In the meantime, check out the track options, program policies, and schedule prior to submitting your registration request.
Session I: Fridays, September 11 – October 9, 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET
Session II: Fridays, October 16 – November 20, 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET (no class Oct. 23)
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 professional development series introduces IT faculty to CompTIA Cloud+ certification content and prepares instructors to teach vendor-neutral cloud computing concepts in their courses. Participants will explore cloud architecture, security, deployment, and operations while gaining familiarity with the CV0-004 exam objectives and effective teaching strategies for hands-on cloud labs. Faculty will leave equipped to develop curriculum that prepares students for cloud computing careers and industry certification.
NOTE: This track is a repeat of Cloud+ from Spring 2026. Participants who previously completed this course are not eligible to register for this track again.
CompTIA Cloud+ (CVO-004)
Introductory computer and networking knowledge.
None.
CompTIA Cloud+ Guide to Cloud Computing, 3rd Edition by Jill West, MindTap edition, ISBN: 9798214409900.
PC or MAC, fast internet, webcam & microphone.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Stephanie Wascher is an experienced educator and cybersecurity professional with a strong background in computer networking, information security, and instructional technology. She currently serves as the Computer Information Systems Academic Chair and Professor at Rock Valley College, where she leads programs in networking and cybersecurity. With extensive experience in both higher education and high school instruction, she has been instrumental in developing comprehensive curricula and aligning courses with industry standards. Stephanie recently earned her Doctorate in Information Technology, specializing in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity at Capella University.
Hands-on exploration of the skills needed to create, deploy, and manage containers. Attendees learn how microservices architectures differ from monolithic designs, then work through the container lifecycle—from CLI basics and image management to Containerfiles, storage, networking, logging, security, and orchestration. Instruction combines lectures, open-book quizzes, and guided labs. A running boot-camp scenario walks through converting a monolithic Python/Flask application into containerized microservices, applying each new concept at every stage. The track emphasizes container technology and infrastructure operations (not application development inside containers), using Podman as the primary engine with Docker-compatible workflows.
NOTE: This track was delivered in person at NITIC Working Connections in July 2024 (Collin College, Frisco). The core curriculum—microservices concepts, Podman CLI, images, Containerfiles, storage, networking, logging, security, orchestration, and the monolith-to-microservices boot camp—is largely the same. Participants who previously completed this course are not eligible to register for this track again.
Foundational preparation for Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers (EX180) and introductory concepts relevant to Kubernetes certifications (e.g., CKA/CKAD). Also supports Linux and container skills useful for Docker-related credentials and Red Hat OpenShift learning paths.
By the end of this track, participants will be able to:
Basic familiarity with the Linux command line. Attendees should be comfortable opening a terminal, navigating directories, and editing text files. Prior exposure to networking concepts (IP addresses, ports, DNS) is helpful but not required. No prior container, microservices, or IDE remote-development experience is assumed—Visual Studio Code/Cursor and SSH basics are taught on Day 1.
Containers and MicroServices by Professor Juan Medina (provided as a PDF by the instructor).
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Juan Medina — Adjunct Professor at Collin College (since 2019); Ansible Specialist Adoption Architect at Red Hat. Computer Systems Engineer with certifications in Linux, Ansible, Containers, AIX, Solaris, and PMP. Former Infrastructure Architect at IBM, Linux/Unix Sr. Advisor at DELL, and Sr. Linux/Unix System Administrator at Perot Systems. Daily work spans Ansible, Linux, Kubernetes, containers, Python, OpenShift, cloud computing, and automation.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmedinar/
This hands-on seminar provides college instructors with the pedagogical and technical framework necessary to teach full-stack web development using Python. Over five intensive sessions, participants will build a functional web application from the ground up, utilizing Flask for routing and Peewee for data modeling to demystify the core mechanics of the HTTP request-response cycle and database persistence. By blending live-coding exercises with discussions on instructional scaffolding and common student misconceptions, this course empowers educators to translate professional development practices into effective, project-based classroom experiences, ensuring they return to their institutions with both a robust technical foundation and a refined strategy for teaching modern web architecture.
N/A.
To ensure all participants feel prepared, resources will be provided one month prior to the start of the seminar to help bridge any gaps in prerequisite knowledge, as we are committed to making this course accessible to the widest possible audience of educators.
N/A.
Flask Web Development with Python (ISBN: 979-8199160155)
To successfully complete this course, you will need a reliable laptop or desktop computer. Please ensure your machine meets the following criteria:
Important Note: Tablets (like iPads or Android tablets) and Chromebooks are generally not sufficient for this course, as they typically restrict the ability to install local development software and manage system-level configurations.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Dr. Matt Green is the program lead for the Web and Software program and has been an instructor at Waukesha County Technical College for 17 years. He specializes in web development, Python, Microsoft stack, AI Literacy, AI Ethics, software architecture, business process engineering, and automation with scripts. Before his academic career, he worked as a software developer, project coordinator, and data conversions analyst, followed by a decade of organizational development management in the banking IT segment.
At WCTC, Dr. Green serves as the instructor for the global IT experience. Additionally, he teaches Python at an all-men’s high school and provides media development instruction to a team in Bangladesh.
Dr. Green holds a Doctorate in Ministry with a focus in Education from Northwind Theological Seminary, a Master’s in Educational Technology and Curriculum, and an undergraduate degree in Business and Math Computing from Eastern Illinois University. He has also completed a post-graduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Marquette University.
This professional development course provides faculty with practical strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into cybersecurity instruction within the next 12 months. Participants will examine how AI is changing cybersecurity work, explore the risks associated with AI-enabled systems, and evaluate tools that can enhance student learning while keeping cybersecurity and technology programs aligned with evolving threats and workforce demands.
Participants will work with local large language models using Ollama, retrieval-augmented generation and research platforms, AI-assisted cybersecurity tools, and secure coding assistants. These technologies will be used alongside established cybersecurity frameworks, defensive tools, vulnerability-assessment methods, and instructional design practices.
The course is organized around a continuing scenario involving a fictional technical college responding to AI-related instructional and cybersecurity challenges. Across five intensive Friday afternoon sessions, participants will complete guided demonstrations, controlled cyber-range labs, instructor-provided scenario injects, curriculum-development activities, and peer reviews. Each participant will redesign an existing instructional activity and develop a practical 12-month implementation roadmap for their home institution.
The course addresses three connected areas of practice:
Commercial platforms may be demonstrated, but the course emphasizes transferable capabilities rather than dependence on a particular vendor. Core activities will include local, open, preserved-output, or institutionally approved alternatives whenever possible.
NOTE: This track is a repeat from Summer 2026 in Ohio. Participants who previously completed this course are not eligible to register for this track again.
N/A.
None.
None. Current standards, frameworks, advisories, documentation, and instructor-provided resources will be used instead of a fixed textbook.
The primary virtual appliance will target supported x86-64 virtualization environments. Participants using Apple Silicon or another ARM64 system will receive an architecture-appropriate appliance, container-based alternative, or hosted environment designed to provide equivalent lab outcomes.
If you do not have access to a machine that can run a VM in VirtualBox, reach out to the instructor to ensure you have access to a cloud-provisioned environment.
Participants using institution-managed computers should verify software-installation, virtualization, and network-access permissions before the course begins.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Dr. Frazier Smith brings a unique combination of technical expertise and educational leadership to the field of information technology and artificial intelligence education. His research centers on the application of artificial intelligence in career development programs and evaluating the effectiveness of post-secondary career and technical education programs in preparing students for industry.
With over a decade of experience spanning corporate technical training and higher education, including leadership roles at VMware and Broadcom, Dr. Smith has developed expertise in curriculum design, workforce development, and educational technology. His technical foundation spans cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), virtualization technologies, cybersecurity, and network architecture, complemented by hands-on experience in data center design and systems administration.
As co-Principal Investigator on an NSF grant focused on “Generating Artificial Intelligence Talent” and a key contributor to developing one of the first associate-degree AI programs in North Carolina, he works at the crossroads of AI innovation and workforce readiness. His doctoral research and practical experience position him to address critical questions about how post-secondary institutions can best prepare students for careers in diverse technology fields.
This track introduces community college faculty to braided AI: an approach that weaves AI literacy and use directly into existing, discipline-specific courses rather than isolating it in a new standalone AI elective. Across five sessions, participants protect the fundamental skills their courses already teach while identifying concrete, discipline-appropriate places to bring AI into assignments, pedagogy, and critical inquiry. The track is discipline-agnostic and welcomes faculty from STEM; humanities and social sciences; and CTE/allied health fields. Participants leave with a complete, classroom-ready braided course module and present it in a closing capstone showcase.
Not applicable. This track does not map to an external certification; it produces a portfolio deliverable (a complete braided course module ready for classroom use) rather than certification credit.
None. Open to faculty in any discipline and at any level of prior AI experience. Participants should bring one existing course syllabus or assignment they are willing to redesign during the track. No prior AI experience required; open to faculty at any stage of AI adoption. Faculty should be comfortable with standard classroom/course design work.
None.
None.
Reliable internet connection; laptop or desktop computer with webcam and microphone; a modern web browser; free or institutional access to a general-purpose AI chatbot; a Google account (or equivalent) for shared documents and collaborative editing during breakout work.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Nancy Miller is an award-winning IT professor, AI-powered teaching leader, and Cisco Networking expert with over 25 years of experience in network management, cybersecurity, and instructional design. A national presenter and certified AI educator, she specializes in helping colleges integrate modern tools like Microsoft PowerApps to streamline workflows, enhance student engagement, and build career-ready skills. Nancy’s work spans AI literacy, automation, and hands-on IT curriculum design, empowering faculty and students across North Carolina and beyond. Her workshops blend real-world practice with practical innovation, giving participants the confidence to design smarter, more efficient learning and administrative solutions.
Agentic AI is powering large-scale changes in the software development industry, and our students need to keep pace with the ever-changing workforce demands. Tools such as Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex power newfound velocity, but employers require more from their software development processes than mere vibe coding. This course introduces coding with agentic AI tools, demonstrates usage of Claude Code and Codex, walks through common software engineering approaches that can help ensure high-quality work, and demonstrates a range of classroom integrations for programming classes.
N/A.
While knowing a programming language such as Python is helpful, the course can be completed by participants from a broad range of technical backgrounds.
None.
N/A.
Webex, ability to install/configure basic software, and stable connectivity.
Subscription Requirement: Participants will need subscriptions to Anthropic Claude Code and OpenAI Codex (currently about $20/month each). At the end of the course, participants who meet the attendance requirements may submit a receipt for reimbursement of up to two months of each subscription for a one time payment (up to $80 total, excluding tax). NITIC cannot pay for subscriptions in advance and cannot reimburse sales tax. Any cancellations, renewals, or charges beyond the reimbursable period will be the participant’s responsibility. Setup instructions will be provided to accepted participants before the course begins.
Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.
Adam Richardson is a full-time Professor within the information technologies and computer science programs at Lansing Community College (LCC). Adam worked full-time in the IT industry for 16 years prior to transitioning to the academic world and possesses a Master of Information Technology degree from Virginia Tech that focused on software engineering and machine learning. Adam has earned over thirty technical certifications from CompTIA, AWS, Intel, Nvidia, IBM, and Stanford University. Adam currently teaches a broad range of courses at LCC, including introductory Python, AI/machine learning, cloud computing through AWS Academy, introductory computer science, and electronics. He currently acts as the advisor for the LCC Artificial Intelligence Club, and he is an elected senator to LCC’s Academic Senate who also serves on LCC’s Curriculum Committee. He serves as part of NITIC’s technology team focused on data analytics. Additionally, Adam consults through work in his company Adam on AI, LLC.
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