Selby College Computing & Digital Newsletter Autumn 2024

Department Newsletter

Autumn I 2024

Welcome

Greetings from Selby College’s Digital Industries & Computing Department!

I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter, an exciting new publication designed to keep you informed and engaged with the latest happenings, developments and opportunities in our amazing department.

I am continually inspired by the passion and innovation that our students and staff bring to the world of digital industries and computing. This newsletter is our way of sharing that inspiration with you.

This newsletter will bring you the latest news from our department, keeping you up-to-date with current trends, technological advancements and departmental achievements.

We also believe in the power of real stories to inspire and guide. That’s why we will be featuring student case studies, showcasing the journeys, challenges and successes of our students. These stories not only highlight the real-world application of our courses but also serve as a testament to the supportive and innovative environment that Selby College offers.

Rob Charlish Head of Computing & Digital Industries

Barlby High School Pupils Dive into Future Technologies with Cutting-Edge IT Lab Experience at Selby College

Pupils from Barlby High School recently had the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a cutting-edge IT laboratory, as part of a network taster session at Selby College.

This enabled the students to learn how to establish their own networks using industrystandard apparatus within the College’s newly-established Information Technology (IT) laboratory.

Furthermore, they delved into the various types of networks and their functionalities, as well as how to configure their own networks, including both wireless and wired connections, to gain a basic understanding of Internet Protocol (IP) addressing.

Sarah Osborne, Subject Lead for Computing at Barlby High School, said: “Our students thoroughly enjoyed the networking session at Selby College and seized the opportunity to utilise such advanced equipment that is employed within the industry. The session was not only enjoyable and engaging but also highly informative, shedding light on the diverse opportunities and roles available within the fields of Computing and IT. We are keen to arrange another visit to the laboratory with our students in the near future.”

Following an investment exceeding £150,000, the laboratory is equipped with a variety of hardware and networking equipment to emulate a business network setting, enabling learners to experience aspects of hardware, networking and security.

Students also have the chance to use and configure the most recent Intel PCs, enterpriselevel HP servers, Layer 2 and 3 switches, and graphics cards.

Over £65,000 of this investment was secured through the Department for Education’s T Level funding, as the College launched its new Digital Support Services T Level in September 2023.

The Computing and IT sector is rapidly expanding and presents an attractive career path, driven by continual technological advancements across various sectors. Our aim was to ensure our students could learn using industrystandard equipment, preparing them for successful careers within the industry. Our brand-new IT laboratory is facilitating exactly this, offering our students and pupils from local schools invaluable experience in working with real-world computer networks and cyber security scenarios.”

- Rob Charlish, Head of Curriculum for Computing & Digital Industries at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.

Fun Facts!

Humble

Beginnings:

The first computer mouse wasn’t made of high-tech materials, but carved out of wood! Invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964.

Early Bird Gets the Worm:

Believe it or not, email predates the World Wide Web! Email was invented in the 1960s, while the Web came along decades later in the 1980s.

Garage Dreams:

Many tech giants started small. Hewlett-Packard, a cornerstone of the tech industry, was founded in a garage by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in 1939.

Most of the Money is Digital:

Cash may seem king, but over 90% of the world’s currency actually exists as digital data! This means the money in your bank account and most financial transactions happen electronically.

Water Powered Computing:

The first computer built in the Soviet Union in 1936 used water! A mechanical computer, called the Lukyanov machine, solved complex equations using a system of water-filled tubes.

Hear from our Students

Juliet

I particularly liked the programming side of the course and found that it challenged me and pushed me to do my best.

The level of support I received was great and there was always somewhere we could go and somebody I could speak to when I needed support.

What I’ve learned about programming, assignments and essay-style writing will be invaluable in my degree.

Juliet is now studying Computer Science at the University of York

Beck

There are so many different avenues which you can go down with the course. My time at Selby College has allowed me to explore my creative side and discover my passion of character 3D modelling.

Beck progressed onto a BSc (Hons) in Applied Computing at Selby College, part of the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

Your Future Career

The digital and computing industry offers many career paths and progression routes.

You can study with us right through to degree-level, but you could also aim for the following careers:

• IT Manager

• IT Security Specialist

• Mobile App Developer

• Network Architect

• Robotics Engineer

• Video Game Designer

• Web Developer

Work with Industry Leaders

As a Digital Industries student, you will have the opportunity to undertake work experience during your course. Our students have gained experience working with some of most innovative companies across the

computing industry, including Arm Technology, National Grid, Creative Shed, Arc Computer Solutions, Clipper Logistics and Tender Essence.

Learning From the Best

We also regularly invite guest speakers to deliver talks to our students, with them most recently participating in a Cyber Security workshop delivered by Aminu Usman and Dr Yang, from the Computer & Data

Science School at York St John University, about cybersecurity, cyberthreats and cybercrimes.

OPEN EVENTS

FIND OUT

SATURDAY 19th OCTOBER 10am-12pm MONDAY 10th FEBRUARY 5pm-7pm

WEDNESDAY 20th NOVEMBER 5pm-7pm WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE 5pm-7pm