Advanced Technological Education .

Welcome to the ATE Central Connection! Published the first Tuesday of each month, the ATE Central Connection is meant to disseminate information to and about ATE centers and projects, providing you with up-to-date ATE news, events, reminders, as well as highlighting new centers, projects, and resources. In addition, we will also highlight an educational topic with complementary resources found within ATE Central to help illustrate how ATE resources can be used in the classroom.

We want the ATE Central Connection to be a valuable tool; please e-mail info@atecentral.net with any suggestions about how to make the ATE Central Connection more useful for you or to suggest any information you would like to see in an upcoming issue.

In This Issue

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies -- General Manufacturing

From Bridging the Skills Gap in Smart Manufacturing through a New Technician Education Program:

Course Syllabus Standard Template: SMT 1100 Cyber Security/Networking in Manufacturing

atecentral.net/downloads/15497/4+-SMT+1100+Cybersecurity+and+Networking+in+Manufacturing+Fall+2021+syllabus+with+License.pdf

This 6-page syllabus, published by Marion Technical College, provides a course template for teaching cyber security, databases, and networking in a manufacturing environment. In addition to general course information and standard college policies, the template offers a brief course description, ten course learning outcomes, and an 8-week course outline. Topics range from OSI models, IP addressing, and database design to risk assessment and defending against cyber attacks. The document is part of a project that aims to standardize curriculum in Smart Manufacturing to educate future manufacturing technicians in advanced technology applications.

From Advanced Welder Education:

AWS SENSE QC-10 Instructor Manual for High School Instructors

atecentral.net/downloads/10875/115+Instructor%27s+Manual-SJH-19.pdf

This 54-page resource, made available by Monroe Community College (MCC), is an instructor's guide for an AWS (American Welding Society) SENSE Entry Level 115 QC-10 welder's certification course. Topics covered include: Grading Methodology, Partial Completion, Time Sheet/Attendance, AWS Performance Qualification, Fit up/Inspection, Collective Project Blueprints, and more. The guide also includes relevant contacts at MCC; reference sheets for WPS specifications; templates for grading, assessments, and attendance; and more.

From ATE 2.0: Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work:

Episode 27: Welding is One Piece of the Puzzle

www.preparingtechnicians.org/episode-27-welding-is-one-piece-of-the-puzzle/

This podcast episode, published by the Center for Occupational Research and Development, is part of a series that covers issues and topics on technician development. In this episode, Rich Little, Welding Engineer at the United Launch Alliance, discusses the skills that welding engineers require. These skills include "shield metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, [and] gas tungsten arc welding." Technological skills are also required, which include a knowledge of computers, systems, robotics, cycle times, manufacturing efficiency, and more. Little also details the solid-state welding process for aerospace engineering and describes personal experiences with education and work. The audio recording runs 18:40 minutes in length. A transcript, show notes, and a podcast feedback survey are also available on the episode webpage.

Community Connection

New ATE Student Success Story Videos

Exciting news for members of the ATE community: the second series of ATE Student Success Stories are now available to view! These videos are being created collaboratively by ATE Central and Vox Television, a Boston-based media company.

As a reminder, the ATE Student Success Stories are a video series that highlight the struggles and triumphs of a diverse set of students in community and technical college STEM programs. The videos show how the support and guidance of ATE centers and projects has helped students change their lives and careers for the better. Each video documents a unique story, but all share the common theme of demonstrating how technician education has the power to change lives. This second series will ultimately create fifteen new videos which will be made freely available through the ATE Central website.

In the first four videos of Series Two, viewers will meet five new students whose career trajectories have been changed through ATE programs: Amanda, Danial, James and Mikhail, and Paula. To learn more about these students' stories and how the videos can help you in your outreach efforts, read the latest ATE Impacts blog post.

ATE Success Tips: Websites

ATE Central's Microsite Service

Websites are an essential part of outreach, but assembling one from scratch and keeping up with maintenance can be time consuming. Current ATE grantees searching for an easier way to maintain their web presence may want to check out ATE Central's Microsite Service, which provides ATE projects and centers with a free tool for quick, easy website construction.

This service allows ATE grant-recipient projects and centers to share documents, publish curriculum materials, announce events and publications, and disseminate the innovative products of your grant. Microsites can be customized with photos, graphics, and by adding multiple pages, to give your project or center's site a unique, dynamic feel. Plus, microsites help with the archiving process by making your materials readily available to the ATE Central team when the time comes to submit your work.

If you have questions about microsites, or would like a microsite for your project or center, just drop us a note at microsites@atecentral.net.

Did You Know?

A recent report from Pew Research Center found that international student enrollment at higher education institutions in the U.S. fell by 15% in the 2020-21 academic year. The number of international students enrolled across the country fell below 1 million for the first time since 2015.

Read the full article, "Amid Pandemic, International Student Enrollment at U.S. Universities Fell 15% in the 2020-21 School Year," to learn about the data sources and find out the countries of origin most represented among the international student population in the U.S.

Select STEM Education Resources

A few online STEM resources from outside of ATE, that you may find of interest:

Purdue Online Writing Lab: Job Search Writing

owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Applying for jobs can be a time-consuming, nerve-racking venture even for the experienced professional. It can be especially daunting for recent graduates who are entering the workforce for the very first time. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL), well known for its helpful writing resources, has created this practical guide to assist with Job Search Writing. Readers will find four sections to explore: Preparing an Application, Job Search Letters, Resumes and Vitas, and Video Resumes. This last section may be of special interest as it discusses the use of video aids for job applications, from planning to filming to editing footage. Readers interested in a more traditional application may appreciate the ample collection of Model Letters or a helpful discussion on resume page length among other great resources.

Data Science for Undergraduates: Opportunities and Options

www.nap.edu/catalog/25104/data-science-for-undergraduates-opportunities-and-options

Over the past decade, numerous industries and aspects of daily life have become increasingly reliant on data and the field of data science has emerged as a career path and academic discipline. The consensus study report Data Science for Undergraduates, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and published in May 2018 by the National Academies Press, may be of particular interest to college-level STEM educators and administrators. This report "offers a vision for the emerging discipline of data science at the undergraduate level [and] outlines some considerations and approaches for academic institutions and others in the broader data science communities to help guide the ongoing transformation of this field." Among the report's many recommendations, its authors note that since data-driven decision-making is an important part of virtually every job sector, data science university programs should aim to attract students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Those interested can read the full 120-page report online or download it as a PDF for free, and it is also available to purchase as a paperback or ebook. Additionally, visitors can view a short video of the report's highlights and an hour-long public briefing video under the Resources tab.

NSTA: Science for Students with Disabilities

www.nsta.org/topics/disabilities

STEM educators may appreciate Science for Students with Disabilities, a resource provided by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Here, visitors will find a wealth of information, teaching strategies, and links to additional resources, all aimed at helping science educators work more effectively with students with disabilities. These resources are helpfully organized into Physical Disabilities and Cognitive Disabilities, with an additional category for General accessibility information. Each category is subdivided into pages focused on more specific topics, such as Visual Impairments under Physical Disabilities and Autism under Cognitive Disabilities. Each page begins with some general information about its topic followed by specific strategies that educators can adopt to make their teaching more inclusive of students with that type of disability. While these resources were compiled with science teachers in mind, educators in other disciplines may also find useful tips here. Science for Students with Disabilities is the continuation of a project originally developed by Dr. Edward C. Keller, Jr., an award-winning professor of biology at West Virginia University who, due in part to his own paralysis from polio, was passionate about working to ensure that science education becomes fully accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.

Do you have some great STEM resources you'd like to share with ATE Central? Email us with your ideas at info@atecentral.net.

ATE Events

Upcoming Events
Nano Intro to Nano for Educators Workshop Online
Gen IMS Digital Credentials Summit Atlanta, Georgia
Eng Minnesota Transportation Conference & Expo St. Paul, MN
Gen Working with STEM Experts - If Only There Was a Guide....Now There Is! Online
Eng Adas & Autonomous Vehicle Technology EXPO and Conference San Jose, CA
Mfg People, Pathways, and Technology for the Future Manufacturing Workforce (Webinar #1) Online
Eng Vision KC – Automotive Hi-Tech Training And Expo Overland Park, KS
Bio/Chem ATE Project Talks: Science Attitudes and Career Goals and Work-Based Biotech for High School Student Online
Info Free Workshop Series - Exploiting Systems Online
Eng Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC) San Diego, CA
Eng Test Systems for Brake Emissions Regulation Compliance Online
Eng MATA- Michigan Automotive Teachers Association Big Rapids, MI
Eng STEAM Leadership Conference 2022 Atlanta, GA
Eng Using ST Stellar MCU Virtual Prototypes to Deliver Next-Generation Software-Defined Vehicles Online
Eng 2022 International Women In Aviation Conference Nashville, TN
Info Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) 2022 Cleveland, OH
Eng Advanced Motor and Drive Analysis Online
Mfg NCNGM Welding Webinar Online
Gen Project Vision Recruitment Meeting Online
Eng The Software-Defined Vehicle: Key Drivers, Technologies, and Open Source Initiatives Online
Eng How Adaptive AUTOSAR Solves Complexity in Automotive with High-Performance Computing Online
Eng 2022 Minnesota Aviation Maintenance Technician Conference Brooklyn Center, MN
Eng How to Accelerate from Assistance Systems to Automated Hub-to-hub Transportation Online
Eng Altair Enlighten Award Webinar Series: The Heavy Impact of Lightweighting - A Roundtable Discussion Online
Gen Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences Online
Mfg People, Pathways, and Technology for the Future Manufacturing Workforce (Webinar #2) Online
Nano Nebraska Research and Innovation Conference Lincoln, NE
Info Cybersecurity Program Development Workshop Online
Eng Grand Farms Space AG Conference Grand Forks, ND
Gen Project Vision Recruitment Meeting Online
Mfg NCNGM Lasers Webinar Online
Eng AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2022 Orlando, FL
Eng NAPE Summit Gap, PA
Mfg ASEE Industry 4.0 Summit Washington, DC
Gen 2022 AACC Annual New York, NY

For more events, please visit the ATE Central Events page or, if you have any upcoming events that you would like posted on ATE Central or in the ATE Central Connection, please submit them online.

To add a continuously-updated list of ATE and STEM education events to your website, use the ATE Event Widget.

News & Reminders

NSF Announces New Initiative for EPSCoR Jurisdictions

The National Science Foundation has announced a new program initiative for individuals in EPSCoR states in response to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The initiative, called EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Program: Bridging EPSCoR Communities (RII-BEC), seeks to bridge programs to facilitate the transitions of affected groups (e.g., women, underrepresented minorities, research trainees, and graduate fellows) from one stage of STEM training to the next.

The initiative will accept proposals that support those individuals most strongly affected by the pandemic at vulnerable career transition points. Proposals may include partnerships within and/or across two-year and four-year institutions (including community colleges).

The deadline for proposal submission is April 4, 2022 at 5:00 pm (local time). Interested proposers are encouraged to reach out to Andrea Johnson or Subrata Acharya with questions about proposal preparation and submission.

Inaugural Issue of the Journal of Advanced Technological Education

The Journal of Advanced Technological Education (J ATE) is a peer-reviewed journal for ATE projects and centers and community college faculty and staff who work in technician education. J ATE launched its inaugural issue on Jan 31, 2022.

This introductory issue features articles submitted, peer-reviewed, and published. One of the articles addresses autonomous technologies by Zackary Nicklin. Another highlight to enjoy reading features lessons learned in technician education during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Khalid H. Tantawi.

All articles published in the journal are under a Creative Commons license. Readers are encouraged to share articles and links. J ATE continues to welcome submissions to be published in upcoming issues.

Encourage Students to Participate in the 2022 Community College Innovation Challenge

The American Association of Community Colleges, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is inviting community college students to participate in the 2022 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). In this national competition, teams of community college students work with a faculty or administrator mentor to use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to innovate solutions to real-world problems.

Members of the ATE community are encouraged to share this opportunity with their students and to serve as faculty mentors. Benefits of participation include full travel support to attend an Innovation Boot Camp in the Washington, DC, metro area, as well as cash awards.

Submissions are due March 30, 2022. Visit the CCIC page for more information and submission guidelines, or email CCIC@aacc.nche.edu for questions.

Apply Now for Implementing Nano Working Groups (INWG)

The Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge Resource Center (NACK) is offering a series of four Implementing Nano Working Group (INWG) sessions designed to help participants cultivate ideas or implement readily available, nanotechnology-based resources, facilitated by experienced nanotechnology educators from across the country.

Sessions will begin after March 15, 2022. Exact dates and times will be determined once groups are defined. Participation is open to all, but U.S. high school and undergraduate institution educators with prior nanoknowledge experience are eligible for stipends.

Interested community members should submit their application by the deadline of March 1, 2022.

Free Curriculum Pilot: Multi-Level Robotics Courses

The Clemson University Center for Workforce Development has developed a four-track robotics digital learning package to deploy to partner institutions. Through Fall 2022, the center will be piloting robotics curricula for the high school, associate, bachelor, and master levels, including courseware in virtual reality simulations, video lectures, open text, and interactive assessments.

The center is looking for instructors to participate in a free pilot program using the curricula, to provide feedback on the courseware in the form of instructor and student survey responses. The first 25 instructors to register for the pilot program with 10 students or more will receive an honorarium.

There is no deadline to apply. Interested instructors should fill out the course access request form or contact the center for more information about the curricula.

NSF to Invest in Future Manufacturing Through 22 Projects Nationwide

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded more than $30 million in research grants and project seed grants as part of the Future Manufacturing program. These awards are intended to promote U.S. competitiveness in transformational manufacturing, including biomanufacturing, cyber manufacturing, and eco manufacturing.

The research projects, which include four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, and corporations, will "investigate areas to transform the predictability, security, reliability and efficiency" of advanced manufacturing.

Read more about the awards and the grantees in this announcement from NSF.

Google Will Make Four Career Certificates Available to Community Colleges

Google announced recently that it would make its career certificates available for free to community colleges in the U.S. These certificates, which cover information technology, data analytics, project management, and user experience design, are intended to support workforce development of highly in-demand digital skills.

The certificates have been recommended by the American Council on Education as equivalent to 12 credits or 4 full courses at the undergraduate level. The state of Connecticut will offer for-credit courses using Google's IT Support Certification for the Spring 2022 semester.

Read more about the announcement in this article from CNBC.

Microsoft to Support Cybersecurity Training Efforts at Community Colleges

Microsoft recently announced an initiative to support cybersecurity workforce training at community colleges across the country. The software company will reportedly provide scholarships or other financial assistance to 25,000 students over the next 4 years and support instructor professional development at 150 community colleges, in addition to free curriculum materials.

The efforts come in the wake of recent high profile cybersecurity breaches, such as the SolarWinds attack, that have alarmed policymakers and companies.

Read more about the announcement in this article from Reuters.

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