Industrial Systems, Facility Maintenance, Automation Engineering, IT and Cyber Security, encompassing both Operation Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) tracks. With over 25 years of experience, Rodney has a diverse background in critical manufacturing, IT, data centers, and cybersecurity. He possesses expertise in electrical and mechanical systems, robotics, PLCs, and engineering. Rodney holds an AA and an Associate in General Ed from Cleveland Community College, an AAS in Computer Programming from Limestone College, a BS in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity from Limestone College, and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland University College.
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