In early March seven students entered an innovative IT degree program housed at the AIM Institute and taught by Metropolitan Community College. This new degree program, known as Get Into IT, operates as an IT-services company. In place of standard lectures, homework assignments and tests, it relies entirely on problem-based learning. 
 
Get Into IT students will provide entry-level IT services to the community such as data entry, web design, PC repair, and desktop support. Based solely on their work at the company, students will earn a GED credential, followed by an IT associate degree.
 
But first, the students will concentrate on self-evaluation: establishing their goals in life and in information technology. This will involve exploring documentation/writing, collaboration/communication, customer support, networks, programming, web technology, and e-commerce. Through this exploratory period, students will map out their next two years, says Jamie Bridgham, Metro microcomputer technology instructor and office manager for the group.
 
By the end of the first quarter, each student will make a preliminary selection of a degree option and begin to build a portfolio for it. They will also have learned to do research, create proposals and make presentations of their proposals, Bridgham says. 
 
The Get Into IT students are diverse in age, gender and race; without their high school diplomas; passionate about IT; and interested in earning both a GED and an associate degree. Each student underwent a job interview to be accepted into the program. One of their first assignments was to create their own biographies: