AUGUSTA, G.A. (WFXG) - AT THE GEORGIA CYBER CENTER, COLLABORATION IS IMPORTANT. it's MAKERSPACE IS BRINGING STUDENTS FROM AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY’S, SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND CYBER SCIENCES TOGETHER TO EXPAND THEIR MAKING SKILlS.

AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY STUDENT, JOSHUA ALEY, WAS DRAWN TO THE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE OF IT’S UNIQUE CYBER OPPORTUNITIES. “I’VE WORKED PART-TIME IN OTHER JOBS WHERE IT WAS JUST I.T. WORK, BUT THIS HANDS ON STUFF, IT’S REALLY AWESOME," SAYS ALEY. "IT’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU CAN’T DO AT HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO COMPARE IT TO...IT’S INTERESTING, IT’S FUN, IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO.” HE IS A MEMBER OF JAGBYTE, A LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY FOR FRESHMEN, IN THE SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND CYBER SCIENCES, DESIGNED TO HELP THEM GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR DEGREE.

JAGBYTE STUDENTS RECENTLY CAME TOGETHER AT THE GARAGE, THE GEORGIA CYBER CENTER’S MAKERSPACE, FOR A SOLDERING WORKSHOP. ALSO IN ATTENDANCE, THE CYBETRONICS MAKER’S CLUB, AN ORGANIZATION FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN GETTING HANDS ON CYBER EXPERIENCE.

THE WORKSHOP, LED BY MAKERSPACE SPECIALIST, LUKE STEEL, TOOK PARTICIPANTS THROUGH ASSEMBLING A CIRCUIT ON A PURPOSE-BUILT PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD. STEEL SAYS THEY LEARN THROUGH DOING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT IS QUICK BECAUSE THEY GET A FEEL FOR IT AS THEY GO. “I WANT TO CREATE A CULTURE OF MAKING AND A CULTURE OF KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN AMENITY AND SOMETHING AT THEIR DISPOSAL, NOT ONLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS BUT, ALSO JUST FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO IT.”

CYBER CAREER SUCCESS COORDINATOR, WENNIE SQUIRES, SAYs THIS GIVES THEM A SKILL THEY CAN TAKE INTO OTHER PROJECTS AND IS A VALUE ADD TO EMPLOYERS. “WE ENCOURAGE A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE, WHETHER IT’S IN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNSHIPS, says squires. “WE ALWAYS WANT THEM TO GET INVOLVED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM TO REALLY SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO USE THEIR DEGREES, TO GET INVOLVED, TO MEET PEOPLE, THAT’S THE BEST WAY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FIELD SO THAT WHEN THEY GRADUATE THEY HAVE SOME TOOLS AND SOME KNOWLEDGE TO USE WHEN THEY GO OUT INTO THE WORKFORCE.”

IN ADDITION TO ADDING ANOTHER HARD SKILL TO THEIR TOOL BELT, eaCH PARTICIPANT GOT TO WALK AWAY WITH A LIGHT-UP GEORGIA CYBER CENTER KEYCHAIN THAT THEY BUILT THEMSELVES.

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