Education is changing as the world does, too. It’s not just undergrad and then grad or trade school. Here are more ideas from the Ask a Tech Teacher team of what’s available:

Opportunities Driving Broader Educational Reach for Students Today

Education today isn’t locked into classrooms or bound by rigid schedules. Students can build their learning around their lives instead of the other way around. Whether it’s joining an online program, traveling for a short-term study experience, or tapping into free materials, the doors are wide open.

What’s changed the most is the range of choices available. Students can learn from international experts without leaving home, explore career-focused programs that fit into part-time hours, or find specialized courses that match their personal goals. The variety means each learning path can look completely different, shaped around what works best for the individual. (more…)

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Man in the Arena,  a speech by Theodore Roosevelt

 You didn’t even know the US Naval Academy existed until your brother decided to attend a Service Academy Night at the School District. He’s a year younger and a passionate student of military history. Mom joined him and when they returned, pronounced, “It’s you.”

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From Shifts to Success: How Nurses Can Keep Learning Without Burnout

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Nursing is one of the most demanding careers. The hours are long, the work is intense, and the responsibilities are never-ending. Yet, many nurses know that professional growth is just as important as patient care. Whether aiming for leadership roles, higher pay, or specialized expertise, continuing education opens doors. The challenge is finding balance. How can nurses keep learning without adding stress or risking burnout?

In this article, nurses can find some smart strategies that can help them advance their careers without compromising their well-being. (more…)

The K-8 education journey is tame compared to post-graduate school. Managing the years required to obtain a Masters and in this case, a Doctors, can be daunting enough to frighten off the most committed of students. The Ask a Tech Teacher team has a quick overview of how to make it less treacherous and more successful:

From Students to Scholars: Navigating the Doctoral Journey in the Digital Age

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Today, employers, universities, and research organizations value candidates who can contribute original thinking and lead projects that solve complex problems. This has created more interest in doctoral programs than ever before, but it has also raised new questions. How do students prepare for such a long academic journey?

The doctoral journey is very different today than it was even twenty years ago. Students now have more ways to access advanced education, but they also face new distractions and pressures. This article takes a closer look at what it means to move from student to scholar in the digital age, and how learners can navigate the path with confidence and preparation. (more…)

The College Interview is intimidating and usually only applies to the Ivy League schools. If you’re considering the US Naval Academy, it’s called a Blue and Gold Interview. They will put you through a rigorous test of thinking on your feet, fast, and without ‘umms’.

Here’s what you should know:

The B&G (Blue and Gold) Interview is one of several opportunities for the Naval Academy to insure they appoint candidates who will make it through the next nine years.

Few colleges invest the time and money in a personal in-home interview. For the Naval Academy, it’s a mandatory step, and an important nod in the approval process. The BGO (Blue and Gold Officer) knows you better than any other person involved in the selection process. His/Her opinion of you will weigh heavily as they review your application. Make sure by the time of this interview, you have developed a good rapport with yours. You chatted with him/her at several Academy Nights, emailed him/her at critical junctures in the application process, and updated him/her on your progress.

Here’s how it went for my daughter:

He arranges a coffee meeting at a local restaurant. You decide to wear khaki pants and a  collared shirt—conservative, respectful, but not a tie-and-jacket-pretentiousness. His questions remind you of those at the Congressional Interview—why do you want to attend the Naval Academy? What will you do if they don’t select you? Nothing tricky. By now, you’ve passed the Naval Academy’s physical test so he commends you on that. His lone suggestion reminds you to continue increasing your SAT scores, currently at 1350. He suggests a review course. Your time restraints make this difficult: Although it’s senior year, you have eight classes (including four APs). You’ve dropped the violin lessons, practice time reserved for Orchestra at school (where you are the Concertmaster) and the Youth Symphony Sunday sessions (where you are 1st violin). You know  yourself. If you overload your schedule, you implode. You’ve learned this from Freshman Year experiences. You do commit to taking advantage of the free Princeton Review SAT course offered at school for IB (International Baccalaureate) applicants.

All in all, a stress-free interview. It ends with you returning home to study Calculus. You send a thank-you note to your BGO, and sign it “Go Navy Beat Army!” You start checking the CIS website to see when it shows up as completed. Not yet, but it’s only been six hours….

–Taken from Building a Midshipman 

This series delves into making the military part of college-career choices. All the links are there but some for future dates:

• 5 Must-do Skills to Accomplish During High School
• 5 Popular Excuses for Not Going to USNA
• 9 Secrets for Getting into a Service Academy
• 11 Ways to Become a Navy Officer and a Gentleman
• Apply for a Military Academy
• Average USNA Candidate
• ASVAB or a Service Academy? You Decide.
• College Bound: Take Inventory
• Didn’t get into a Military Academy? Try NAPS
• Goal Setting for a Fourteen-year-old
• Is a Military Academy Right for You?
• Leadership Traits Found in USNA Midshipmen
• Preparing for the College Interview
• OCS–an option
• STEM at USNA
• Successful USNA Graduates
• What Happens After USNA Graduation
• Why the USNA?
• You’re a Freshman and Interest in USNA
• You’re a Sophomore and Interested in USNA
• You’re a Junior and Interested in USNA
• You’re a Senior and Interested in USNA
• You Know You’re a Plebe if…

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Since 2020, U.S. software developer employment has been declining, with fewer employed in January 2024 compared to January 2018, but those with the appropriate skills experience an eye-popping low unemployment rate of 2% and a median salary of $132,270. You’d think High School and college students would flock to these jobs, but they don’t. The Ask a Tech Teacher team decided to dig deeper into ways to encourage students to consider software engineering to be a realistic job choice:
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How to Inspire High School Students to Pursue a Career in Software Engineering

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Getting high school students excited about software engineering isn’t always easy. The subject sounds complex, the career path feels far away, and most teens have other things on their minds. Let’s explore how to spark interest early, show real-world impact, and give students a clear path from the classroom to a career in tech that actually feels achievable.

Connect Software Engineering to Real-World Impact

For most teens, talking about theory isn’t enough; what grabs them is knowing what builds the apps they use, the games they love, and the real tools behind everyday technology. When students realise software is behind everything from Spotify to Snapchat, it feels less like homework and more like something they already live with.

Once you have their attention, share real-world examples they haven’t thought about. Talk about engineers building tools for disaster relief, climate data, or accessibility tech. These stories show how coding helps people. If they’re serious about it long-term, something like a masters in software engineering online can help them build tools that change lives, not just screens.

And sometimes, the spark comes from seeing tech used in completely unexpected ways. Whether it’s farmers using software to monitor crops or artists using code to generate digital installations, these examples prove that software isn’t just for Silicon Valley, it’s everywhere.

Introduce Practical Skills Through Coding Programs

Letting students code, build, and see something work on screen changes their perspective entirely. Once they get that first small win, like a game that actually runs or a website that responds, they feel capable. That moment sticks with them, as it often does when students start planning early for a tech-focused future.

That feeling leads to questions, like how real developers do it, how bigger systems work, how software runs behind the scenes. Tools like Raspberry Pi, Unity, or basic app builders become stepping stones. If they keep pushing, they’ll eventually want something more serious. That’s where a masters in software engineering starts making sense, it becomes a goal, not just a dream.

Encourage Mentorship and Career Path Visibility

Students often struggle to picture themselves in tech because they rarely meet people who actually work in it. Bringing in mentors, whether recent grads or experienced engineers, makes the idea of a career in software feel a lot more reachable.

That shift matters, as it gives students a face, a voice, and a backstory to connect their own journey to, especially when they wonder if software engineering is still worth it in 2025. Once that connection forms, you have something real to build on. Mentorship helps replace doubt with direction, and that small shift can change everything.

One way to make that connection even stronger is through alumni panels, tech career days, or virtual Q&As with professionals. These moments let students ask honest questions, hear real answers, and picture themselves following a similar path, and with their own twist.

Endnote

Inspiring high school students to pursue software engineering starts by making it feel real. When they can see its impact, it no longer feels out of reach, especially when schools find creative ways to bring more technology into under-resourced classrooms. With the right support, tools, and guidance, students stop asking if they can belong in tech and start planning how.

Copyright ©2025 askatechteacher.com – All rights reserved.

Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:

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“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

Plan Ahead: Set Yourself Up for a Career in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Regardless of where you are in your life or at what stage, if you have a dream that you want to achieve, you can start working toward that immediately. If your dreams include working as an electrical and computer engineer, then you can start at any stage of your education process to set yourself up for success.

This starts with taking useful courses whilst still in high school, so that you have to right credentials to get into the university you like, then it’s getting used to online learning, just in case you want to visit an online university and then understanding the future of what you need beyond a BA undergraduate degree like a masters. So, without further ado, it’s time to jump into this topic.

Pick the Right Subjects and Do Your Research

One of the biggest ways to set yourself up for a hopeful career in electrical and computer engineering is by picking the right subjects while you’re still in high school. This often includes IT classes, science, advanced mathematics and economics or technology, whichever your school offers. This will give you the right foundations on which to build toward a degree in this field.

If you have passed the stage of school and you’re simply interested in this degree, there are many things you can do as well. You can spend some time looking at complementary videos on YouTube, for example, that explain the core elements of computers, mathematics and coding, just so that you can put one foot in front of the other as you continue to learn.

Furthermore, you need to set yourself up for success by doing your research and finding the education that suits your needs best. This will be further outlined below.

Have Online Education Systems Replaced Traditional Lectures?

Online education has certainly become a lot bigger and more significant in the market over the past years. This is something that you should keep in mind when looking for where you want to study, as you can find an electrical and computer engineering online degree that gives you access to excellent information, whilst staying at home and being able to engage from all over the world. Digital learning is its own niche and those who have never done it before may not be aware of all the different benefits and challenges, so keep reading to learn more.

Benefits of Online Learning

One of the biggest benefits of online learning is the fact that you can do it from anywhere in the world. This means that you are not forced to stay in one area or classroom for the three or four years that it takes you to get your degree, allowing for a lot more mobility.

Another benefit is the fact that you can access education from all over the world. This means that if you’re in a remote part of a country, you do not need to leave all you know behind in search of excellent education; you can now easily find it online. This creates a saving as well, as you do not need to relocate in pursuit of education, which was once often the case. Also, you don’t have to spend hours commuting to and from an educational establishment, which is a plus.

Furthermore, you’re able to work at the same time, if you can handle it. By visiting an online course, you can slot the hours you need to study when you have the time. You’re not forced to be present between certain hours, giving you more flexibility in your day to do what you need, such as having a job.

Challenges of Online Learning

As with anything good, there are some drawbacks or challenges that you must consider. One of the biggest is self-efficacy and motivation. You have to have your head screwed on right so that you take the responsibility to learn and do as you need to. You have to manage your time well and constantly motivate yourself because no one else will. In online classrooms, you might have some interaction with fellow classmates and lecturers, however, it’s all through a screen and no one is there in person to push you to finish your essays or assignments. This means that the onus falls on you to complete everything.

The Future of Electrical and Computer Engineering

As with most courses, you start with a BA undergraduate degree. You then move on to your master’s, which is where you can pick between many different specialities. This will allow you to find the niche that you think suits you best. Perhaps you are more inclined toward management, in which case, you could learn more about engineering management as opposed to hands-on engineering if you think that you would do well as a leader.

You can always get in touch with the student and subject advisors of the establishment so that they can give you a better idea of the courses you can take and how you can build your curriculum in a way that suits you best.

Well, as you can see from the above, the world of education is changing. With the introduction of technology, things are moving quickly toward online learning and this development comes with certain benefits and challenges. It’s up to you to navigate them with the tools you have at your disposal so that you can earn that degree you’ve worked so hard toward.

–image credit Deposit Photos

Copyright ©2025 askatechteacher.com – All rights reserved.

Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:

https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm

“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

Military academies offer benefits most high school students and their parents don’t realize:

• the quality of education is comparable to an Ivy League
• they not only provide you with an education, but provide a job when you finish–no job hunting, no rejections,
• they pay you to go to school–that’s right, each of the four years, you are paid more to attend classes and complete the other activities required to graduate
• they are free–no charge for classes, books, room and board; they even pay for your summer school

But they are picky. Applying pits you against a huge pool of highly-qualified applicants. It’s not just about who has the best GPA and SAT scores. Admissions weighs:

• scholastics
• physical
• moral
• personal drive

To gain acceptance requires something different than the usual preparation. Here’s one book to prepare you:

Building a Midshipman

by Jacqui Murray

Available: Amazon

You don’t have to be a miracle-worker to the 10% of applicants accepted to a military academy, but you do need a plan. For the thousands of students who apply every year–and slog through the numbing concatenation of decisions preceding a nomination–there is no greater discouragement than the likely event that they will fail. This, though, is the Board’s peek into an applicant’s moral fiber and an important ingredient to the go/no go decision.

In the words of James Stockdale, USNA ’46 and Medal of Honor Winner: “The test of character is not ‘hanging in there’ when you expect a light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty and persistence of example when you know that no light is coming.”

This is the true story of Maggie Schmidt, an All-American kid who dreamt of attending the Naval Academy when her research into the typical Midshipman uncovered a profile alarmingly like herself. This book describes her background and academic interests, her focus, as well as her struggle to put together a winning admissions package. Along the way, you gain insight into the moral fiber that grounds everything she does and the decisions she must make that some consider impossible for an adolescent, but are achievable for thousands of like-minded teens. This workbook walks you through the long process, provides check lists of everything required, decision making matrices, goal-setting exercises to determine if USNA is a good fit for you, and a mix of motivation and academic advice to balance a decision that rightfully might be the biggest one most teens have ever made.

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Summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), is a week-long, overnight camp at USNA each year for students currently in the 7th-10th grades. Here’s information from the USNA website:

Engineering is all about creating, building, and making things better! So what does it take to be an engineer? If you like math and science, you are off to a great start. If you enjoy discovering new things, solving problems, and learning how things work – even better! Creativity, persistence, and the desire to make the world a better place are also important qualities. Becoming an engineer requires hard work and a good education. Our summer program will be a great start to your career in science and engineering.

The schedule:

Monday: Travel and Check-in

Tuesday: Air and Space Museum/DC Tour

Wednesday – Friday: Stem modules and presentations (Students will visit all science and technology majors at the US Naval Academy)

Saturday: Open House and Demonstrations—Share your new skills with your parents and friends. End the week by putting your projects on display.