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.

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In This Issue

Featured Resources: Agricultural and Environmental Technologies

From Modernizing Agriculture Technician Education in Appalachian Northeast Georgia:

Guide to Recruiting Agricultural Students

atecentral.net/downloads/26921/Guide+to+recruiting+Ag+students.pdf

This 30-page guide was developed by North Georgia Technical College to recruit agriculture students. This guide includes a preface about recruiting college students from Appalachia. Topics and contents include the following: the purpose of recruitment, allowing others to help, focusing on developing a quality program, integrating recruitment and retention, a recipe for success, sample recruitment and retention messages, targeting feeder school audiences, a recruitment and retention timeline, making agricultural education worth the price, a sample radio public service announcement (PSA), and a checklist developed for North Georgia Technical College Agriculture Department's recruitment plan.

From InnovATEBIO National Biotechnology Education Center:

Emerging Trends in Agricultural Diagnostics

innovatebio.org/video/emerging-trends-in-agricultural-diagnostics

In this video from InnovATEBIO, Zach Bateson describes the diagnostic biotechnology used at the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) and highlights how diagnostic data provides insights into emerging threats across the agricultural community. Bateson explores research underway at the NAGC that helps identify drivers of colony losses impacting the honeybee industry, quickly detect herbicide resistant weeds, and measure environmental pathogen densities to develop predictive models for crop diseases. Bateson also highlights his background in genetic research; diagnostic technology, such as qPCR; and other projects in agricultural diagnostics.

From Advanced Technological Education Television (ATETV):

From the Farm to the Server Farm

atetv.org/video/atetv-episode-23-from-the-farm-to-the-server-farm/

The ATETV project delivers web-based videos to connect students to careers in advanced technology. In this episode of ATETV, information and communication technologies and precision agriculture technology are discussed. Students in information and communications technologies prepare for a variety of careers in computing and networking, while precision agriculture students use the latest technology to make farming more efficient. The episode can be watched in full or through the two segments: "Booting up your future with IT and ICT Careers" and "Using Technology to Improve Farming."

Community Connection

Highlighting ATE Central's Archived Video Content

Advanced technology fields offer a breadth of opportunities for those interested in pursuing them. Hearing from students and professionals in these high-tech fields is a practical approach for reaching those who want to learn more, and many ATE grantees have turned to video content to disseminate information. The creation of home-grown video content is one of the most popular information delivery methods, with affordable digital video cameras and smartphones enabling grantees to quickly produce and disseminate their own content.

In this month's From the Archive blog post, we highlight career videos created by ATE grantees. These videos highlight the perspectives of both technicians and students from the nuclear energy, photonics, and advanced manufacturing fields. They are good examples to show students or to use as foundations to create your own work!

To find out more about creating your own video content, check out our previous From the Archive blog post, which spotlights a four-part video series from Pellet Productions designed to help grantees and other interested parties produce quality content for videos. In addition to the video series, the blog post provides links to a tip sheet from the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) on making your video content more accessible, as well as materials from a workshop providing practical advice on creating educational videos from the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT).

ATE Success Tips: Websites

How Readable is your Website?

It's sad but true: a relatively small number of website visitors actually read all of the content on a website. The rest are scanners and skimmers, on the hunt for quick and relevant details. Website readability is an important component of making sure both audience groups leave your site feeling satisfied. This can include keeping sentences, lines, and paragraphs short, offering sufficient anchors for easy scanning, and making sure that written material is presented at an accessible reading level.

The Readability Test Tool offers one quick and easy resource to help with this last aspect. Users can test all or part of a web page, or copy and paste specific sections of text. Readability formulas then help users gauge exactly how easy it is to read the submitted material. This is an especially useful tool for ATE projects and centers looking to make lasting impressions on the industry partners, prospective students, and other visitors to their website.

Did You Know?

Over half of students enrolled in higher education institutions that close do not re-enroll again, according to the National Student Clearinghouse and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Their study followed 143,215 students who were enrolled in 467 institutions that closed between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2020. They found that under half the students whose institutions closed, 47.1 percent, re-enrolled at another college or university. Students of color, male students and non-traditional-aged students were the least likely to re-enroll and complete a credential. More information can be found in the full report, titled A Dream Derailed?, and at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Select STEM Education Resources

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

Amber Waves

www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves

If you never thought a government periodical could make compelling reading, you should give Amber Waves a look. It happens to be a publication of the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS) and it deals with the economics of food, farming, natural resources, and rural America. On its homepage, visitors can look over the Features, Findings & Statistics area, which offers up commentary and more on topics such as food assistance programs, hog farms, and food safety. Visitors can scroll through the area for easy access to a range of thematic materials that deal with everything from the rural economy to best farming practices.

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program

sarep.ucdavis.edu

The University of California created an informative website with the aim to "provide leadership and support for scientific research and education in agricultural and food systems that are economically viable, conserve natural resources and biodiversity." The site is for ranchers and farmers in regard to production and marketing, but is also for the rural and urban communities to better their understanding of the need for and desirability of using and supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Visitors will find that the last three links on the menu on the left side of the page contain resources for farmers that are essential when it comes to sustainable agriculture: "Cover Crops", "PestCast", and "Soil Quality". The "PestCast" is particularly interesting, as it introduces a new technology to forecast crop disease via a computer-based model. Under the "Resources" heading on the left side menu, there is a link to a seasonal "Newsletter", simply titled "Sustainable Agriculture" to which visitors can subscribe.

Global Information and Early Warning System

www.fao.org/giews/background/en/

The Economic and Social Department of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an internationally recognized source for information on the world food situation, has expanded its GIEWS site. The site continues to feature the FAO's important bimonthlies, Food Outlook and Foodcrops and Shortages, but has also added a number of resources that focus on the food situation in Africa. These include Food supply situation and crop prospects in sub-Saharan Africa, a quarterly assessment of the current food supply situation in that region; monthly reports during the growing season on the drought-prone Sahel region; and frequently updated Special Reports on food shortages around the world. The site now also hosts three databases: on Western and Central Africa (in French only), Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa. Data is available for all countries in each area and includes maps, satellite images, climatic profiles, crop zones, population data, various statistics, and background information. Visitors may also subscribe to any of GIEWS three mailing lists: one forwards the text of Special Reports, another sends users the monthly report on the Sahel, and a third consists of alerts on new publications at the site. The reports are available in French and Spanish, as well.

Do you have some great STEM resources you'd like to share with ATE Central? Email us with your ideas at [email protected].

ATE Events

Upcoming Events
– Eng Product Stewardship: How and Why? Online
Eng End-of-Life: A New Beginning in Automotive Online
– Eng CalFlexHub Symposium Online
Gen The Intersection of Future Planning and Special Education Transition Planning Online
Eng Design and Simulation of Sustainable, High-Performance Thermal Systems Online
Eng The User Experience Threshold – Unlocking Mass EV Adoption Online
Eng Dronetech Aerial Drone Competition Thief River Falls, MN
– Eng BEST Center's Annual Institute Online

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.

News & Reminders

CCSF Workplace Navigation Workshops

These free workshops aim to provide students or trainees with the knowledge, skills, support and clarity they need to effectively assess and successfully navigate any lab environment and achieve their professional and career goals.

The workshops for Winter/Spring 2022-23 are on the following dates:
Friday, December 9th 4-6pm PT - Utilizing an Interview to determine a "Good Fit"
Friday, January 20th 4-6pm PT- Establishing Yourself in a New Position
Friday, February 17th 4-6pm PT - Managing Expectations: Asking for & Obtaining Feedback
Friday, March 10th 4-6pm PT - Negotiating for What You Need

To register visit the workshop's Eventbrite page. More information can received by emailing Karen Leung at [email protected]

ATE Impacts 2022-2023 Book Showcases Work of ATE Community

The ATE Impacts 2022-2023 book showcases the work of the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Community. This edition includes a foreword from United States President Joseph Biden. It features the work of 33 projects and 28 centers across the seven ATE areas, as well as applied research. By highlighting the ATE community's successful and innovative work, the book encourages broader participation in the ATE program by academic institutions, educators, and industry partners. Dissemination of the ATE Impacts book advances understanding of the importance of technician education and its role in supporting the high-tech industries that drive the United States' economy More information on the book can be found on the ATE Impacts website.

Upcoming Online Events

Some noteworthy online events coming up in December - check out ATE Central's Office Hours and EvaluATE's webchats. Both are a great way to learn more about the work of ATE grantees and get a chance to interact with others in the community!

Funding Opportunity from NSF

Keep an eye out for opportunities from the National Science foundation - including this recent Dear Colleague Letter! This DCL encourages proposals to two programs (ATE and S-STEM) supporting workforce development efforts at institutions of higher education. Proposals must build on or leverage strong industry-academic partnerships to strengthen the semiconductor manufacturing workforce.

EvaluateUR-CURE Accepting Applications

EvaluateUR-CURE is now accepting applications to participate in the final round of pilot testing during the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters. This opportunity is available through an award from the NSF ATE program to the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo State.

EvaluateUR-CURE is a method for evaluating course-based undergraduate research experiences -- CUREs. Combining research into undergraduate courses provides research opportunities for students.

Pilot testing of E-CURE is open to all faculty. Faculty teaching courses with research experiences (CUREs) at community colleges are especially encouraged to apply. A modest stipend is provided for participating in the pilot and providing feedback.

The application can be completed on EvaluateUR-CURE's website.

More information about the project can be found on the main E-CURE page.

Register for December's ATE Year-In-Review Office Hours Session

Monday, December 12, 2022
1:00pm-2:00pm CST
Join ATE Central, ATE Lead Program Officer Dr. Celeste Carter, and community members for a 2022 year-end wrap up ATE Office Hours session! Focusing on ATE successes, we'll hear updates from grantees about the positive impacts ATE is having on students, faculty, institutions, and industry. Come prepared to share your own project or center stories during this fun, celebratory session. Pour a seasonal beverage and jump online with us - we look forward to seeing you there!

Register for the 2022 ATE Year In Review Office Hours here

Resources from the 2022 CAAT Conference

The Center for Advanced Automotive Technology (CAAT) held their 2022 Conference in late September with a conference theme focused on "Preparing Technicians for Electric Vehicle Technology." Happily, presenters agreed to allow the conference to make their presentations available through CAAT's resource library. Recordings of each speaker's presentation are also available.

Presentations from the 2022 CAAT Conference

Recordings from the 2022 CAAT Conference

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