Poster Sessions
Wednesday, July 31, 3:00–5:30 in the Exhibit Hall

Advancements in Agriculture Plant Science at Los Angeles Pierce College

This session focuses on authentic UREs at Los Angeles Pierce College. The field, lab, and data-driven projects are implemented as course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) in botany and soil science classes, and students engage in independent projects to further develop technical skills. Poster 1 focuses on a soil science, barcoding, and metabarcoding project at Pierce College Farm and local farms. Poster 2 is a plant RNAseq and soil metagenomics project at Gold Creek Preserve in Angeles National Forest. Also included is preliminary evaluation of the impact on engagement, success, and retention. Comments on implementation, best practices, and management of projects will be provided.

Savanah Senn, Professor, J ATE URE, Los Angeles Pierce College, Woodland Hills, California

BETA Skills (Biomedical Emerging Technology Applications): Overview and Conclusion

As BETA Skills standards emerged, professional development for community college instructors in BETA bioscience areas ensued. The trends noted from the BETA Skills community of practice, made up of academics, industry advisors, and workforce experts, led us into the following areas: cyberbio security, regenerative medicine, nanobiotechnology, development of BETA BCSI micro-credentials, and extended industry immersions up to eight weeks for faculty in a BETA company setting. The BETA Skills Capstone is a short, intense program for college administrators that provides an overview of biomedical emerging technology trends. Our poster will outline the history of BETA Skills and provide outcomes.

Russ Read, Executive Director and Co-Pi, InnovATEBIO, BETA Skills (DUE #1800909), National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce of Forsyth Tech, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bioscience Data Acquisition and Analysis Technician Certificate of Achievement (BioDAATA)

Merritt College is developing Bioscience Data Acquisition and Analysis Technician Certificate of Achievement (BioDAATA), a new bioscience certificate program that trains students to perform data analysis in applied bioscience research. STEM technicians will design bioanalytical, sequencing, and imaging assays on high-throughput and high-content equipment. They will collect, clean, and organize the resulting large data sets and conduct data analysis utilizing biostatistics, Excel, Tableau, and programming languages R and Python. Specific aims include (1) developing three integrated courses leading to the certificate; (2) designing and implementing physical and digital infrastructure; and (3) implementing sustainable recruitment and retention, thereby increasing the number of underrepresented black men in our bioscience programs.

Candy Mintz, Bioscience Faculty, Preparing STEM Technicians for Bioscience Data Acquisition and Analysis (DUE #2301294), Merritt College, Oakland, California

Building a Cell and Gene Therapy Workforce in Maryland’s I-270 Biotech Corridor

Frederick Community College (FCC) is within Maryland’s I-270 biotech corridor, where the cell and gene therapy industry is booming. FCC has recognized the urgent need to put forth several programs to meet the needs of the regional workforce. The current program includes an applied associate of science (AAS) degree (60 credits), a cell and gene therapy essentials certificate (20 credits), and a registered apprenticeship. FCC has also offered four successful free biotech bootcamps for adults who want to transition into biotech as a four-week hands-on training and has non-credit courses in biotech and maintenance, supply chain and logistics, and flow cytometry.

Savita Prabhakar, Assistant Faculty and Program Manager Biotechnology, Building a Cell Therapy and Flow Cytometry Workforce, Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland

Building Career Pathways in Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems for Active Military and Veterans

This session explores the positive learning gains of non-traditional students, veterans, and adult learners in simulated environments in uncrewed systems pathways. The integration of uncrewed and autonomous systems curriculum is critical to the success of engineering education and is dependent on applying new technologies into instructional practices to prepare a diverse student pipeline. Highlights include findings on the use of simulation to increase persistence and retention of non-traditional groups through the improved understanding of interdisciplinary and creative thinking skills related to core STEM competencies as well as best practices for engaging students through increased connections to collaborative learning experiences with simulation.

Kimberly Luthi, Assistant Professor and Associate Program Chair, Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Port Orange, Florida; Christopher Janke, Program Chair, Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems, Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida

Building Inclusive Labs: A Collaborative Approach to Work-Based Learning

This project unites a community college biotech program, a research university, and a top biotech employer in a collaborative approach to work-based learning to foster science workplaces where everyone is set-up to succeed. We’ve created novel parallel trainings for 1) employers to operationalize inclusivity in how they hire, train, and supervise; and 2) community college students to skillfully navigate the workplace and recognize and foster inclusive workplace practices. Over 1,000 scientists from 50+ organizations have attended the training. Adapted for academic and industry settings, the training is shifting the dynamic of our industry partnerships from “charity” to “professional development.”

Karen Leung, Biotechnology Instructor and Internship Coordinator, A Collaborative Approach to Work-Based Learning in Biotechnology: Building Inclusive Lab Environments, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, California; James Lewis, Assistant Director of Strong Workforce Program, A Collaborative Approach to Work-Based Learning in Biotechnology: Building Inclusive Lab Environments, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, California

Clarity of Instruction Yields IT Education Excellence

This poster shows an excellent output from a student group following a second installment of an ongoing IT project. The students were challenged to figure out how to connect remotely to a physical server from their classroom desktops. The students worked in pairs comprising male/female. It was discovered that this type of teamwork improved remarkably the quality of work/project previously submitted by individual students.

Peter Udo, Information Technology Chair/Business Department Head, Yakima Valley College, Yakima, Washington

Design of Arduino and PLC-Based Controls for an OWI Robotic Arm

The design of an Arduino (PLC and direct) controlled OWI 5 motor robotic arm system, which is currently obsolete for Windows 10 PCs, will be presented. Multiple methods for robotic arm control will be discussed to include updated USB driver fix (using LabView and other programs) and wireless, voice-activated, and direct motor control using H Bridge and switched relay control. An inexpensive dual +/-3V power supply that can replace the four D batteries will be discussed. New CAD drawings for 3D printing, PWM speed control, and motor encoders will also be discussed.

Andrew Bell, Department Chair, SCME, Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Developing an Electric Vehicle Workforce

The fast pace of the transition to electric vehicles (EV) throughout the nation has prompted the need for thousands of EV technicians for every category of transportation. Yet most community colleges still do not have EV training programs, creating a significant skills gap. The goal of the Consortia for Innovations in Technician Education project is to create and test a model for addressing this need that will be accomplished through four objectives. These actions will create a sustainable pipeline of diverse, certified EV technicians feeding into this rapidly growing workforce.

Ken Mays, PI-NEVTEX-Next, National Electric Vehicle Technology Exchange (NEVTEX-Next), Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon; Jim Siekkinen, NEVTEX-Next Project Manager, NEVTEX-Next, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon

Developing High-Demand Workforce Skills at the Intersection of Art and Industry

This session will share project-based applications of interdisciplinary skill development through the design thinking process. Projects showcase student work from the core courses of our Integrated Design Technical Certificate: 3D Design, Construction Technology, and Computer-Aided Design.

Elysia Contreras Springer, Grant Director, Applied Design Thinking for Product Development Technicians, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, Arkansas; Matt Meers, Art Faculty, Project PI, Applied Design Thinking for Product Development Technicians, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, Arkansas; Aaron Pelloquin, Business and Industry Liaison, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, Arkansas

Empowering the Workforce: Custom PLC and Electrical Training Tools in Action

This poster showcases our innovative, custom-designed PLC and electrical trainers, developed to address crucial industry skills gaps. The session will emphasize the integration of these trainers into a flexible eLearning environment within our FlexLab, highlighting our successful use of formative and summative assessments to ensure effective learning and high retention rates.

Darrin Falk, Mechatronics Instructor, Particpated in Working Partners Project, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Tim Tewalt, Program Director, Mechatronics Emeritus, Completed Projects: DUE #1902499 Technological Education in Cyber-Physical Systems Projects and DUE #1902499 Technological Education in Cyber-Physical Systems, Mechatronics Training, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Engaging K-12 Teachers to Help Build a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline

Forsyth Tech has taken on a three-year project designed to help strengthen the cybersecurity footprint within the Triad area of North Carolina. The grant covers our two service areas, Forsyth and Stokes Counties, expanding to other counties in the third year. Each year eight K-12 CTE teachers are invited to obtain our cybersecurity certification within two semesters. Once they complete the certificate, they are given the opportunity to take the CompTIA Security + Exam and become adjunct instructors for the cybersecurity program. Teachers are also given resources to use in their classrooms to help students become cyber-aware.

Thomas Brown, Department Chair, Engaging K-12 Teachers to Help Build a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Victoria Ferrell, Department Chair, IT-Cybersecurity and IT Systems Security, Engaging K-12 Teachers to Help Build a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Establishing a PLC and Robotic Automation Technician Training Certificate Program

There is a shortage of technicians with the skills to maintain programmable logic controllers (PLC) and robots. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is developing a PLC and robotic automation technician certificate program to address this shortage in service industries in the greater New York City area. State approval from NYSED has been received for a one-year, 13-credit certificate program designed to provide students with the skills they need to begin careers as PRA technicians. To ensure that those skills meet the needs of industry, the program has been working closely with the industry professionals on our BILT team.

Douglas Jahnke, Assistant Professor, Vaughn College, Flushing, New York

Hands-On Mechatronics in High Schools

Visitors to this session will learn how four mechatronics courses are being delivered via the web to high schools in Minnesota and Nebraska. A classroom-based facilitator provides basic instruction and supervision while the college instructor addresses harder questions. Each student has access to a hands-on trainer.

Jerry Muller, Industrial Trainer/Adjunct Mechatronics Instructor, iMEC 2.0 (DUE #203749) and National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (DUE #2055767), Central Community College, Columbus, Nebraska; Doug Laven, Mechatronics Instructor, iMEC 2.0 (DUE #203749) and National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (DUE #2055767), South Central Community College, Mankato, Minnesota; Daniel Davidchik, Mechatronics Instructor, iMEC 2.0 (DUE #203749) and National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (DUE #2055767), Central Community College, Columbus, Nebraska

How Friendly Is Your Dog? An Authentic Research Project That Increases Awareness of Biotechnology

Although the biotechnology industry continues to grow, one of the obstacles to recruiting students is a lack of awareness about biotechnology. In collaboration with industry, an experience has been developed for students in secondary and college courses to develop biotechnology skills. Previous studies have suggested a connection between mutations on dog chromosome 6 and excessively friendly behavior. Students collect saliva samples and extract DNA to analyze this gene location to see if there is continued evidence linking genotype and phenotype. Learn ways this project can be implemented based on the education levels of students and resources available.

Misty Wehling, Biotechnology Program Co-chair, Incorporating a Course-based Research Experience in High School and Community College Courses in Southeast Nebraska, Southeast Community College, Beatrice, Nebraska; Tracy Niday, Biotchnology Program Co-chair, Incorporating a Course-based Research Experience in High School and Community College Courses in Southeast Nebraska, Southeast Community College, Lincoln, Nebraska; Gabrielle Johnson, Science Department Co-chair, Incorporating a Course-based Research Experience in High School and Community College Courses in Southeast Nebraska, Southeast Community College, Lincoln, Nebraska

Incorporating Adversarial Thinking Into the Local Workforce via Hands-on Learning Experiences

Adversarial thinking is an essential component of cybersecurity training, guiding students to not just find solutions but to also consider the potential risks associated with those solutions. Though originating in the realm of cybersecurity, this method is widely used to develop critical thinking skills. A particular project is dedicated to embedding adversarial thinking into the initial two years of college education via programming modules and a specialized course for students not majoring in the field. The goal of this course is to generate interest in cybersecurity and related disciplines across various fields of study. By focusing on hands-on learning, the project promotes the organization of hackathons that tackle real-life problems, thereby enhancing practical skills among students from all academic backgrounds.

Christian Servin, Professor of Computer Science, Developing Computational Adversarial Thinking: Bridging Technical Skills Training and Academic Coursework, El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas; Nadia Karichev, Assistant Professor, Developing Computational Adversarial Thinking: Bridging Technical Skills Training and Academic Coursework, El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas

Multi-spectral Images Database for Precision Agriculture and Agronomy Applications in North Georgia

In this session, agribusiness students will present an applied research experiment using uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) equipped with multi-spectral cameras that capture images in specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum to measure plant density. Students also use wireless in-ground monitors to measure soil conditions. They cut the crops, measure the growth density, and integrate it with data generated from the multi-spectral images to create a baseline for a first-of-its-kind database of corollaries between soil condition images and actual density in North Georgia. Though grazing forage is the crop of choice for this experiment, we anticipate that the results will transfer to other crop types.

Russell Logan, Principal Investigator, Modernizing Agriculture Technician Education in Appalachian Northeast Georgia, North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville, Georgia; John “Chandler” Dickerson, Agribusiness Student, Modernizing Agriculture Technician Education in Appalachian Northeast Georgia, North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville, Georgia; McKenna Riordan, Agribusiness Student, Modernizing Agriculture Technician Education in Appalachian Northeast Georgia, North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville, Georgia; Phillipe Gooby, Modern Agriculture, Agriculture Technician Education in Appalachian Northeast Georgia, North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville, Georgia

Reducing Barriers to IT Technician Education (RBITTE)

This three-year project will align our core technical curriculum with employer-prioritized knowledge, skills, and abilities through course revisions implementing flexible instruction and authentic assessment. Wraparound interventions such as microcredentialing, industry certification, and supplemental student instruction are included. The project will boost the number of qualified technicians in the region by enhancing current student retention and completion rates and the employability of CIT graduates. This adaptable model can be replicated at rural community colleges nationwide.

Danny Darden, Associate Professor, Reducing Barriers to IT Technician Education (RBITTE), Kilgore College, Kilgore, Texas; Ginger Dennis, Professor, Reducing Barriers to IT Technician Education (RBITTE), Kilgore College, Kilgore, Texas

STEM Student Success Plan for Developmental Math Courses

Often a major challenge faced by first-year STEM students is the math required by their degree programs. This is exacerbated by the fact that many students must pass several levels of developmental math courses before taking the prescribed college-level courses. If not passed, these courses can prevent students from taking more advanced math classes and/or completing their degrees. In this session, we will share how we streamlined the developmental mathematics pathway and present a student success plan for identifying the STEM students who are underperforming in these courses and coaching them to pass successfully.

Vanessa Hill, Professor, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, Massachusetts; Melishia Santiago, Assistant Dean, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, Massachusetts

Student Research Projects for Advanced Manufacturing

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (NCNGM) supports student team research projects through its Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Technologies Program (MET2). During a two-week workshop, MET2 participants learn professional skills such as teambuilding and strategic planning and technical skills based on the needs of projects that are proposed by industry. Student teams then work on the projects during the spring semester and present findings and prototypes to faculty and industry partners. A national virtual summer teacher workshop is also offered for high school and community college educators to learn how to incorporate these skills into their curriculum.

Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Executive Director and PI, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Farmington, Connecticut; John Birch, CEO, The Birch Group and Executive Director and Co-PI, CICSTART Project Grant, Farmington, Connecticut; Eric Flynn, Program Coordinator, Gateway Community College, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Trained Manpower for Construction Industry (Emerging Trends)

Construction companies often complain about a lack of relevant skills in new graduates and find it hard to fill vacant positions, which causes loss of productivity and project delays. The construction management program at Hudson County Community College, upgraded through an NSF grant, prepares skilled technicians to work in the 21st-century construction industry and fill this gap. The grant has allowed us to better align the curriculum with employers’ future needs. Students in the program are exposed to new construction methods, protocols, testing procedures, engineering drawings, software, cost estimations, and management principles.

Azhar Mahmood, Associate Professor, Strengthening Community College and Workforce Partnerships in Construction Management, Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, New Jersey; Khursheed Khan, Adjunct Instructor, Strengthening Community College and Workforce Partnerships in Construction Management, Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, New Jersey

The University of New Mexico Two-Year Technician Student Undergraduate Research Experience in Microfabrication

The Support Center for Microsystems Education and the Micro-Nano Technology Education Center collaborate in providing a multi-week microfabrication research experience at the University of New Mexico’s Manufacturing Training and Technology Center. This program is for community college students and offers practical hands-on experience in microfabrication techniques like photolithography, wet and dry etching, cleanroom safety, and the use of metrology tools for characterizing microstructures. The program culminates in a virtual poster session showcasing the students’ findings. This presentation will offer participants ample opportunities for discussion on the technology, delivery, and future collaboration opportunities.

Matthias Pleil, The University of New Mexico Two-year Technician Student Undergraduate Research Experience in Microfabrication, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Use of Open Education Resources (OER) in Instrumentation for Remediation and Retention

This presentation will focus on the development and utilization of openly licensed math materials (OER) to support instrumentation courses. The presentation will allow attendees to share their knowledge and experience with open content and open pedagogy, and to share strategies and tools for creating content and curriculum that is inclusive of all learners. Attendees will also discuss opportunities for funding dual-enrollment projects that they are aware of or have utilized.

Esperanza Maria Zenon, Professor of Physical Science, Advanced Industrial Instrumentation Control Technician Education, River Parishes Community College, Gonzales, Louisiana

Using Cross-Disciplinary Instruction to “Future-Proof” Students

Are you wondering what employers will need from future advanced technology program graduates? In the Industry 4.0 and beyond era, the future is cross-disciplinary. Any career and technical program can empower learners with skill sets that cross industries and sectors. Come talk to the Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work project team about how to determine regional employer priorities for advanced digital literacy, data analysis, and business knowledge and the instructional tools for incorporating them into technician preparation programs.

Ann-Claire Anderson, PI, Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work, Center for Occupational Research and Development, Waco, Texas; Hope Cotner, Co-PI, Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work, Center for Occupational Research and Development, Waco, Texas

Using Quadcopter Competitions to Engage Students

This poster will present an overview of the quadcopter program at CT State Community College: Northwestern. This program engages STEM and non-STEM students in the building of and competing with quadcopters. Students work in the college’s maker space and are mentored by two faculty members. For some students this is the first exposure to hands-on technical skills, and for others it is an opportunity to put the theoretical work they are learning in their technical programs into practice.

Douglas Mooney Jr, Chemistry Professor, Engaging Students from Classrooms and Camps to College and Technical Careers, CT State Community College: Northwestern, Winsted, Connecticut