P-TECH at Watervliet Weekly Update
February 1, 2019
Guest Speakers: WB Games
What do video games such as Mortal Kombat X, Injustice, Mad Max and Shadow of War have in common? Parts of the technology for them was created in Troy.
On Wednesday, representatives of WB Games New York, which worked on those popular games and dozens of others, gave students in the Capital Region BOCES Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program East Campus an inside view on how to end up in a career designing and making video games.
Elliott Haase, an executive producer for WB Games and Brett McNeff, an assistant producer, detailed how they ended up in their positions as well as what WB Games – which is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers – does for the gaming world.
“When you go into the online menu of Injustice 2 and check your stats, that’s you connecting with our servers and accessing our data,” said Haase, who described how WB creates the tools that allow gamers to challenger others of similar skill levels and to track their own online stats.
Haase and McNeff also spoke about the different coding languages that they and their coworkers use, which includes Python and HTML/CSS. These are all languages that P-TECH students will be working with as they learn how to design websites and video games.
Thank you to Mr. Haase and Mr. McNeff for taking the time visit P-TECH and share their stories!
Students learn the keys to coding as they design a bright future through P-TECH
Students in the Capital Region BOCES Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) East Campus in Watervliet are learning how to create computer code in a project that will eventually give them the tools to create their own websites.
The project launched recently with teacher Matt Battisti explaining the process behind bringing to life a website. Students in this instance are creating a site to house genetic profiles as part of their Identity Project.
With coding considered one of the most in-demand skills in technology according to industry publication Network World, the students are being given a head-start on creating a portfolio of work skills that will make them extremely employable when they graduate.
“It’s cool because I am learning how to make a website. This is information I am going to need to know to accomplish my career goal of designing video games,” said Watervliet freshman Phoenix Tobin.
Fellow Watervliet freshman Teaghan Rockenstire also sees the “grand picture” when looking at the blackened computer screen with various characters and commands on it.
“I want to one day own my own business and now a days you need to have a website if you are going to succeed in doing that,” she said.
For aspiring R&B and Hip Hop musician Sha-Quan Jenkins, the computer coding lesson hits all the right notes.
“I like that we are learning how to make a website because that can be useful to help market yourself and get your music out there,” he said. “I want to use these skills to market my music and help me prepare it.”
Identity Projects
This week in science we learned about the impact of our DNA code on our characteristics. Students created protein key chains in which each bead represented a different amino acid. We also delved into mutations and the damage that they can cause for our bodies.
With their Naviance time, students continued to use information from their interest profile survey and the career awareness activities that they have participated in to complete their career exploration project.
In English, students began working on their personal narratives. To go along with our unit theme identity, students have been asked to focus on an event, personal quality or factor of life that they feel has impacted or shaped them into who they are today. Throughout the week students worked on a variety of brainstorming activities and began their rough draft. We're looking forward to the outcome!
New P-TECH Course
During the second half of the year, P-TECH students will be able to complete the 0.5 credit, HS graduation requirement, Participation in Government. This course, often called “PIG” or “Government” is a social studies class and is typically taken during a student’s senior year. By taking and passing the course this year, P-TECH students will have room for an additional college course during their 12th grade year.
The PIG class started this week and students discussed what government is and why we need it. They also explored the recent government shutdown, how it has affected the country, and what's happening now that the government is back open.
Future Ready Framework
P - Personal Accountability
T - Technology Leadership
E - Empowerment
C - Collaboration
H - Humanitarianism
The norms and expectations of the P-TECH program are based on these skills. Student progress in these areas will be noted on their report cards. We are looking forward to seeing students grow in each of these areas throughout the program.
Humanitarianism
Multi-Talented Students
Important Upcoming Dates
- February 18-22: No School
- March 1: Regional Food Bank Field Trip
P-TECH Contact Information
To contact P-TECH staff, please use the email addresses below, or call (518)629-3331. Please note that this line is not always accessible to our staff. If it is an emergency, or you need immediate assistance, please call the Watervliet Jr./Sr. HS main line at (518)629-3300.
Kurt Redman – P-TECH Principal kurt.redman@neric.org
Tim Honsinger – P-TECH Guidance Counselor tim.honsinger@neric.org
Dharini Adhvaryu – P-TECH Science Teacher (Living Environment) dharini.adhvaryu@neric.org
Kirsten Dunn – P-TECH English Teacher kirsten.dunn@neric.org
Matt Battisti – P-TECH Math Teacher (Algebra) matthew.battisti@neric.org
Kate Burke - P-TECH Social Studies Teacher katherine.burke@neric.org