The Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) is a four year program which is offered to our students interested in computer programming, web development, the aesthetics of designing for the web, basic engineering, microcomputer technologies and LAN Management. The first two years focus on advancing skills in computer science, basic web design, computer technologies, introductory engineering, and LAN Management.
Upon successful completion of the instructional phase, juniors (over the summer) and seniors (during the school year) may be placed in paid internships with employers such as FDA, NOAA, NASA, USDA, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, etc. This provides the students with real-world opportunities to showcase their talents.
Springbrook is one of only seven schools in MCPS with the AOIT, and the only school in MCPS to program for the Xbox and Zune. Springbrook is a pilot school for the new Designing Technology Solutions course. Springbrook also sponsors a competitive robotics team.
The teachers in Springbrook’s AOIT program have all won technology and education technology awards. Participate in the program and benefit from the excellent experience the staff brings!
Springbrook Women In Technology (SWIT)
The Springbrook Women in Technology Group was founded in 2008. The purpose is to provide support and guidance, expose students to women working in IT-related fields, and to recreate the image of a successful information technology student.
Click here for more information
What students have to say
“The AOIT program allowed me to pursue an internship with Lockheed Martin, where I learned how to work in a professional environment.The skills I learned in computer programming and web development at my internship have prepared me for college and a career in technology.” - Alyssa Parker“Not only did I get paid for my AOIT internship, I also did cutting edge research and was listed as a co-author when the research was published in a scientific journal.” - David Sweigart (Part I)
“I had an unforgettable experience at CERN! My project dealt with how data analysis is used in high energy physics. I would like to thank you for all that you do, and for providing me with the opportunities such as the AOIT program and my FDA internship which led up to CERN this summer. [...] I would like to conclude with an update on my activities since graduating from Springbrook. [...] I graduated in the Class of 2009 in addition to the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT). [...] worked at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the summers and who took an almost ridiculous number of AP courses. Currently, I've started my third year at UMBC with a 4.0 GPA. I’m glad to say that all of my AP classes have truly paid off and gave me the head start that I needed in college. Regarding my career plans, I intend to obtain a PhD in high energy physics after I graduate from UMBC. This goal was partially fostered by the prestigious opportunity I had this past summer to work at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, which is home to the world’s largest particle accelerator! In fact, I was one out of only 10 Americans allowed to officially take part in CERN’s summer student program each year.\” - David Sweigart (Part II)
“I learned so much in the AOIT computer programming strand that I was ahead of all of my classmates at Hampton University. Because of my ability and willingness to help other students, I was given a paid summer internship in robotics development at Rice University. I really enjoyed it! Thanks for everything!” – Ebrima Jobe
“Thanks to my AOIT course work, I received a scholarship from Beat the Odds and they doubled the $5,000 amount to $10,000.” - Tuan Nguyen
“Thanks to my AOIT classes and internship,was not only admitted to the computer science program at Carnegie Mellon, I also received a $50,000 a year scholarship.” - Darren Divecha
Top Ten Reasons to Join AOIT
- Make animated 3D graphic movies your first week of class using the Alice programming environment
- Create and play your own games for the PC, Zune, and Xbox 360 (we have a school Xbox).
- Academy of Information Technology Internships at Lockheed Martin, FDA, NOAA, NASA, and other companies. These internships are paid!
- Web Design students take on real clients and work on their projects during school time.
- Making websites pays a lot better than any other part time job.
- Taking Comp. Prog. 1 as a freshman allows you to take AP Comp. Prog. as a Sophomore, one of the two possible AP classes for Sophomores!
- A fun class that will challenge your brain, but not your GPA. The mode of the grades for year 2008 was an ‘A’.
- Computer Science, AP Computer Science, and Web Design tell colleges that you are a 21st Century student.
- Imagine that you like what you are learning so much that you will spend your free time doing extra work! Crazy thought, huh?
- Being in a class of friends who WANT to Learn
Contact Information
For more information please contact:
Joanne Engel, AOIT Coordinator and Computer Science Department Head:
Phone: 301-989-5791
Fax: 301-622-1875
Springbrook High School
201 Valley Brook Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Web: http://www.springbrookhs.org
Silver Spring, MD 20904
