By Betsy Jaffe
InfoComm International

Columbia College in Chicago is sending about ten students from its Audio Arts and Acoustics Department to InfoComm 2015. I recently caught up with Jeremy Caldera, CTS-D, CTS-I, of Zdi, who is a graduate of the program, and is also an instructor for Columbia College’s AV Systems Design class.

What are your students doing at InfoComm 2015?

A: We’re going to give them a tour of the show floor, have meetings with manufacturers and integrators, bring them to education sessions and introduce them to employers at InfoComm’s job fair. The idea is to help them make connections so they can begin a rewarding career in the audiovisual industry.

Why is it good for someone just starting out in AV to attend the InfoComm show?

I think attending the show is helpful to those just starting out. You can make a lot of valuable connections, get better educated and see the latest technology.

Tell us about your students. What are they like?

My students are typically seniors, so they are serious about finding the right technology career. They are young, enthusiastic and willing to learn new things. I feel like I am guiding them through a whole new experience — the world of audiovisual. Many of them never realized they could have a career in video system design or control systems.. My students are excited by the possibility of a career in AV and are extremely engaged during class. They are naturally curious and ask questions.

What do you cover in class?

AV Systems Design starts off with material similar to that which is covered in the many CTS and CTS-D courses. Our textbook is the McGraw-Hill CTS Exam Guide as it is a great collection of base design knowledge, but we supplement with many industry white papers and other available materials.

Between leading training at InfoComm shows and teaching students at Columbia College, you dedicate significant time to educating the industry. Why?

I know it sounds cliché, but teaching can be extremely rewarding. Through your instruction, you’re opening up whole new worlds to the student. It also helps you keep your own skills up, and the enthusiasm students have in a cooperative learning environment can be contagious.

Teaching up-and-coming students is different than working with mid-career professionals. I am fortunate to teach my Columbia College class alongside industry professional Dave McNutt, of Navigate, who has many years of teaching experience on the collegiate level. As a first year college instructor, his critiques of my delivery and classroom style after each session has made me more effective in a shorter period of time.

Teaching industry professionals at the InfoComm show is a great way to meet others in the industry and raise our collective skills. I encourage others to participate in InfoComm’s Call for Presenters in the weeks following the InfoComm show.

Register now for InfoComm 2015

This interview was reprinted with permission from InfoComm International and originally appeared here.