Wednesday 10:15–11:00

BioMADE: A Blueprint for Agile Bioindustrial Manufacturing Education and Workforce Development

BioMADE’s mission is to enable domestic bioindustrial manufacturing at all scales, develop technologies to enhance U.S. bioindustrial competitiveness, de-risk investment in relevant infrastructure, and expand the biomanufacturing workforce to realize the economic promise of industrial biotechnology. Participants will learn about how current education and workforce efforts have been brought together in a coordinated effort to build domestic workforce capacity and capabilities. The session will describe critical workforce infrastructure and strategic plans to build a strong and resilient domestic biomanufacturing workforce.

Tom Tubon, Chief Workforce Development Officer, BioMADE, Minneapolis, MN; Louise Petruzzella, Senior Program Manager, BioMADE, Minneapolis, MN; Kristin Jenkins, Senior Program Manager, BioMADE, Minneapolis, MN

Build, Hack, and Explore VR Learning in Engineering Technology for Healthcare

Build a biomedical device, hack electronic medical records, and repair a medical device in virtual space with VR headsets. Learn about the newly developed content and activities for engineering technology in healthcare. Receive access to educational content, questions, and activities. Participants will see demonstrations and participate in new educational technology for applied electronics, network security, medical device repair, and more.

Brian Bell, Lead Faculty for Biomedical Engineering Technology, St. Petersburg College, Tarpon Springs, FL

Building a Future Workforce Pipeline Through Career-Connect CTE Programs

This session will present a case study of sector partnerships. Participants will learn how a technology company closed a skills and confidence gap by building a diverse future workforce pipeline with the largest school district in the country. Hear about the strategies used by the school district/company partnership to build this pipeline utilizing in-demand skills curricula, career-connected programs, work-based learning, mentoring programs, and sector partnerships. Successful outcomes and the blueprint for this comprehensive program will be shared with the audience.

Angel Pineiro, Vice President, Strategic Academic Relations, Workforce Solutions, CompTIA, Downers Grove, IL

Creative Self-Efficacy and Women Engineering Majors: Experiences That Lead to STEM Success

Despite the increasing industry need for a diverse population of qualified engineers and technicians, women accounted for only 20 percent of engineering graduates in 2017, and currently only 16 percent of practicing engineers. Women represent only 28 percent of the STW workforce. This session will examine how the creative self-efficacy (CSE) of undergraduate women engineering majors affected how they described themselves as creative in relation to the lived experiences that led them to a level of success in STEM subjects and in the engineering major. It will highlight the educational reform needed to welcome diversity and creativity in STEM that will benefit all students.

Christine Delahanty, Professor of Engineering and Physics, Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA

Exposing High School Students to Hands-on Web-Based Dual-Credit Mechatronics Courses

This session will introduce attendees to a project that can give high school students access to four entry-level mechatronics courses at a distance in Nebraska and Minnesota. Attendees will learn the best practices used in delivering hands-on technical courses at a distance utilizing high school instructors as facilitators. The session will also cover the value of utilizing the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model to help sustain the project and best practices for delivering technical coursework online. Participants will see the trainers and observe student activities.

Jerry Muller, Industrial Trainer Coordinator, Enhancing the Independent Mechatronics Technical Curriculum and Creating a New Pathway from Rural High Schools into Mechatronics Careers, Central Community College, Columbus, NE; Dan Davidchik, Mechatroncis and Instrumentation Faculty Member, Enhancing the Independent Mechatronics Technical Curriculum and Creating a New Pathway from Rural High Schools into Mechatronics Careers, Central Community College, Columbus, NE; Doug Laven, Mechatronics Faculty Member, Enhancing the Independent Mechatronics Technical Curriculum and Creating a New Pathway from Rural High Schools into Mechatronics Careers, South Central Community College, North Mankato, MN

GitHub Classroom in the Classroom

Git and GitHub are essential tools in the IT industry. GitHub Classroom provides a way for students to learn these tools with hands-on projects while working in a classroom environment that encourages collaboration and helps ensure academic integrity. This session will introduce attendees to GitHub Classroom and demonstrate how to access and use its features.

David Singletary, Professor, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL; Pamela Brauda, Professor, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL; William Money, Student, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL

(New Session) Grant Funding Demystified: Exciting NSF ATE Funding Opportunities and No-cost Proposal Development Help

(Repeated THU 9:15–10:00) NSF ATE Lead Program Officer, Dr. Celeste Carter, will review current funding opportunities, congressional re-authorization of the ATE Program with potential budget increases, and plans for a 2024 ATE Solicitation. NSF ATE proposals are complex and can be daunting for two-year colleges. Understanding the expectations and nuances of this funding opportunity contributes to proposal success. Mentor-Connect’s comprehensive no-cost help for prospective two-year college grantees (customized mentoring options, technical assistance, resources specific to ATE proposal development, and STEM faculty leadership development) is often the key to success. Mentor-Connect has assisted 234 colleges with a 71 percent funding rate for those new to ATE.

Elaine Craft, PI, Mentor-Connect Forward: Leadership Development and Outreach for ATE, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC; Dr. V. Celeste Carter, Lead Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Performance-Based Education: Foundations

In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of the benefits and implementation of performance based-education (PBE), including how to get started, deployment, lab scheduling, and integration of emerging technologies.

Renee Blackshear, Professor, Texas State Technical College, Brownwood, TX; Billy Weaver, Professor, Texas State Technical College, Harlingen, TX

Retention, Success, Persistence, Assistance, Oh My!

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has supported the Supplemental Instruction (SI) program through several iterations since 2010. The current program falls under our Hispanic Serving Institution Title 3 and Title 5 grants. The program in its current form is a result of twelve years of planning, learning what works and what doesn’t for our diverse student body, and focusing on STEM areas such as computer technologies. Results clearly show that students do considerably better with SI. We want to share what we have learned during our SI journey.

Brian Candido, Department Chair, Computer Technologies, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), Springfield, MA; Lara Sharp, Dean of STEM, STCC; Tim Rudenko, Student Supplemental Instructor, STCC; Jackson Perez, Student Supplemental Instructor, STCC

Wednesday 11:15–Noon

Academia-Industry Collaborations to Enhance Workforce Development and Create Microcredentials

This engaging session will include a discussion of best practices for academia-industry collaborations, along with details on the process our project team utilized to develop a digital badge to raise cyber awareness among technicians working in the areas of robotics, automation, and mechatronics (RAM). A demonstration of our free Cyber4RAM badge will be included, along with information about how our badge modules can be employed by others to develop microcredentials for related fields (such as Cyber4EVs or Cyber4Solar).

Evelyn Brown, Director, Extension Research and Development, The Robotics/Automation and Cybersecurity Knowledge Sharing Coordination Network (TRACKS-CN), NC State University, Raleigh, NC; Zackary Hubbard, Dean of Technical Programs, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC; Aimee Durham, Chair, Department of Information Technology, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, NC

ATE Program Officers Discuss Funding Opportunities for Two-Year Institutions

This moderated panel session brings together four National Science Foundation program officers with experience as two-year faculty who are currently serving in the Division of Undergraduate Education. The panel’s discussion will provide an overview of the various funding opportunities available to two-year institutions including ATE, HSII, S-STEM, and others. Attendees will learn about the goals of the various programs, and how to determine which program best aligns with a specific project idea.

Rachael Bower, Director/PI, ATE Central, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; V. Celeste Carter, Lead Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA; Mike Davis, Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA; Christine Delahanty, Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA; Kalyn Owens, Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Biotechopoly™ Antibody Edition: A New Game for Career, Company, and Biotechnology Education

The biotechnology industry has trouble recruiting technicians. One explanation is that students do not know what people do in biotechnology companies. One team in the Antibody Engineering Hackathon, August 8-11, 2022, helped develop the Biotechopoly™ Antibody Edition. The game introduces biotech jobs and teaches students about industry-specific concepts in drug development. Along the way, players experience luck and karma, take risks, and encounter the trials and tribulations of developing biotechnology products. Students who have tested the game tell us Biotechopoly™ is fun, educational, engaging and, at times, harsh. Come play the game and see what the excitement is all about.

Sandra Porter, PI, Developing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Antibody Engineering, Digital World Biology, Seattle, WA; Todd Smith, Chief Technology Officer, Developing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Antibody Engineering, Digital World Biology, Seattle, WA; Feather Ives, Instructor, Developing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Antibody Engineering, Merritt College, Oakland, CA; Aron Kamajaya, Instructor, Developing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Antibody Engineering, Los Angeles Pierce College, Woodland Hill, CA; Sheela Vemu, Instructor, Developing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Antibody Engineering, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL

Finding Assistive Technology Solutions for College Students with Disabilities

Attendees will learn how to develop and implement a student-centered strategy of assistive technology for college students. Topics will include how to determine the technology readiness of students and their ability to adapt to new strategies using assistive technologies, how to determine the right type to meet student needs, and when and how to elevate the accommodation to meet immediate and long-term needs. The right-sized accommodation is the one that works for the student and can be delivered. Explore common solutions for low-level needs and innovative solutions to more complex needs using the latest in assistive technology.

Mike Sauter, Alternate Media/Assistive Technology Specialist, Access ATE, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA

Hear Technician Stories: Be Part of the Talking Technicians Podcast

Join us for a presentation and recording of the Talking Technicians Podcast of the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC). Talking Technicians, an ATE podcast, highlights community college graduates working as technicians in their chosen fields. During this special session, we invite you to participate in the recording of a live podcast. Hear your voice on air or listen in and be part of the audience—the choice is yours. This session will feature a panel of three working technicians in micro/nano, biotech, and IT. Ask questions and be part of the Talking Technicians Podcast. Hosted by Peter Kazarinoff and Janet Pinhorn from MNT-EC with our industry panel of guests.

Peter Kazarinoff, Professor, MNT-EC, Portland Community College, Portland, OR; Janet Pinhorn, Program Manager, MNT-EC, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA

(New Session) Sustaining Long-Term Innovation: The BILT Leads; Competitive Grant Proposals Can Provide Funding

(Repeated WED 3:45–4:30)  Learn how the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model, coupled with developing a culture and knowledge of writing competitive grant proposals with emphasis on BILT leadership, provides a strong strategy for long-term innovation. This session will cover BILT essentials and how colleges across the nation have benefitted from this coupling.

Ann Beheler, PI, Pathways to Innovation/CTC/ITSS, CORD and Collin College, Waco, TX

Teaching Cloud Technologies in a Hands-On Converged Data Center Environment

This session will describe a new approach taken with teaching cloud infrastructure technologies at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh, NC. Learn how students in the CTI-260 course were given hands-on access to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot a converged data center environment using hardware from Cisco and NetApp. In this environment, students worked in teams to deploy a real-world solution and present their experience to an audience of fellow students and faculty. You’ll learn the details of how the content was developed and delivered along with an overview of challenges, successes, lessons learned, and plans for the future.

Jeff Banham, Instructor, Cloud and Networking Technologies, Wake Tech Community College, Morrisville, NC; Dr. John Wetsch, Program Director for Cloud Computing, Wake Tech Community College, Morrisville, NC

Using AI and Machine Learning to Broaden Participation in the ATE Community

Employ big data sets and tools and AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) techniques to be better equipped to harness the data revolution. Learn how to add big data sets and use tools of dimensional reduction, cluster algorithms, and spectral analysis in your specific ATE work for the aim of increasing participation (e.g., STEM enrollment, completion, diversity metrics, funding, and usage of a technology) in your respective projects.

Ben Reid, Director and Principal Investigator, Grant Insights for Research and Development (GIRD), Impact Allies, Vero Beach, FL; Kevin Cooper, Director and Principal Investigator, Project Vision, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, FL

Using Hybrid Instruction to Increase the Participation of Women and Adult Learners in Diesel Technology

The diesel technology program at Wallace State has launched a hybrid program called Diesel by Distance. This program option combines online theory, live open discussions online, virtual reality simulations for skills trainings, and customized scheduled in-person labs. The flexibility of this program has opened the door for more females and adult learners to continue their education. After students have passed a certain level of competency, we are able to assist with finding in-field employment with one of our industry partners, thus enabling the student to earn a work-based learning credit.

Anna Beard, Diesel by Distance Project Coordinator, Developing and Implementing Hybrid Instruction to Increase the Access of Women and Adult Learners to Diesel Technology Training, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, AL; Daniel Swindall, Diesel and Diesel by Distance Instructor, Wallace State Community College, Hanceville, AL

Slides Flyer FAQ

Wednesday 1:15–2:00

Addressing Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Needs Through the Recruitment and Retention of Women

According to Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs may go unfilled by 2030. This forecast emphasizes the need to recruit populations that are currently underrepresented in the field, which includes women. During this presentation attendees will hear about the personal experiences of women in STEM fields, including what helped them persist when facing challenges throughout their career paths. Attendees will learn about strategies and resources that can be used for the recruitment and retention of women in STEM fields. Emphasis will be given to advanced manufacturing.

Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Executive Director and PI, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Farmington, CT; Kasandra Otey, Mechanical Design Instructor, Recruitment and Training Support for Diverse Populations in Mechanical and Architectural Manufacturing Technologies (RTS-MT), Pittsburgh Technical Institute, Oakdale, PA

ATE Proposal and Implementation Success: Building Relationships and Overcoming Barriers

Ever wanted to submit a proposal to the NSF ATE program for grant funding but did not think your community or technical college could? This interactive session will discuss institutional capacity-building challenges and barriers faced by a majority of the nation’s community and technical colleges that desire to write competitive ATE grant proposals. Creative solutions and resources to address institutional stumbling blocks toward grant submission and implementation will be presented. In addition, a two-year case study of a unique team approach and lessons learned in cybersecurity will be shared. Interaction and engagement from the audience will be strongly encouraged.

Elizabeth Hawthorne, PI, Fortifying Cybersecurity and Computing through ATE grants, Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD; Barbara Belón, Co-PI, FORCCE-ATE, Fortifying Cybersecurity and Computing through ATE Grants, Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD; Blake Urbach, Principal Consultant and Evaluator, Fortifying Cybersecurity and Computing through ATE Grants, Preferred Program Evaluations, Orlando, FL; Heather Ruttkofsky, Dean of Health Sciences, Career and Technical Trades, Fortifying Cybersecurity and Computing through ATE Grants, Jackson College, Jackson, MI

The BILT Model: Maximizing Employer Relationships to Make Students Workforce Ready

The Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model, a structured approach that engages employers to help steer curriculum development and keep programs current with evolving technology, is gaining traction at colleges across the country. This model gives faculty expert guidance so students learn the skills they need to be “workforce ready.” Attendees will learn how they can use the seven essentials of the National CTC’s BILT model in their programs to boost engagement with business and industry. The BILT approach works with any technical discipline.

Ann Beheler, Principal Investigator, National Convergence Technology Center, Collin College, Frisco, TX; Mark Dempsey, Assistant Director, National Convergence Technology Center, Collin College, Frisco, TX

A Campus-Level View of Faculty and Academic Advisors in IT Programs at Ivy Tech Community College

Collaboration is key to understanding practices at institutions that support students in their pathways. In this presentation, we will share findings from collaborative research from the Rutgers Education and Employment Research Center and faculty members from Ivy Tech Community College’s School of IT. For the last four years, we’ve been engaged in research to better understand student decision-making in these programs. We focus on issues that are common to schools of IT (despite differences in size and resources), solutions to those issues, and the importance of advisor and faculty communication across campuses.

Sam Scovill, Researcher, Rutgers University’s Education and Employment Research Center, Piscataway, NJ; Danette Coughlan, Assistant Professor of Computing and Informatics, Department Chair, Ivy Tech Community College, Evansville, IN

Converging Technologies: A Single Doorway to Multiple Educational and Career Pathways

As a result of emerging technologies and their associated integrated systems, interdisciplinary knowledge and skills are necessary to manufacture, operate, and sustain these products during their life cycles. This enables a new approach to education and training that leverages common principles of science, technology, and engineering within that integrated system. Some high-technology products share design requirements even if their specific applications are different. Therefore, a common set of education and training standards can be developed. The convergence of technologies provides opportunities for convergence of standards, credentials, and curriculum that meets industry workforce development needs.

Stephen Ley, Associate Professor, National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT), Utah Valley University School of Aviation Sciences, Provo, UT; Zack Nicklin, Co-Principal Investigator, National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT); Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls, MN; Diana Lundahl, Associate Professor, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT

ISA-TOPE Curriculum

This session will provide an overview of the ISA-TOPE project and will showcase the curriculum developed along with other resources and best practices learned during the course of the project.

Carl Borleis, Director of Program Excellence, Preparing Students for Technical Careers in Autonomous Technologies for Commercial Trucks and Off-Highway Vehicles, Transportation Center of Excellence, Rosemount, MN; Shannon Mohn, Instructor, Preparing Students for Technical Careers in Autonomous Technologies for Commercial Trucks and Off-Highway Vehicles, M-State Community College, Moorhead, MN; Forrest Brownlee, Instructor, Preparing Students for Technical Careers in Autonomous Technologies for Commercial Trucks and Off-Highway Vehicles, Hibbing, MN

No Cells? No Problem. Teach Hands-On Biotech Skills/Techniques Using Cell-Free Technology

Learn how cell-free systems such as BioBits® can authentically demonstrate molecular biology concepts or biotech techniques. Visualize transcription and translation in real-time, make fluorescent proteins to examine the link between protein structure and function, or use the system as part of your biotechnology protein synthesis and analysis workflow—all without the need for tedious cell culture. These activities serve as interactive tools for understanding biology fundamentals and building valuable lab techniques and skills critical for the biotech workforce.

Ally Huang, Lead Research Scientist, miniPCR bio, Cambridge, MA; Janet Standeven, Biotechnology Teacher and iGEM Advisor, Lambert High School in Forsyth County Georgia, Suwanee, GA; Megan Heaphy, Equipment Depot Manager, Center for Global Health Innovation, Atlanta, GA

PI 101 Versus the School of Hard Knocks: Surviving the First Year of Your Grant

The first year of an ATE grant can be challenging. Mentor-Connect is now funded by ATE to provide an alternative to learning by trial and error about what you need to know and do. PI 101 is an innovative way for new PIs to get information, advice, and support. PI 101 addresses NSF expectations and responds to questions that new PIs routinely ask. In this session, a panel of ATE PIs who have recently experienced the steep first-year learning curve will share lessons learned and tips for success. NSF Program Officers will also join the session to share tips for success from their perspective. Mentor-Connect will answer questions about PI 101 and outline resources that are available for implementing a new ATE grant.

Pamela Silvers, co-Pi, Instructor, Mentor Connect Forward: Leadership Development, Mentor-Connect, SCATE Center of Excellence, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC; Terry Bartelt, Mentor Connect Forward: Leadership Development, Mentor-Connect, SCATE Center of Excellence, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC; Lanka Elson, Professor of Computer Science Technology Professor, NSF ATE PI, Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD; John Dahlgren, CTE Instructor, Butte College, Oroville, CA; Marcella Gale, Mechatronics Faculty, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VA; V. Celeste Carter, Lead Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA; Mike Davis, Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA; Kalyn Owens, Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Revolutionizing Electric Vehicle Education for Service and Manufacturing Technicians

This session will focus on the education and workforce needed in the automotive industry to adapt to the shift from traditional fuel-powered to battery-powered electric vehicles (EV). A unique integrated approach has been developed, combining evidence-based programs to meet the needs of underrepresented groups and address the technology skills gap. This program, developed in collaboration with industry partners, uses a cross-disciplinary EV manufacturing and service industry technician education hybrid curriculum designed to increase and diversify the pool of qualified EV manufacturing and service industry technicians.

Tammy Quiney, Instructional Designer, Collaborative Research: Revolutionizing Electric Vehicle Education, Clemson University, Greenville, SC; Rebecca Short, Director of Operations, Collaborative Research: Revolutionizing Electric Vehicle Education, Clemson University, Greenville, SC; Robert Elliott, Dean, Manufacturing and Maintenance, Collaborative Research: Revolutionizing Electric Vehicle Education, Trident Technical College, Charleston, SC

Wednesday 2:15–3:00

ChatGPT: Using an AI-Based Conversational Model in a Traditional Programming Course

Traditional programming courses have relied on students learning coding syntax from examples and other textbook sources. As students learn to write code, they become proficient in the syntax, logic, debugging, and documentation of their code. ChatGPT is a revolutionary method that enables students to generate new code, fix bugs and errors, and learn and write programming languages and computational concepts.

Debasis Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, CyberSecure: Extended Cybersecurity Education, Curriculum and Workforce Development, Award #1700562, University of Hawaii Maui College, Kahului, HI

Closing Gaps in Diversity and Inclusion With Project-Based Learning in Biotechnology

Project-based learning helps to cultivate culturally inclusive classrooms that celebrate diversity and inclusion while fostering cultural respect. Projects based on everyday questions can be framed into team projects that lead to exploration of further knowledge. Each section of a project’s plan or flow chart can be researched, discussed in the group, and explored with critical thinking. In small groups we’ll identify a common interest question and format it into a flow chart of knowledge and research. Each group around the table will come up with a question and work on it with guided instructions.

Chander Arora, Biotechnology Program Director, Expanding the Biotech Pipeline to Include Non-Traditional Students, Los Angeles Mission College, Sylmar, CA

Closing the Industrial Workforce Skills Gap

With the rise of automation comes the need for highly skilled industrial professionals. For 80 percent of manufacturers, attracting and retaining the right talent remains their top challenge. It’s clear that better education and hands-on training is the way forward. In fact, 75 percent of manufacturers surveyed said that upskilling their workers helped improve productivity, promotion opportunities, and morale. In an effort to close the skills gap and demonstrate qualification, certifications and credentials have become increasingly important. Higher ed, particularly community colleges, can boost students’ employability before they graduate by offering in-demand certification programs with guidance and support from industry.

Steve Lehr, Director of Business Development – North America, Festo Didactic Inc. North America, Eatontown, NJ

Community Colleges Co-Operating to Improve Technical Education for Contemporary Students

This session will disseminate and discuss techniques for improving student learning of complex technical subjects such as electric/hybrid vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. The PIs of NSF grant projects at Minnesota Community and Technical College and Riverland Community College are closely collaborating to improve student outcomes.

Olle Gladso, Instructor, Educating Autonomous Vehicle Technicians, Riverland Community College, Albert Lea, MN; Shannon Mohn, Instructor, Amping Up Today’s Electric Drive Automotive Education, AMPED Technology Certification: Advanced Modules in Powered Electric Drive Technology Certification, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Moorhead, MN

Illuminating Economic Development in Community Colleges: Lessons From NSF ATE Grants

The Hidden Innovation Infrastructure NSF ATE project studies the role of technician education at community colleges and its relationship to regional economic development. In this presentation, we will review findings from one aspect of the project that looks at how NSF ATE grantees articulate their programs’ relationship with regional economic development. The remainder of the session will be a facilitated discussion aimed at learning more about how ATE grantees interact with regional workforce and economic development, and how we can help each other leverage partnerships in collaboration with these organizations.

Michelle Van Noy, Director, The Hidden Innovation Infrastructure, Rutgers University’s Education and Employment Research Center, Piscataway, NJ; Marilyn Barger, Senior Education Advisor, FLATE, Orlando, FL

It Isn’t What You Think: Cutting-Edge Careers in Advanced Manufacturing

Did you know that there are manufacturing careers in high-end fashion, sustainable agriculture, and artificial intelligence? Did you know there will be manufacturing careers in 5-10 years that don’t yet exist today? There are clear connections between many nontechnical interests and STEAM opportunities that can help encourage students to expand their horizons and consider advanced manufacturing careers. Manufacturing USA can help educators understand the many nontraditional manufacturing careers that exist (and will soon exist), how to make the connections between students’ interests and those careers, and how students can access opportunities in and pathways to advanced manufacturing careers.

Speaker: Christina Jones, NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing, Gaithersburg, MD. Panelists: Keith Joseph, RAPID Manufacturing Institute, New York, NY; Conrad Leiva, CESMII, Los Angeles, CA; John Balchunas, NIIMBL, Raleigh, NC; Natasha Spackey, AFFOA, Cambridge, MA

Ports to IT Professionalism: Developing Work-Based Learning Programs in Information Technology

Attendees will learn how to create work-based learning programs in information technology at their institutions using lessons we have learned and detailed in our work-based learning program replication guide. Since the launch of the Information Technology Flexible Apprenticeship (ITFA) program in 2017, Columbus State Community College’s faculty and staff and employer partners have learned what it takes to run a work-based learning program incorporating career-readiness activities, rigorous academic coursework, and on-the-job technical training. In this session, we will share our successes and challenges. Attendees will receive actionable advice and access to a digital copy of the replication guide.

Sara Lucas, Project Manager, IT Work Study Flexible Apprenticeship Model, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Geoff Bauer, M.Ed., Supervisor: Partnerships and Programs, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Col. Lawrence McWherter, Assistant Professor, Information Systems Technology, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Alie Hernandez, Program Coordinator, Partnerships and Programs, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH

Strategies for Recruiting Underrepresented Students in STEM Programs

In this interactive session, facilitators will discuss approaches used to increase awareness of, access to, and enrollment in a machine tool program in Central Wisconsin. Emphasis will be placed on the recruitment of Southeast Asian/Hmong adults in the region. Lessons learned, and adaptations made to recruitment strategies utilizing a cultural lens, will be discussed. An open discussion on how attendee institutions attract minority populations into STEM programs will be facilitated. Attendees will walk away with best practices for diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Frank Fernandes, Physics Instructor and Principal Investigator, ATE ReTool Project, ReTooling a Machine Tool program in Central Wisconsin, Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, WI; Jeff Block, Machine Tool Faculty, ReTooling a Machine Tool program in Central Wisconsin, Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, WI

Use of Aerial Drones for Solar Photovoltaic Site Assessment

Solar professionals invariably conduct a technical on-site survey before construction to assess the suitability of a given location and to predict the potential for solar energy generation. With current methods, solar companies still spend hours using ladders and hand-measuring rooftops, which slows down project pipelines, reduces accuracy, and increases safety risks. Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) combined with solar design software and 3D modeling tools can eliminate roof climbs; decrease on-site time by up to 90 percent; and increase design accuracy to avoid redesigns, change orders, and/or delays on install day.

Ken Walz, Director and Principal Investigator, CREATE Energy Center, Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI; Daniel Castano, Lead Technical Trainer, Scanifly, Brooklyn, NY

Wednesday 3:45–4:30

Critical Question for STEM Programs: What Does Industry Want Students to Know?

It is essential for students in workforce-focused STEM programs to acquire the competencies employers require students to possess. The GeoTech Center has collaborated with industry partners and the US DoL to define those competencies and create the Geospatial Technology Competency Model—a pyramid of competencies in multiple tiers from basic to specific geospatial knowledge. The competencies were used to create a self-assessment for individuals and a program assessment tool to build the content for geospatial programs. This presentation will cover how this can be accomplished for other disciplines.

Ann Johnson, Associate Director, GeoTech Resource Center, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Rathdrum, ID; Vincent DiNoto, Director, GeoTech Resouce Center, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, KY

Engaging High School and Community College Students in Research and Service

During this presentation we will describe the research and service programs that we use to engage students and introduce them to technical careers. Our projects introduce students to real-world applications and provide them with opportunities to solve actual problems and contribute to global research projects. Food insecurity in our community is an issue that students have worked on addressing. High school students designed and built a hydroponics unit, and community college students installed a raised bed garden on campus. Both college and high school students participate in research that addresses antibiotic resistance, a global health concern. These and other projects and their impacts will be discussed.

Douglas Mooney, Professor, Engaging Students from Classrooms and Camps to College and Technical Careers, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted, CT; Sharon Gusky, Professor/PI, Engaging Students from Classrooms and Camps to College and Technical Careers, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted, CT

Equipping U.S. Manufacturers With a Skilled Technical Workforce: A Competency-Based Approach

U.S. manufacturers consistently cite the lack of a skilled workforce as one of the biggest challenges to advanced manufacturing initiatives. To address this challenge, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute has created RoboticsCareer.org. This free national resource identifies and standardizes the competencies, skills, and pathways required of an advanced manufacturing workforce, and includes training options ranging from apprenticeships to two- and four-year degree programs. Additionally, ARM has developed an endorsement program that recognizes and promotes high-quality robotics training and education. Learn how your institution can leverage these innovative resources to increase awareness of your programs and support your students.

John Zappa, Senior Product Manager, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, Pittsburgh, PA; Mary Ellen Rich, Certification Manager, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, Pittsburgh, PA

The Future of Wireless Technology: B5G, 6G, Wi-Fi 7 and 8

This session will explore the next generations of wireless technologies that will be enhanced by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) as we move through this present decade. Today, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, enablers of Industry 4.0, the key to integrating alternative energy to the grid, and countless other technology innovations are enabled primarily through wireless data transmission. Presently 6G is in the planning stage, as is Wi-Fi 8. This presentation will address these emerging technologies, anticipated timelines, and their targeted applications and will also endeavor to explain how ML and AI will be used in their implementation.

Gary Mullett, Professor and Department Chair, AET, Internet of Things Education Project, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA

How to Bring qPCR and Other Molecular Testing Tools to Your Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has made learning about molecular testing more important than ever. Learn how you can bring PCR, gel electrophoresis, qPCR, and even CRISPR/Cas labs to your program with tools that are affordable, accessible, and engaging. Discover easy-to-use hands-on resources and free curriculum that can help your biotechnology, medical laboratory technology, and clinical laboratory programs gain a practical and conceptual grasp on pivotal molecular techniques and prepare your students for the biotechnology and lab technology workforces.

Ally Huang, Lead Research Scientist, miniPCR bio, Cambridge, MA; Janet Standeven, Biotechnology Teacher and iGEM Advisor, Lambert High School in Forsyth County GA; Megan Heaphy, Equipment Depot Manager, Center for Global Health Innovation, Atlanta, GA

Learning from the Pandemic: Creating Resilience and Diversity in AMT Programs

Aviation maintenance technology (AMT) programs rely heavily on kinesthetic learning. The COVID-19 crisis caused major disruptions to AMT programs’ curricula. Applying a resilience engineering framework, this NSF ATE project investigates AMT programs’ immediate and long-term learning responses to the pandemic using qualitative and quantitative methods. Additionally, we analyze data on digital learning tools to gain in-depth insights into successful methods for maintaining academic continuity with the added benefit of diversifying the future workforce. We discuss our findings and share evidence-based guidelines based on our data and other published work. These guidelines can help maintain academic continuity and increase diversity.

Rebecca Short, Director of Operations, Clemson University Center for Workforce Development, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, Greenville, SC; Michael Sasso, Assistant Dean, AMT, Cape Cod Community College, Barnstable, MA; Damon Lercel, AMT Professor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; Karen Johnson, Associate Professor, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; Vice President & Journal Editor, Aviation Technician Education Council

Lessons Learned for Teaching IT From a Semi-retired Professor

This session deals with strategies for engaging and retaining students through hands-on learning, beginning with course planning several weeks before class begins through the first day, syllabi, learning styles, group labs, lab reports, grading, and continuous monitoring and improving. Session participants will explore new ways to organize student groups and prepare learning activities. It is designed for IT students but should work equally well with other technical disciplines.

Glenn Jones, Semi-retired Associate Professor of IT Networking and Cloud, Tulsa Community College, Owasso, OK

Sustaining Long-Term Innovation: The BILT Leads; Competitive Grant Proposals Can Provide Funding

(Repeat of WED 10:15–11:00) Learn how the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model, coupled with developing a culture and knowledge of writing competitive grant proposals with emphasis on BILT leadership, provides a strong strategy for long-term innovation. This session will cover BILT essentials and how colleges across the nation have benefitted from this coupling.

Ann Beheler, PI, Pathways to Innovation/CTC/ITSS, CORD and Collin College, Waco, TX; Dr. V. Celeste Carter, Lead Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Thin Film Deposition of Aluminum With Affordable Rough Vacuum Thermal Evaporator

Join this session to learn how by adding $3K in components to a $5K rough vacuum system, you can build a real-world system that can show a coating process on glass or silicon. This system can be utilized to run capstone experiments in an introductory vacuum systems course in a two-year technical program where students can investigate how thickness and uniformity of thin films is affected by different factors. In addition, this session will provide a deposition process demonstration, access to a suite of rough vacuum and thin film deposition experiments, and access to other relevant resources.

Elena Brewer, Professor, Developing an E-book and Other Interactive Instructional Materials for Technician Education in Vacuum Technology (ATE Project #2000454), SUNY Erie Community College, Williamsville, NY; Anthony Dalessio, Professor, The Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) Resource Center, SUNY Erie Community College, Williamsville, NY

Thursday 8:15–9:00

Aligning Advanced Manufacturing Community College Programs to Address Industry Needs in Massachusetts

We will present the MassBridge project and discuss our approach to aligning advanced manufacturing programs across seven community colleges in Massachusetts. Funded by the DoD, MassBridge developed a process for mapping industry needs to existing curricula to identify gaps and develop content to address those gaps. During the session, we will share employer data and analysis, the curriculum playbook that can be followed to perform this work, and the products that were developed, including the skill assessment rubrics and student electronic portfolio template. The resulting products can be easily adapted to many other industry sectors, including CS, biotech, and others.

Meghan Abella-Bowen, Senior Program Manager, Center for Advanced Manufacturing, MassTech Collaborative, Westborough, MA; Marina Bograd, Associate Professor and Chair of Engineering, MassBay Community College, Wellesley, MA; Dr. Beth Unger, MIT Research Scientist, MIT, Cambridge, MA; Rick Bsharah, Dept. Chair, Associate Professor of Engineering, Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable, MA

Bridging the Skills Gap by Implementing 3D Printing Into Your Curriculum and Training

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) plays a key role across industries, but there is a widening gap between the technology and the number of skilled workers who can drive it. As a certification institution, you will prepare the workforce of tomorrow by offering a professional proficiency credential in additive manufacturing technologies, industries, and applications; FDM and PolyJet materials; key technology specifications; design considerations from CAD to CAM; fabrication considerations; and post-processing methods. Come and engage with the director of education for Stratasys, Jesse Roitenberg, on how this offering can transform your coursework and workforce development path.

Jesse Roitenberg, Director of Education, Stratasys, Eden Prairie, MN

Development of Micro/Nano Curriculum at the Micro Nanotechnology Education Center

This session will provide an introduction to the curriculum developed by MNT-EC center and how course implementation can be disseminated into micro/nanotechnology programs.

Zachary Gray, Assistant Professor, MNT-EC, NACK, State College, PA; Vishal Saravade, MNT-EC, Penn State, State College, PA

From Creation to Celebration: A Holistic Internship Experience for Biotech Students

Internships are integral to technical education training and provide an important bridge to employment. Valencia College’s Biotechnology grant focuses on improving the internship experience and better preparing students to enter the workforce. We created two online courses. One guides students through internship requirements, the application process, and the sites available. The other prepares students to enter the workforce by focusing on essential workforce skills and current biotechnology topics. Finally, we developed opportunities for students to learn about careers in biotechnology, present their internship work, and network with industry professionals.

Susan Ingersoll, Professor and Program Director, Improving the Biotechnology Internship Experience to Better Prepare Student Technicians for the Modern Workforce, Valencia College, Orlando, FL

Guided Pathways in Technical Pathways: Lessons Learned

CPTC became a Guided Pathways institution in 2018 and has since worked to incorporate Guided Pathways into its technical degrees. The presenters’ research, conducted as part of the Harvard Strategic Data Program for Career and Technical Education (SDP-CTE) fellowship, reveals that there is no silver bullet to solving retention and completion issues but provides examples of successful fact-finding and program innovations. Attendees will leave with concrete examples of how to adapt Guided Pathways principles to technical programs, the prerequisites for measuring the effectiveness of these interventions, and methods of collaboration between institutional research departments and instructional workforce divisions and program faculty.

Samantha Dana, AVP for Institutional Effectiveness, Clover Park Technical College, Lakewood, WA; Dr. Claire Korschinowski, Dean of Instruction, Clover Park Technical College, Lakewood, WA

Program Evaluation Power: How Program Evaluation Empowers Your Students and Industry Partners

Program evaluation is critical to every project to demonstrate impacts and return on investment. When we involve the people we intend to serve in our education and workforce programs, we create sustainable and culturally responsive programs with lasting impacts. In this session, attendees will engage with program evaluators sharing information from two NSF ATE program evaluation materials to discover program evaluation metrics for all people groups and programs for meaningful and impactful program evaluation.

Sondra LoRe, Director, Center for Academic Research and Excellence, Program Evaluator for ATE projects #2000193 and #1900165, Chattanooga State and SPEAR Consultants, Chattanooga, TN

Recruitment and Retention: Strategies That Can Work for You

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with broadening participation, are important to educators and employers. Learn about strategies that have positively impacted recruitment and retention of diverse students in technician education classes and programs around the country. These fresh, cost-effective ideas may be just what you need to advance your program now, or that you can incorporate in grant proposal plans. Three experienced technician educators will share what worked for them. You will leave this presentation with specific ideas you can adapt or adopt to increase enrollment and retention in your technician education and related STEM programs.

Esperanza Zenon, Instructor, Grant PI, Advanced Industrial Instrumentation Control Technician Education, River Parishes Community College, Gonzales, LA; Pamela Silvers, Instructor/Co-PI, Mentor Connect Forward: Leadership Development, Mentor-Connect, SCATE Center of Excellence, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC; Terry Bartelt, Mentor Connect Forward: Leadership Development, Mentor-Connect, SCATE Center of Excellence, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC

Teaching and Learning Strategies to Foster Student Engagement

The presenter will review teaching strategies and tools he has found effective in increasing student engagement in asynchronous, synchronous, and hybrid modality courses. Discussion about how these practices and resources support the Department of Education’s “regular and substantive interactions” guidelines will be emphasized. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the practices and how they can be implemented in their own teaching environments.

Mark Choman, Professor, Computer Information Systems, Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, PA

Virtual Career Connections in Energy and Engineering

This session will tell the story of how we launched a virtual Career Connections event to connect students and alumni with local industry. The events serve as a platform for students to learn about their chosen field, the decisions and opportunities behind each industry professional’s personal career trajectory, what to expect after being hired, and the many options they have as they start (or develop themselves along) their journey. Our session will offer ready-to-implement solutions for meeting industry demand, work experience program requirements, and graduate job placement.

Heidi Gurdo, Department Chairperson, Delaware Technical Community College, Newark, DE; David LaFazia, Instructional Coordinator, Delaware Technical Community College, Newark, DE

Thursday 9:15–10:00

Building a Community of Practice Around Culturally Responsive Teaching

Culturally relevant instruction in STEM fields boosts students’ sense of belonging and identity. Professors at a community college engaged in a year-long series of professional development activities designed to infuse their classrooms with high-impact practices. Hear from students, professors, subject matter experts, and administrators about how to build a community of practice and its impacts.

Sarah Belknap, Professor, HSI ATE Hub Initiative, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY; Vanessa Morest, Provost, HSI ATE Hub Initiative, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY; Juan Rodriguez Jr., Professor, HSI ATE Hub Initiative, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY

Building a New Pathway in Cloud Computing With the Engagement of Business Industry Leadership Teams

The cloud computing industry has become the number one transformative technology trend in the Southeast region and the nation. The pandemic single-handedly accelerated this move. With increased demand for emerging technology education, a unified approach that brings together best practice technical degree institutions is called for—an approach that involves sharing best practices, curriculum, faculty training, and industry networks. A transforming technology environment poses challenges for technical colleges. There is a continuous need to adopt, modify, and create new content to stay aligned with emerging technologies.

Mubarak Banisakher, Computer Science Instructor, An Initiative of Closing the Cloud Computing Skills Gap, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL; Marilyn Carrasquillo, Computer Science Assistant Professor, An Initiative of Closing the Cloud Computing Skills Gap, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL

Case Study: How the ITSS Project Created Future-Facing Technician Skill Standards

The “IT Skill Standards 2020 and Beyond” project, funded by an NSF grant, has convened over 250 employers from across the country to identify essential job skills for the most in-demand IT job clusters. Material produced by ITSS helps IT and cyber programs nationwide align curriculum with workforce needs. This project is powered by the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model, which energizes the relationship between educators and employers to align curriculum with industry needs. Attendees will learn how to implement the ITSS process, effectively collaborate with employers, and develop skill standards. This process works with any technical discipline.

Ann Beheler, Principal Investigator, IT Skill Standards 2020 and Beyond, Collin College, Frisco, TX

The Future of Advanced Manufacturing: What You and Your Students Will Need to Know

Advanced manufacturing technologies continue to rapidly evolve and expand, creating the need for timely implementation of programmatic responses from higher education. Attendees will hear from a panel of advanced manufacturing industry representatives and educators on changes that are coming to advanced manufacturing. Panelists will discuss topics such as future workforce needs, how to prepare programs and students to meet those needs, and outreach initiatives that can change the image of manufacturing.

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

Grant Funding Demystified: Exciting NSF ATE Funding Opportunities and No-cost Proposal Development Help

(Repeat of WED 10:15–11:00) NSF ATE Lead Program Officer, Dr. Celeste Carter, will review current funding opportunities, congressional re-authorization of the ATE Program with potential budget increases, and plans for a 2024 ATE Solicitation. NSF ATE proposals are complex and can be daunting for two-year colleges. Understanding the expectations and nuances of this funding opportunity contributes to proposal success. Mentor-Connect’s comprehensive no-cost help for prospective two-year college grantees (customized mentoring options, technical assistance, resources specific to ATE proposal development, and STEM faculty leadership development) is often the key to success. Mentor-Connect has assisted 234 colleges with a 71 percent funding rate for those new to ATE.

Elaine Craft, PI, Mentor-Connect Forward: Leadership Development and Outreach for ATE, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC; Dr. V. Celeste Carter, Lead Program Officer, NSF ATE Program, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Moving to the “EDGE”: Edge Computing Comes to Technician Education

Join us to learn more about edge computing in advanced manufacturing and other disciplines with the results of a pilot program of five faculty-student teams from engineering technology programs in Florida. Each project used a LIMS Edge Appliance (Learning Integrated Manufacturing System) and smart sensors to develop their demonstration projects. Edge computing is a distributed computing framework that brings enterprise applications closer to data sources like IoT devices or local edge servers. The project concepts, setup, and outcomes will be shared, and a group discussion will be facilitated about how and where this technology can be integrated into college programs.

Marilyn Barger, Senior Educational Advisor, FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education), Tampa, FL; Richard Gilbert, FLATE, Ambrose Gromley Inc, Tampa, FL

PathTech LISTEN: Mixed Methods Longitudinal Investigations of Students in Technician Education

PathTech LISTEN (DUE #1801163) is a partnership between the University of South Florida (USF) and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE). This session will present results from multiple waves of in-depth interviews tracking short-term educational and career outcomes of community college alumni sampled from PathTech LIFE (DUE #1501999), a national survey of advanced technology students conducted in 2017/2018. This session will report on their degree completion, work history, transfer, and educational attainment. Overall, we found that study participants had a wide range of jobs primarily related to their fields of study with several pursuing four-year STEM degrees.

Will Tyson, Associate Professor, PathTech LISTEN: Mixed Methods Longitudinal Investigations of Students in Technician EducatioN, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

(Canceled) Using NI Elvis and MyDAQ to Support Remote Labs for STEM Education

This session will describe a detailed design using NI MyDAQs and NI ELVIS IIIs to build circuits that can be remotely accessed by individuals outside of the college. Lab experiments with RC and RL circuits, relays, MyDAQs, and the NI ELVISmx software suite can be used to evaluate RC and RL circuits. Likewise, lab experiments for active filters can be evaluated using NI ELVIS IIIs and NI Measurement Live software. Both the MyDAQ and ELVIS III boxes connect to computers via a USB interface. Each of the four rack-mounted computers is connected to both an ELVIS III and MyDAQ.

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

Using Skills-Based Digital Microcredentials to Support Programs Implementing BETA Skills

Biotechnology training and workforce development initiatives have created National Core Skill Standards and the Biomedical Emerging Technology Applications (BETA) Skill Standards. In this session we will highlight how these national skill standards have been used as a framework for the development of skills-based digital microcredentials. Bioscience Core Skills Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, has used these standards to create three unique and authentic microcredentials focused on individual BETA skills mastery. We will highlight the assessment development process the professional development used with faculty and the outcomes of initial testing for the three BETA skills credentials.

Heather Seitz, Co-Founder Bioscience Core Skills Institute, Biomedical Emerging Technology Applications, Bioscience Core Skills Institute, Olathe, KS; Russ Read, Executive Director, National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce, Biomedical Emerging Technology Applications, Forsyth Tech Community College, Winston-Salem, NC

Thursday 10:30–11:15

Bringing a Hands-On Entrepreneurial Program to Your Organization

Learn about hands-on, experiential programs that familiarize students with advanced manufacturing technology, entrepreneurship, and the education and career pathways that can lead to manufacturing careers. Developed by Manufacturing USA institutes, these programs effectively connect students, often from underserved communities, with resources, opportunities, and access to mentors who can help guide their career decision-making up to and through college. Hear how Manufacturing USA institutes have successfully introduced students to new technologies, and learn how you can bring these engaging programs to your school.

Moderator and Panelist 1: Courtney Power, NextFlex, San Jose, CA. Panelist 2: Joannie Harmon, IACMI, Knoxville, TN. Panelist 3: Karla Talanian, BioFabUSA, Cambridge, MA

Data Center Operations (DCO) as an Emerging Engineering Technology Discipline

Data centers are large, centralized clusters of computing hardware. Enterprise and economic activities that rely on Internet services require significant data center infrastructure to ensure continuity of services. To provide these services, data centers require significant capital investment, ongoing operational maintenance, and a trained engineering technician workforce. As computing continues to move to the cloud, the data center industry is slated to grow significantly over the next decade. This presentation will introduce data center operations as an emerging discipline, focusing on the growth patterns of the data center industry, the skills required for technicians, and postsecondary curriculum and outreach strategies.

Josh Labrie, Director NOVA SySTEMic, Expanding Regional Capacity for Training in Engineering Technology and Data Center Operations, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA; Chris Russell, NOVA IET Project Manager, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA

Digital Transformation for Accessible, Sustainable and Scalable Smart Manufacturing Education

We discuss educational resources at The Smart Manufacturing Institute (CESMII.org) and work funded by CESMII for developing hands-on learning activities for Industry 4.0, including AVR and Digital Twins. We demonstrate hands-on learning activities using a workstation developed by Amatrol with CESMII. We present case studies of required student co-ops at high-tech businesses leading to full-time jobs and a 75% completion rate in two years. Similar collaborations with regional high-tech ecosystems are critical for addressing current and emerging needs of a technical workforce needed for the digital transformation of industries accelerated by the global disruptions, caused by the pandemic and other geopolitical factors.

Sam Samanta, Coordinator of Smart Systems Technologies & Professor of Physics, FLCC, Victor, NY; Paul Perkins, President, Amatrol, Jeffersonville, IN; Conrad Leiva, VP Ecosystem and Workforce Education, CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute, Los Angeles, CA

From Evaluation to Action: Using Evaluation Findings to Improve Your Project

Evaluation is a powerful tool that can help inform project goals and activities, identify areas for growth, and guide decision-making. After providing a gentle introduction to evaluation, this session will review different ways that evaluation findings can be leveraged, whether you are in the proposal development stage or have already started your grant. Attendees will strengthen their knowledge of evaluation, identify ways that evaluation findings can be harnessed in proposal development and all phases of a project’s implementation, and walk away with relevant EvaluATE resources to support ATE proposals and evaluations.

Valerie Marshall, Research Associate, EvaluATE, The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

How to Turn Professional Development Workshops Into an Active Connected Community

Professional development workshops typically produce knowledge transfer. However, you can also have your professional development workshops create an active, engaged learning community. In this interactive session, attendees will learn about the professional development efforts of the Journal of Advanced Technological Education (J ATE), the peer-reviewed technical journal produced by and for the ATE community, and how the J ATE Readers, Writers, and Reviewers groups build a peer-review publishing community. Become a published author in J ATE and disseminate your results.

Peter Kazarinoff, Professor, MNT-EC, Portland Community College, Portland, OR; Pamela Silvers, Instructor, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Asheville, NC; Laura Malave, Academic Chair, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, FL; Billie Copley, Center Manager, MNT-EC, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA; Roberta Osmers, Faculty, Eastern Iowa Community College

Module Development, Expansion, and Dissemination for Bioindustrial Manufacturing Workforce Readiness

BioMADE’s mission is to expand the biomanufacturing workforce where entry-level technicians to management will be needed to fill the predicted 1.1M career positions in the near future. BioMADE is launching an initiative to develop modules that address the multidisciplinary workplace competencies required in bioindustrial manufacturing, building on basic biotechnology core skills to include engineering principles, systems, and process practices. This session will be interactive as the presenters seek to map knowledge gaps and where new modular content may be integrated into existing biology, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, biochemistry, and bioengineering courses. Approaches that facilitate broad impact and dissemination of resources using web-enabled platforms will be identified.

Louise Petruzzella, Senior Program Manager, BioMADE, Minneapolis, MN; Tom Tubon, Chief Workforce Development Officer, BioMADE, Minneapolis, MN

NEATEC-Developed Content Shared With the ATE Community

We will introduce content and activities developed during the life of NEATEC. An overview of our website, which the ATE community can use, will cover the following: (1) workshops developed for community college faculty and students; (2) modules, professional development, and workshops for middle and high school teachers and students; (3) training for new-hire technicians for semiconductor industries (GlobalFoundries, TEL, and others); (4) workshops and internships designed to train military members and veterans for careers in the semiconductor industry; and (5) experiential learning through internships with National Labs and industry leaders.

Abe Michelen, Managing Director, NEATEC, SUNY Poly, Albany, NY; Robert Decker, Developer, NEATEC, SUNY Poly, Albany, NY; Stephen Stewart, Developer, NEATEC, SUNY Poly, Albany, New York

Smart Start to Building Automation: Curriculum and Equipment

Decarbonization efforts demand that buildings employ control technology that saves power and energy. This session will provide an overview of new and emerging smart building controls as well as the careers that are in high demand to employ these technologies. Free curriculum has been developed through the NSF ATE project Smart Start to Energy Management. These comprehensive hands-on lessons, used and reviewed by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and six surrounding high schools, are available for free. Learn how to access these lessons and the low- or no-cost equipment used to teach about building controls.

Jennifer Brinker, Instructor, Smart Start to Energy Management, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WI; Scott Liddicoat, Curriculum Developer, CREATE Center, Madison, WI

Starting a Project to Address Diversity, Increase Enrollments, and Meet Industry Needs

The ACABT grant is well into its first year and just starting to get rolling. Working with community-based organizations and industry and internally at the college has been challenging, but it is all starting to come together. This presentation will cover the efforts of Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to bring project information to underserved areas of Milwaukee. These efforts include (1) finding and working with CBOs, (2) understanding funding mechanisms for scholarships and grants (local, state, and federal), (3) reviving industry relationships that provided letters of commitment two years old, and (4) recruiting efforts (and challenges) for workshops hosted in the community to market the opportunities.

Ted Wilinski, BAS & Sustainability Instructor, Access to Careers in Advanced Building Technology (ACABT), Milwaukee Area Technical College, Oak Creek, WI; Bonnie Griffin, Coordinator, NSF ACABT Grant, Access to Careers in Advanced Building Technology (ACABT), Oak Creek, WI

Thursday 11:30–12:15

Beyond Keychain Syndrome: Integrating Design Thinking Into Digital Fabrication Education

In the engineering technology sector, employers report that students lack the skills in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving that are necessary for success in the modern workplace. One way to address this gap is to integrate design thinking into instruction. As a nonsequential iterative approach to problem-solving, design thinking privileges teamwork and user-centric methods. In this session, facilitators will introduce three methods for effectively combining design thinking with digital fabrication—a sustained professional learning program to help faculty integrate design thinking into their pedagogy, an entrepreneurship incubator for interdisciplinary groups of postsecondary students, and an outreach-focused summer camp for K-8 students. Facilitators will share outcomes from each of these approaches, with an emphasis on how audience members can apply these techniques in their own contexts and institutions.

Christopher Russell, IET Project Manager, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA; Mary Ratcliff, Fabrication Lab Coordinator, Supporting Instructors to Embed Design Thinking in Digital Fabrication Courses, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA; Richard Sewell, Fabrication Lab Coordinator, Product Design Incubator: Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset Through Interdisciplinary Product Design, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA

Beyond the Count: Assessing and Evaluating Partnerships

Determining how to effectively evaluate the industry partnerships that inform our work can prove challenging. What metrics should we use? What methods support analysis of individual relationships as well as aggregate efforts? How can results best be shared? How might assessment improve alignment between partner interest and program need? Join The Rucks Group and Working Partners for an overview and demonstration of one such tool that shows promise, and to learn more about peer efforts, successes, and challenges around partnership evaluation. Through presentation and discussion, attendees will gain a greater understanding of evaluative approaches that support and deepen productive partnerships.

Mary Slowinski, Principal Investigator, Working Partners Project & Workshops, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA; Julia Siwierka, Director of Research and Evaluation Services, The Rucks Group, Dayton, OH; Rachael Bower, co-Principal Investigator, Working Partners Project & Workshops, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Building National Biomanufacturing Workforce Capabilities and Capacity via Manufacturing Institutes

Of the sixteen Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MII), three were created to serve the bioscience sector: the Bioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem (BioMADE), the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI/BioFab), and the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). The impact of building relationships between two-year colleges, career technical programs, industry partners, and the MIIs can lead to transformative change for educators, institutions, and job seekers. In this session, we will highlight the current and potential impacts for each of the three biomanufacturing MIIs, success stories, challenges, and innovative solutions to building workforce capacity.

Tom Tubon, Chief Workforce Development Officer, BioMADE, Minneapolis, MN; John Balchunas, Workforce Director, NIIMBL, Newark, DE; Karla Talanian, Chief Education and Workforce Officer, ARMI BioFabUSA, Manchester, NH

Crafting Clear and Concise Logic Models for Successful ATE Proposals and Evaluations

Logic models are a powerful tool that can visually communicate a project’s goals and intended outcomes. Grant proposals and evaluation plans can greatly benefit from the inclusion of a clear and concise logic model. This presentation will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the essential elements of a logic model and how to develop their own. Throughout the presentation, attendees will be shown examples of ATE logic models and how they have been used successfully. Participants will leave with practical tools for creating their own logic models and integrating them into ATE proposals and evaluation plans.

Lyssa Becho, Principal Research Associate, EvaluATE, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI; Megan Lopez, Senior Research Associate, EvaluATE, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Creating an Industry-Recognized Energy Storage Certification Credential: The PV-ESP

MREA and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) have joined together to put the U.S. on a path forward in energy storage systems technology. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), this project is creating an industry-recognized energy storage credential that is administered by an independent third-party certification body (NABCEP) to advance industry standards and promote a skilled energy workforce. The credential will be known as the NABCEP Photovoltaic Energy Storage Professional Certification, or PV-ESP.

Kenneth Walz, Director/PI, CREATE Energy Center, Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI; Nick Matthes, Solar Project Manager and Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Storage Certification Project, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), Custer, WI; Shawn O’Brien, President and CEO, Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Storage Certification Project, North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), Clifton Park, NY

Flying High and Unlocking the Potential of Drone Technology: A Comprehensive Overview

The use of drone technology has exploded in recent years, with applications in fields ranging from agriculture and construction to media and entertainment. Drones offer a unique and exciting platform for students to explore concepts in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). In this presentation, we will explore the potential of drones to enhance STEAM education and engage students in hands-on, experiential learning.

La’Quata Sumter, Engineering Professor and Education Consultant, Focusing On Me Inc, Leesburg, GA

Innovations in Automated Manufacturing Analytics: What Skills Are Needed by Technicians?

The Industry 4.0 revolution is forcing manufacturers to increase data skills across multiple manufacturing positions. Bridgerland Technical College (BTECH) has two NSF grants: Distance-Enabled Industry-Led Data Analytics Technician Pathway (ATE #2202090) and Teaching Technician Troubleshooting with Mini Industry 4.0 Factories (ATE #2100322). Guided by multiple industry KSAs, BTECH developed two courses to meet industry needs: Data 1065 “Manufacturing Analytics” and CTRL 2065 “Data and Manufacturing Analytics.” This presentation will demonstrate the curricular resources developed by BTECH. Participants will walk away with the knowledge and resources to teach manufacturing analytics at their schools.

Sydney Dahl, Data Analytics Instructor, Bridgerland Technical College, Logan, UT; Stephen Allred, Automation Technology Instructor, Bridgerland Technical College, Logan, UT; Tiffany Chalfant, Instructional Designer, Bridgerland Technical College, Logan, UT

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) With Low-Code/No-Code Tools

RPA is a software development technology used by businesses to automate repetitive tasks and processes. This presentation will help attendees understand how businesses are using RPA—with low-code/no-code tools such as Power Apps, Power Automate, and UiPath—and why educators should include it in curriculum. This presentation will explore tools for developing simple apps and chatbots to improve productivity by automating business processes. The presenter will demonstrate how to build an app solution and build a chatbot using such tools.

Rajiv Malkan, Professor, LoneStar College, Montgomery, Conroe, TX

Work-Based Learning at Scale to Ensure Equitable Access Into Employment

This session will take a look at the current barriers that marginalized populations face when looking to access work-based learning. Attendees will learn how to negate these barriers and ensure equitable access for students and job seekers. A fundamental shift in the opportunities afforded to job seekers is needed. When students are given access to work-based learning, they are more likely to establish appropriate paths for themselves and stay on them, which in turn improves retention and success.

Bob Slaman, Partnerships Director, Jobspeaker, Inc., San Francisco, CA

Thursday 2:00–2:45

Creating Talent Pipelines for Targeted High-Tech Industries

Learn how workforce agencies and educational institutions in South Florida are using our Virtual Career Center to build strong talent pipelines for high-tech industries. We will introduce our collaboration and the implementation of our Virtual Career Center with CareerSource South Florida and its affiliated schools. We will highlight how students are engaged and prepared for successful careers in targeted high-tech industries via a regional implementation.

Chuck Johnson, Business Development Manager-Education, Geographic Solutions Inc, Palm Harbor, FL; Megan Aderele, Sales Support Specialist, Geographic Solutions, Palm Harbor, FL

A Data Tapestry: Forming Conclusions for Work-Based Learning From Multiple Sources of Data

We know data tells a story, but how do you collaborate with different sources of data to tell one cohesive story? Using examples from the NSF Automotive Work Study program, Columbus State will share our learned strategies and best practices for working with different sources and types of data to draw conclusions for program improvement. Specifically, this session will cover working with programmatic, external evaluation, and institutional data; identifying when data is supporting versus competing; and pulling it all together to address deliverables and program sustainability.

Grayson McKeown, Reporting and Evaluation Coordinator, Improving Automotive Technician Training Through a Flexible Industry Apprenticeship Program, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Preethi Mony, Analyst, Improving Automotive Technician Training Through a Flexible Industry Apprenticeship Program, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH; Sara Lucas, Project Manager, Improving Automotive Technician Training Through a Flexible Industry Apprenticeship Program, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH

Findings From the 2023 Forums on Defining Environmental Technologies

The field of environmental technology affects nearly every facet of our lives, providing our water and electricity, processing our water, and protecting our habitat. In this session, we will present the findings from the 2023 forums on Defining Environmental Technologies, which brought together industry professionals from environmental science fields to identify existing and emerging workforce demands for environmental technology.

Andrew McMahan, Director, Environmental and Natural Resources Technology (EARTh) Center, Central Carolina Community College, Pittsboro, NC; Josh Webb, Associate Director, Environmental and Natural Resources Technology (EARTh) Center, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Davenport, IA

How Friendly Is Your Dog? An Authentic Research Project to Increase 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 do science, while developing 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, Co-chair, Biotechnology Program, Southeast Community College, Beatrice, NE; Tracy Niday, Co-chair, Biotechnology Program, Southeast Nebraska, Southeast Community College, Lincoln, NE; Gabrielle Johnson, Science Department Co-Chair, Southeast Community College, Lincoln, NE

Identifying Needed Math Competencies: Where We Are, Finding a Pathway Forward

The goal of the Needed Math Project is to improve the alignment of the mathematics taught in community colleges with the mathematics necessary for manufacturing technicians. The project so far has involved research that informed a large-scale survey of more than 10,000 company personnel and two-year math and technical faculty. Our purpose in this session is two-fold: (1) We will report on the survey results, discussing where there is consensus and where there are differences between survey respondents. (2) We will ask participants for input to guide future project activities that best serve the math-related needs of our students.

Lisa Seidman, Adjunct Instructor, Faculty Emeritus, Needed Math, Madison Area Tech College, Madison, WI; Marilyn Barger, Senior Educational Advisor, FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education), Tampa, FL

National Program Locator Maps That Include Dynamic Dashboards and Collecting Forms

Collecting, displaying, and analyzing location data will be the theme of this presentation. The presentation will explore building a data collection survey that contains spatial information, mapping the collected data, and interacting with the collected data through a dynamic interactive dashboard. Additional demographical information, such as U.S. Census data with appropriate symbology, can be utilized. Throughout the presentation, live interactive information will be demonstrated. All component parts will be created, constructed, and displayed in a browser. This tool can be used by any faculty member or administrator to develop a simple query with multiple factors and categories, such as survey data, that will output to a user-friendly map.

Vince DiNoto, Director, GeoTech Center, National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence, GeoTech Center/Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, KY

Online Simulation and Visualization Tools for Science and Engineering Curricula

This session will discuss the application of online simulation and visualization tools for teaching, research, and collaboration in the areas of nanotechnology, material science, environmental science, electrical engineering, biological sciences, physics, chemistry, photonics, and more. Tools include 26 Remote Access Instruments in Nanotechnology (RAIN) nodes for accessing visualization instruments; 500+ tools at nanoHuB for simulating nanotechnology processes; PV modeling and simulation tools—PVGIS, SolarGIS, PVWatts, PVsyst, and RETScreen for designing PV systems; interactive simulations at Phet for Physical sciences and math; and CompuCell3D & Physicell—and flexible modeling and simulation platforms for biology, tissue engineering, and viruses such as COVID-19. Best practices and experiences at GVSU with X-ray characterization using XPS and XRD will also be presented.

Ahmed Khan, Fulbright Scholar/President, World Learning Inc., Washington, DC/Radiance International, Oak Brook, IL; Dr. Atilla Ozgur Cakmak, Assistant Professor of Engineering, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI, Dr. Sala Qazi, Professor Emeritus, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica, NY

STCC STEM Starter Academy: Providing Equity and Access

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is dedicated to investing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research, education, and job and workforce development to meet the critical need for employees in these fields. STCC developed the STEM Starter Academy (SSA) in response to the Commonwealth’s charge. SSA provides programs for a range of students including high school students, STCC students, and STCC STEM majors. The driving principles of SSA are to support our underrepresented student populations by providing equity and access to STEM majors and pathways and to promote positive and equitable outcomes through intense student support and guidance.

Samar Ghrear, STEM Starter Academy Coordinator, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA; Jason Phillips, STEM Academic Counselor, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA

Thursday 3:00–3:45

Best Practices for Planning and Hosting Successful Professional Development Events

The National Convergence Technology Center (CTC), funded by an NSF grant, regularly offers faculty professional development events, from lengthy in-person workshops to streamlined 30-minute webinars. This includes the popular Working Connections series that’s been running in North Texas since 2002 and attracts faculty from across the country. Surveys show Working Connections—and its 3100 total faculty enrollments—has impacted at least 161,000 students. Attendees will hear best practices and implementation strategies developed across years of successful events and learn from the CTC’s successes and mistakes. Topics will include event logistics, topic selection, attendee registration, and survey evaluations.

Mark Dempsey, Assistant Director, National Convergence Technology Center, Collin College, Frisco, TX; Ann Beheler, Principal Investigator, National Convergence Technology Center, Collin College, Frisco, TX; Debbie Miller, Reporting Manager, National Convergence Technology Center, Colin College, Frisco, TX

The Data Science House We BILT

The BILT (Business and Industry Leadership Team) process is an indispensable component of developing academic curriculum for technical programs to ensure these programs meet industry needs for regional employers. This session will present a look back at the development of our two-year data science program, including how we used our local BILT. The session will also provide cautionary tales to avoid mistakes, missteps, and blunders when constructing a new program as part of a grant.

Pamela Brauda, Professor, DataTEC, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL; David Singletary, Professor, DataTEC, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL; Gina Baker, Student, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FL

E-Book Development for Technician Laboratory Experiments and Learning Activities

Join this session to learn how to create an e-book with learning activities for a laboratory course. The demand for free online educational resources (OER) is substantial. Since it may be difficult to find resources that fit a particular discipline, educators may want to pursue creating their own materials in a shareable electronic format such as an e-book. However, the process of creating and publishing an e-book is challenging. In this session, you will learn how to start your e-book, choose an e-publishing system, implement e-book components (using the Milne Publishing platform), use Creative Commons licenses, and access existing OER development resources.

Elena Brewer, Professor, Developing an E-book and Other Interactive Instructional Materials for Technician Education in Vacuum Technology (ATE Project #2000454), SUNY Erie Community College, Williamsville, NY; Nancy Louwagie, Instructor, Vacuum Technology, Developing an E-book and Other Interactive Instructional Materials for Technician Education in Vacuum Technology (ATE Project #2000454), Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN

RING: Introducing Cybersecurity Curriculum Into High Schools in Hawaii

RING (Regions Investing in the Next Generation) is a free online high school cybersecurity course that offers engaging content specifically for rural students, homeschool students, and students attending schools without existing cybersecurity programs. RING is structured for high school students, grades 9-12. The curriculum has been developed through the National Security Agency’s RING program grant to the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). University of Hawaii Maui College is part of a coalition of colleges across the U.S. supported by funds from the NSA to teach RING to high school teachers and students.

Debasis Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, CyberSecure: Extended Cybersecurity Education, Curriculum and Workforce Development, Award #1700562, University of Hawaii Maui College, Kahului, HI

SkillsUSA: Champions at Work

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. As a nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA is a successful model of employer-driven workforce development.

Renee Blackshear, Professor, Texas State Technical College, Brownwood, TX; Billy Weaver, Professor, Texas State Technical College, Harlingen, TX

Virtual and Hybrid Labs and Remote Collaboration Platform for Energy-Efficient Building Technologies

This hands-on session will present an innovative technology-rich blended learning environment for energy-efficient building technologies and IoT education and professional skills training. It will incorporate adaptable cloud-based virtual laboratories (v-Labs), augmented reality (AR) technology, synchronized collaborative online platform (SCOP), and other components that can be connected and coordinated with physical equipment at college laboratories. V-Labs enable students to perform authentic workplace tasks online using digital copies of actual devices, explore relevant equipment and processes, and, in this context, study pertinent theoretical subjects and acquire troubleshooting skills. Making students comfortable with equipment and process workflow and boosting their job-related understanding prior to hands-on work dramatically enhances their performance at college labs and during on-site training. Participants will learn how to modify and adapt virtual labs and associated resources and integrate them with their own curricula. Participants will also learn how to use SCOP for interactive remote teamwork practice and with online courses.

Yakov Cherner, Co-PI, The Internet of Things Education Project #1801090, Advanced Tools for e-Learning (ATeL), Swampscott, MA; Gary Mullett, PI, Professor and Department Chair of Applied Engineering Technologies Department, The Internet of Things Education Project #1801090, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA