By: James Vergara, Public Information Officer, San Joaquin Delta College
Seeing is believing … such was the case for 40 San Joaquin Delta College Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students. Through the combined efforts of Delta’s computer science faculty, STEM Academy, and Delta College MESA, a magical mystery tour to Microsoft and Google’s Mountain View campuses took place during the fall semester.
No doubt about it, a field trip to these sometimes mysterious, stealthy industry goliaths was intriguing. “The field trip created a ‘Buzz’ across campus,” said tour coordinator and Delta College MESA Director, Cassandra Hernandez-Vives. “Everybody wanted to go, but we only had a limited number of slots.” That number was eventually “whittled down” to 40-computer science, engineering, and math students, coders, and some gamers.
Exciting, yes - but the value of real world exposure and behind the scenes access to industry leaders via field trips was the theme for staff and students at a recent Delta College Foundation meeting. The Foundation is the fundraising arm of the college, and serves as the umbrella for a variety of academic projects. More funding for such trips was clearly the goal for the day.
“We live so close to Silicon Valley, why not visit?” emphasized Delta College physics instructor, Lincoln Lee. “Students can see the innovation and reality of places where they can actually work.” Lee says field trips can be incorporated into the classwork of students, combining theoretical instruction with exposure to real world application. “Field trips can help build bridges between students and possible employers - invaluable!”
The Microsoft/Google field trip allowed Delta’s students to experience two distinctly different work cultures - up close and personal. “It blew my mind,” computer science major Michael Runyon told the Foundation. “Microsoft is more of a business environment, more structured, while Google is the most liberal workplace I’ve ever seen.”
All students agreed that one environment isn’t necessarily better than the other. They witnessed a broad range of employees and personalities at both companies. Microsoft is geared toward efficiency, while the casual, more relaxed environment of Google is geared toward creativity.
“At Google, employees seem to come and go as they please,” added computer science student Michael Layman. “However, some people work better in a more structured environment like Microsoft. We received advice on what skills we need to achieve jobs at these companies. I found this information extremely helpful … as it would be for future Delta students.”
MESA student Norlan Prudente found the field trip inspiring, as did others on the tour. “I was only aiming for an A.S. degree. This trip encouraged me to pursue my B.S. or Masters.” Prudente finished, “I’d love to work for either company.”
Computer Science instructor Lisa Perez sees field trips as an outreach, which can be used to recruit women into science and technology fields. “Women are underrepresented in STEM occupations. Field trips don’t always need to go to Microsoft or Google. There are numerous stimulating and motivational STEM field trip opportunities in our state, with many close to home.”
Delta College Superintendent/President Kathy Hart is also a Delta Foundation Board member. She joined Delta students on the “amazing journey” to Microsoft and Google. "I'd like to see the Delta Foundation facilitate funding for field trips to large and small businesses and industry in all content areas.” Hart feels students need to experience real workplaces and workplace environments. “Students need to hear from managers and workers about what is expected at the job site. They need to understand first-hand what expectations employers have for their employees. Field trips are a great way to realize this goal.” Hart explains that field trips don’t fit into any set category. “They can involve small or large groups; they can be long or short; they can be practically no cost, or rather elaborate with transportation and food costs.” Hart finishes, “It’s going to be fun to talk to businesses and industries about what we can do to expose our students to the real world of full-time work!”
Foundation Board members all agreed with the student/staff assessments regarding the insightful value of field trips. Foundation Board member and Delta College trustee, Claudia Moreno, related that many companies might “help fund such trips as a recruiting and outreach effort.”
Delta Foundation president, Susan Grupe DePolo, would like to move forward with funding efforts. “I’d like to see the Foundation fund field trips across the discipline spectrum, not just STEM. There are many doors we can open to help our students.”
The presentation concluded with talk of efforts for a possible field trip to business visionary Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors. MESA Director, Hernandez-Vives, summed up the Microsoft/Google adventure for the Foundation: “Students oooo'd and awwww'd at every turn. All left inspired, with bigger, colorful, highly animated, digitized, optimized, virtual dreams!”
For more information, contact the Public Information Office at (209) 954-5131.