What is FIT?!?!

The developing world represents the smallest number of internet users yet at the same time their growth in using the internet is the fastest.  In these places knowing how to use a computer and having information technology (I.T.) skills can make a huge impact as they are fast catching up with more advanced countries.  Now is the time to go into these places with I.T. skills and training to help bring transformation.

Foundations in Information Technology is designed to train the I.T. missionaries that will go into the developing world to meet its need for technical skills.  This need is evident in missions as well.  I.T. is making a difference in how we do our work and how we communicate.  I.T. is also creating ways to multiply evangelism and training over the internet.  I.T. is impacting mercy ministry by bringing transformation through providing needed skills to those without means to support their families.  I.T. can bring awareness to the rest of the world as to what is happening in remote locations, or when areas are affected by disaster I.T. can help facilitate the relief efforts.

Together we, staff and students, will be challenged to see God as the creator of technology, and learn about His desire to use I.T. for His glory.  We will learn the answers to the questions:  How can we co-create with God so that we can bring innovation and creative solutions to the mission-field?  How does God want an I.T. skilled individual to act and serve in the place they are called?

Learn!

FIT school curriculum is based on the globally recognized CompTIA A+ andCompTIA Network+ certificate programs. Through the school, students will learn the basics of computers, operating systems and network.  However, FIT school is more than just lectures in classrooms. Students will learn the necessary basic skills in the FIT Computer Architecture course and may further their I.T. skills through practicum 1 and 2.

FIT - Computer Architecture

During the first three months of FIT Computer Architecture course,the topics covered will be

• Computer hardware
• Computer troubleshooting, repair and maintenance
• Basic networking
• Operating systems
• Building a computer

At the end of this lecture phase, students will have an opportunity to take the CompTIA A+ certificate exams.

Practicum 1

After the FIT Computer Architecture course, students who show strong initiative and desire to pursue further studies in I.T. training will be offered an opportunity to join the CROWN Media and Technology team (www.ywamcrown.com) as an intern.

During Practicum 1, the students will be able to apply what they learned in FIT Computer Architecture course to real life scenarios. The focus of the practicum is to increase what the students have learned during the architecture course but the students will also have an opportunity to work on various projects alongside CROWN members.

After the completion of Practicum 1, the students will have enough experience to pursue Practicum 2.

Practicum 2

Qualified students who advances to Practicum 2 will continue their studies with the CROWN Media & Technology team while preparing for the CompTIA Network+ certificate.

The preparation will be through classroom lectures and labs. The topics of teaching will be the following:

• Network technologies
• Network devices and topologies
• Network management
• Network security
• Tools to manage a network

At the end of the quarter, each student will be given an opportunity to take the CompTIA Network+ certificate exam as part of the practicum.

Prerequisites

Completion of the YWAM-DTS (Discipleship Training School and Field Assignment) or YWAM-CDTS (Crossroads Discipleship Training School).

Credits

The following University of the Nations credits will be earned upon successful completion of each quarter. The credits may be applied toward the AA degree with University of the Nations.

1. FIT Computer Architecture – 12 semester-equivalent credits

2. Practicum 1 – 12 semester-equivalent credits

3. Practicum 2 – 12 semester-equivalent credits

Tuition and Dates

Tuition Fee for FIT Computer Architecture Course

Country A:  $4,650
Country B: $3,650
Country C:  $2,650

* Includes tuition, meals, housing, and two CompTIA A+ exams

Arrival Date:  April 5, 2012
Departure Date:  June 27, 2012

Tuition Fee for Practicum 1

Country A:  $2,150
Country B:  $2,010
Country C:  $1,860

* Includes tuition, meals,and housing for 3 months, and other course materials

Tuition Fee for Practicum 2

Country A:  $2,150
Country B:  $2,010
Country C:  $1,860

* Includes tuition, meals,housing for 3 months, and CompTIA Network+ exam

There may be an optional field assignment during Practicum 1 or 2 for which, students will need to cover their own expenses.

For more information on Foundations in Information Technology, contact Ben Kim at benkim@uofnkona.edu. 

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

School Leader

Ben Kim has been a member of CROWN (Christ Revealed on World Network) technology team since March 2009. Currently, Ben manages the servers and the helpdesk requests for the UofN campus.  In the past, he oversaw the campus network as well.

Ben has nearly 25 years of I.T. experience as a programmer, database administrator, Unix/Windows system administrator, storage area network engineer, and I.T. consultant to many of the fortune 500 companies in the United States.

He's married to Judy who is also a teacher and has three children - Matthew (16), Daniel (14) and Emily (12).

Check out the pioneering 2010 FIT School

Our school has started! Five students are here from five different countries. We are so excited about what we have done so far and where God is going to lead us these next 10 weeks. The first day of school, we had a chance for all the students and staff to share their testimony and how God brought them to this school. We finished up the week with 4 different speakers sharing their experiences with God in technology and innovation. Each speaker flowed seamlessly from the previous one and God really exceeded our expectations of what He has planned.

The second week, the students learned the different parts of a computer and what they all do. In the middle of the week, they started assembling their own computer which they will be using for the rest of the quarter. Only one of the students had ever built one prior to this. Once the computers were finished, you could feel the excitement as the students powered them on for the first time.

It is amazing how far the students have already progressed and what they have learned. We are expecting that the rest of this quarter will be just as fun and the students will continue to be stretched.

Foundations in Information Technology is now in our sixth week.  We have come a long way in a very short time.  In the last four weeks since our previous update we have studied the Linux operating system, computer networks, and web programming.  In the Linux section of the school the students setup a Linux server on the desktop computers that they built.  After that we dove into networking.  The students spent the next two weeks learning about how computers communicate with each other across the room and around the world via the Internet.  We even got into networking applications like Voice over IP (VOIP) and videoconferencing.  This most recent week the students have focused on open source web site development using HTML, PHP, Apache, and MySQL.  The subjects have been diverse, but they are truly the foundations of information technology in the world today.

The remaining weeks of the school included a seminar on YWAM's video-conferncing ministry GENESIS, research project presentations, YWAM's Final 50th Celebration, and C++ programming.  What an amazing quarter.  All involved, students and staff, had an amazing adventure creating a brand new school for the University of the Nations. 

What is the future for FIT and IT training at YWAM UofN Kona? 

1. We need to create more training programs, so that students can study deeper into the vast subject that is information technology. 
2. We see the need to multiply FIT to every continent.  IT skilled missionaries are needed everywhere!  In and out of YWAM.

Want to be a part of the fun?  Contact Ben at benkim@uofnkona.edu and lets do this together!