Workshops and Special Interest Groups (SIG)

MONDAY, July 27, 8:30–Noon

$150

WORKSHOP: Integrating Local LLMs in Higher Education for Privacy, Security, and Cost-Effectiveness

This workshop explores the value of using local large language models (LLMs) in educational settings, with a focus on tools such as Ollama, Llama, and LangChain. Participants will learn how running LLMs locally can enhance data security and protect student privacy by keeping sensitive information out of the cloud LLMs. This is often a regulatory requirement for educational institutions. The session also highlights cost-effectiveness, showing how universities can reduce vendor fees while maintaining powerful AI capabilities with local LLMs. Local LLMs complement, and do not replace, cloud-based LLMs. Designed for educators, the workshop includes practical examples and use cases that demonstrate how local LLMs can support teaching, learning, and experimentation in a responsible, accessible, and sustainable way. Many vendors offer free access to their cloud-based LLMs for students and educators. However, these free tools have usage limits and are not suitable for personal information. Attendees should bring their own laptops.

Debasis Bhattacharya, Professor, University of Hawaii Maui College, Honolulu, Kahului, HI

$150

WORKSHOP: Incorporating Emotional Intelligence into Your Courses

A recent Manufacturing Institute report noted manufacturers across sectors indicated a need for employees with emotional intelligence because it relates to teamwork, productivity and motivation. This workshop will provide an overview of emotional intelligence, which is one’s ability to understand and apply our overall emotional well-being to facilitate high levels of collaboration and productivity. This workshop is included in several NSF ATE funded programs for students and educators. Participants will complete and analyze their own emotional intelligence and learn interactive lessons to use in their classrooms. These lessons will help students through both their educational, personal, and career journeys.

John Birch, CEO, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, The Birch Group; Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Executive Director & PI, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Farmington (NCNGM), Litchfield, CT

$150

WORKSHOP: Using Arduino Microcontrollers in the Classroom

Using Arduino Microcontrollers in the Classroom Workshop will provide participants with basic microcontroller theory and operation, a curriculum and lab guidebook review and a series of hands-on laboratory activities with some tips and tricks for classroom usage. Participants will learn how to write and modify Arduino code, interface sensors and output devices, and build, test, and troubleshoot circuits. Participants will receive a Sparkfun Inventor’s Kit ($106 value) and will perform several of the hands-on laboratory activities. Laptops and software will be provided for workshop use. This workshop is sponsored by the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (NSF DUE #2000281, #2454155). Space is limited. Laptops will be provided.

Greg Kepner, Consultant, Consultant, Micro Nano Technology Education Center, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA; Mel Cossette, Co-PI, Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC), Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA

$150

SIG: InnovATEBIO Network Roundtables: Practical Strategies for High‑Impact Biotech Technician Education

InnovATEBIO, the NSF‑funded National Biotechnology Education Center, will host a focused preconference ahead of HI‑TEC, bringing together biotechnology educators, program leaders, and industry partners for structured roundtable discussions aimed at strengthening technician education across the national network. Participants will engage in themed discussion zones addressing key challenges in biotechnology training, including ATE grant writing, starting and improving biotech programs, sustainable student recruitment, establishing and maintaining BiLTs, and building state teams. Additional topics may be added based on community feedback. This collaborative session enables attendees to exchange strategies, share resources, and connect with colleagues facing similar needs. Drawing on InnovATEBIO’s national expertise, the preconference supports institutions preparing highly skilled biotechnology technicians aligned with industry expectations. Attendees should bring their own laptops. (Complimentary registration will be provided by InnovATEBIO for SIG registrants. Contact dion.krupa@austincc.edu for a code.)

Linnea Fletcher, Executive Director and PI of InnovATEBIO Center Grant; Department Chair, Biotechnology at Austin Community College, InnovATEBIO – National Center for Biotechnology Education, Austin Community College, Austin, TX; Dion Krupa, Grant Manager, InnovATEBIO – National Center for Biotechnology Education, Austin Community College, Austin, TX; Sandra Porter, Co-PI, InnovATEBIO; President and Founder, Digital World Biology LLC, Seattle, WA; Todd Smith, Chief Software Architect and Data Scientist, InnovATEBIO and Chief Technology Officer, Digital World Biology, Seattle, WA; Ying-Tsu Loh, PhD, Executive Director, BABEC – Bay Area Bioscience Education Community, Burlingame, CA

MONDAY, July 27 1:00–4:30

1st 10 Complimentary; Over 10: $150

WORKSHOP: PI 101 –What You Wish Someone Had Told You

Once an NSF ATE award is made, the real work begins—and many expectations placed on PIs are assumed rather than explained. This workshop is designed for currently funded NSF ATE Principal Investigators who want to strengthen their leadership, avoid common pitfalls, and manage their awards with greater confidence. Led by experienced ATE PIs who have managed projects from start to finish, this session focuses on the day-to-day realities of leading an ATE grant: staying aligned with approved goals, working effectively with partners and personnel, managing reporting and compliance, and avoiding missteps that slow progress. Presenters will share practical strategies, lessons learned, and insights they wish they had known earlier. Former Program Officers will share hints and tips from their experience. (Complimentary workshop registration will be provided by Mentor-Connect to the first 10 registrants. Contact pamela.silvers@fdtc.edu for a code.)

Pamela Silvers, PI, Mentor-Connect, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC; Louis F. McIntyre, Sr., Director – McIntyre Leadership Development Group/Consultants, Mentor – Mentor-Connect Forward, Fayetteville, NC; Lanka Elson, Professor & Program Director: IT/CST PI, Chesapeake Community College, Wye Mills, MD; Jacquelyn Blevins, Co-PI, Instructor, Chesapeake Community College, Wye Mills, MD; Emery DeWitt, Co-PI, Mentor-Connect, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC

$150

WORKSHOP: Building a Strong ATE Project Management Plan: A Practical Working Session for PIs and Project Teams

This workshop guides NSF ATE PIs, Co-PIs, and project staff through building a practical, usable Project Management Plan that strengthens implementation, reporting, and sustainability. Participants will work directly with a structured template covering objectives, deliverables, timelines, budget alignment, risk management, communication, evaluation, and reporting. Short facilitator-led segments will introduce each component, followed by dedicated work time and peer discussion. Facilitators will actively work alongside participants to provide guidance and feedback. Attendees will leave with a plan tailored to their own project, strategies for effective project operations, and tools they can continue using with their team. Attendees should bring their own laptops.

Kevin Rooney, Director, Grants Office Administration, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Stephanie Schuler, Assistant Director, National IT Innovation Center, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; John Paul Vandermark, Assistant Director, Grants Office Administration, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Sara Lucas, Project Manager, Grants Office Administration, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH

$150

WORKSHOP: Least-Privilege AI Lab Assistants: Secure Tool Use and Prompt-Injection Drills

This hands-on workshop shows how to deploy AI assistants in STEM and technician education without exposing student data, grading integrity, or institutional systems. Participants will build a “least-privilege” lab assistant pattern: capability-gated tools (deny-by-default), safe data boundaries, and audit-ready logging that preserves evidence when something goes wrong. We will run prompt-injection “fire drills” against common scenarios (tutoring, code help, auto-grading, and lab guidance) and practice mitigation steps that instructors can use immediately. Attendees leave with reusable templates: a permissions manifest, a lab safety checklist, injection test cases, and a course-ready rubric addendum for AI-assisted work. The approach is technology-agnostic and maps cleanly to IT, cybersecurity, and technician programs where tool use must be controlled and outcomes must be verifiable. Attendees should bring their own laptops with at least 8 GB of RAM and 20 GB of free disk space.

Samuel Addington, Professor & AI Researcher, California State University Long Beach, Cypress, CA

$150

SIG: Unleashing American Drone Dominance in Two-Year Colleges

Before 2030, Uncrewed Aircraft will fundamentally transform how the United States delivers, farms, and fights. New Federal Aviation Regulations will enable commercial uncrewed systems weighing up to 1,320 lbs to fly over the horizon, shifting the economics in skilled technical workforce industries including aerial spraying, package delivery, pipeline inspection, mapping, and more. At the same time, US Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and Department of War have passed policies requiring the re-shoring of drone manufacturing. The FCC will not certify new foreign-built drones with a few exceptions, and the DoW plans to purchase one million drones by 2028. This workshop will explore opportunities for two-year colleges to meet the rapidly expanding need for manufacturers, practitioners, and maintainers. It will give context of relevant civilian and military stakeholders, current state of regulation and policy, and areas of priority. Space is limited.

Aaron Sykes, Assistant Director, National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT), Thief River Falls, MN; Jonathan Beck, Director & PI, National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT), Thief River Falls, MN

Complimentary

SIG: Data Center Education Community of Practice and Tour

The rapid expansion of the data center industry is creating sustained demand for entry-level technicians. Community colleges are uniquely positioned to respond, yet may lack clear guidance on occupational roles, required competencies, employer expectations, and scalable program models. This preconference session will support colleges in planning and developing data center technician pathways aligned with their regional workforce needs. Participants will gain an overview of the data center ecosystem and growth patterns, explore entry-level technical roles, and examine field-tested workforce development strategies. The session includes a tour of an operational data center to ground discussion in real-world environments and employer practices. The session concludes with a facilitated community of practice in which participants share institutional challenges, map next steps, and identify opportunities for collaboration, employer engagement, and grant development.

Josh Labrie, Director, NOVA SySTEMic, Data Center Operations Program Development: A National Approach to Improving Capacity for Data Center Education, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA; Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, STEM Coordinator, Co-PI, NOVA SySTEMic, Data Center Operations Program Development: A National Approach to Improving Capacity for Data Center Education, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA; TJ Ciccone, CFO Menlo Digital & NOVA Adjunct Instructor, Co-PI, NOVA SySTEMic, Data Center Operations Program Development: A National Approach to Improving Capacity for Data Center Education, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA; Amir Mehmood, DCO Program Head, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA

TUESDAY, July 28, 8:30–Noon

$150

WORKSHOP: AI-Resistant Assignments & Ethical AI Integration in Higher Education

This faculty development workshop equips higher education instructors across all disciplines with practical strategies to design AI-resistant assignments while maintaining academic integrity. Participants will learn the AI-Resistant Assignment System (AIAS) framework, apply it to redesign their own course assignments, develop syllabus policies for AI use, and integrate AI literacy competencies into their curriculum. Through hands-on activities, case studies, and collaborative peer feedback, faculty will leave with actionable templates, assessment strategies, and a 90-day implementation plan. The workshop addresses both defensive measures against AI misuse and proactive approaches to ethical AI integration, preparing educators to build student capacity for responsible AI use in academic and professional futures. Attendees should bring their own laptops.

Jiri Jirik, Director, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL; John Sands, Professor, Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL

$150

WORKSHOP: Department of Energy National Laboratory Hands-On Bioenergy Case Studies

Join this interactive, hands-on preconference workshop to download and explore one of a collection of free, ready to use bioenergy case studies based on current research at U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories. Participants will learn the modular structure of the case studies, complete sample classroom activities, and discuss adapting content for their own institutions guided by professionals from Argonne National Laboratory. Presenters will model learner centered strategies, and attendees will interact with real National Laboratory research, interpret sample data, and review bioenergy career exploration tools. Attendees will leave with digital materials to implement immediately, practical tips for customization, and connections to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office resources to support workforce development. This session is ideal for community college, and early university educators seeking classroom ready bioenergy learning experiences

Mike Kollasch, Learning Coordinator, Argonne National Lab Institutional Partnerships, Lemont, IL

$150

WORKSHOP: Slither Into Python Coding: Beginner Coding Without the Bite

Learn how to code in Python, one of the world’s most popular coding languages. Participants will learn the core building blocks of the Python language: input/output, variables, conversions, calculations, conditional, looping statements and functions. Participants will code various projects to experiment with Python and build a beginner’s repository of code. There is no coding experience necessary for this session. Attendees should bring their own laptops.

Brian Candido, Professor and Department Chair of Computer Technologies, Springfield Technical Community College, Orlando, FL; Lara Sharp, Dean of Engineering Technology and Advanced Manufacturing, Valencia College, Orlando, FL

Complimentary

SIG: Next Generation Manufacturing

The 2026 Next Generation Manufacturing Special Interest Group (SIG) will focus on preparing the future advanced manufacturing workforce with the skills needed by industry with a focus on advanced manufacturing and technologies including artificial intelligence. The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing team will facilitate interactive opportunities for discussion, dissemination, and networking activities for attendees. Presenters will also review strategies for addressing challenges within the national advanced manufacturing technician education community that can be implemented at your institution.

Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Executive Director & PI, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Farmington, Litchfield, CT

TUESDAY, July 28, 1:00–4:30

$150

WORKSHOP: Hands-On Implementation of Quantum Gates with Optical Components

This hands-on workshop introduces quantum computing concepts through optical experiments using off-the-shelf components. Participants manipulate photon polarization using coherent light sources, wave plates, and polarizing beamsplitters to demonstrate quantum gate operations, bridging abstract theory with tangible implementations. Quantum gates are building blocks of quantum algorithms that enable quantum computers to solve problems unfeasible for classical systems in fields ranging from cryptography and drug discovery to optimization and materials science. Participants explore qubit encoding, superposition, measurement principles, and Hadamard gate implementation. Working collaboratively, attendees perform measurements to achieve quantum literacy essential for workforce development. Designed for educators and technicians, this workshop provides resources and strategies for implementing a portable quantum computing laboratory in classrooms. No prior quantum knowledge required.

Mo Hasanovic, Assistant Teaching Professor, EdQuantum: Hybrid Curriculum for Upskilling Photonics Technicians in Advanced Optics and Quantum Technologies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

$150

WORKSHOP: Personal Genomics: Sequence Your Own DNA During this Workshop and Place Yourself on the Tree of Life

During this workshop you will sequence and analyze about 1,200 nucleotides of the hypervariable region of your mitochondrial (mt) genome. This genetic sequence is inherited from your mother and has been used to trace all human ancestry back to a “mitochondrial Eve” living about 200,000 years ago. Working from DNA obtained by a cheek swab, you will compare your mt sequence to living humans and extinct ancestors to determine the extent of modern human variation and to build an accurate tree of hominid life that includes you! The workshop will use Oxford Nanopore’s MinION, which provides a simple and inexpensive means to bring DNA sequencing into the high school and college classroom. Under an MOU with Oxford Nanopore, the DNA Learning Center (DNALC) is popularizing nanopore technology for student and citizen research. The DNALC developed DNA Subway 2.0 as the first bioinformatics toolset to work seamlessly on a cell phone and, with MinION, to deliver DNA sequencing anytime, anywhere.

Dave Micklos, InnovATEBIO and DNA Subway 2.0, Executive Director, DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Anna Feitzinger, InnovATEBIO and DNA Subway 2.0, Assistant Director for Science, DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brooklyn, NY.

Complimentary

WORKSHOP: Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) – a Proven Method for Strengthening Employer Engagement

This workshop will cover the Business & Industry Leadership Team Model including its benefits, implementation requirements, and evidence of success. Activities will take participants through the entire model and will provide reusable worksheets as each element of the BILT is explained. In addition to successes, challenges and solutions will be addressed. Attendees should bring their own laptops.

Ann Beheler, Director of Innovation, Pathways to Innovation, CORD, Waco, TX; Hope Cotner, President and CEO, CORD, Waco, TX; Maria Coons, Senior Consultant, CORD, Waco, TX

$150

WORKSHOP: Hands-On Mini-Maker Activities that Strengthen Technician Recruitment Pathways

This interactive workshop showcases Mini-Maker outreach activities developed through our NSF ATE project to engage middle and high school students in technician career pathways. Participants rotate through hands-on stations featuring soldering, 3D printing pen applications, co-bot programming and machining demonstrations used in camps and classroom outreach. Project data shows student interest in manufacturing careers increased by 27% following outreach, with hands-on experiences proving most influential; additionally, 50% of participants reported increased likelihood of enrolling in manufacturing programs. The session highlights scalable, low-cost outreach models that strengthen technician pipelines, expand school and industry partnerships, and support recruitment of diverse student populations. Participants leave with adaptable activities and implementation strategies for outreach and technician education programs.

Brooks Jacobsen, Department Supervisor Robotics, Electronics, Energy; PI, Cultivating Career Pathways for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians, Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD; Mark Iverson, Industry Partner Specialist, Robotics Instructor, Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD; Steve Trautner, Department Supervisor Precision Machining, Co-PI Cultivating Career Pathways for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians, Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD; Jennifer Severson, Grants & Compliance Manager, Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, SD

Complimentary

SIG: CREATE Energy Center Special Interest Group

Join the CREATE Energy Center to review the findings of the latest survey of energy industry and academic stakeholders, and discuss how this information can be used to shape energy technology educational programs. In the second half of the session, we will feature new curriculum and instructional materials from our industry partner Illumination Solar, along with some hands-on lab exercises using industry tools and equipment for educators to work through and replicate with students. Space is limited.

Ken Walz, NSF Center Director, CREATE Energy Center, Madison Technical College, Monona, WI; Nick Matthes, Founder, Illumination Solar, Monona, WI