Advanced Technological Education . May 2023

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 Project: Expanding the Data Analytics Technician Pipeline from High School into College and High Demand Jobs in Southwest Ohio
Featured Resources: Information and Security Technologies
Community Connection
ATE Success Tips: Outreach
Did You Know?
Select STEM Education Resources
ATE Events
News & Reminders

Featured Project

Expanding the Data Analytics Technician Pipeline from High School into College and High Demand Jobs in Southwest Ohio

www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2055411

Data analytics is having an enormous impact on society and the economy. As the field of data analytics evolves, there will be an increasing need for technicians with skills in data analytics who can work in a wide range of job roles. Unfortunately, the number of students pursuing careers in data analytics is not keeping pace with workforce demand, particularly among populations underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This project aims to prepare the future workforce by establishing pathways that generate interest in data analytics careers, support the transfer of data literate high school students into postsecondary programs, and prepare them to fill the growing demand for data analytics technicians. Project activities will provide multiple opportunities for high school students to explore and begin a data analytics pathway. The project will leverage several strategies for attracting and retaining populations typically underrepresented in STEM careers and support student success. These strategies include equitable and inclusive instructional design, experiential learning, accelerated credential completion, affordability, and comprehensive student support.

In this project, Sinclair Community College will partner with local industry in southwest Ohio to develop a data analytics technician pathway for students that will facilitate their transfer into college and support their postsecondary credential completion in preparation for careers in data analytics. A stackable certificate model will be developed to prepare students for entry-level data analytics jobs and be beneficial to those who need to earn a credential quickly to enter the job market. The model will also provide clear pathways to further education that can lead to higher-paying jobs. The project will share data literacy concepts and information about data science careers with high school students and teachers. Dual high school/college credit courses will be offered to accelerate college credential completion while students are still in high school. The project will engage high school teachers in data literacy professional development opportunities to increase learning in statistics using R and Python for data analytics. College students will benefit from enhanced experiential learning opportunities designed to increase data career-related technical skills and connections with potential employers.

Featured Resources: Information and Security Technologies

From Expanding the Data Analytics Technician Pipeline from High School into College and High Demand Jobs in Southwest Ohio:

Data Storytelling

libguides.sinclair.edu/ld.php?content_id=70183911 Data_Storytelling_NSF_Grant_2055411_v2023_R1.pdf

This document from Sinclair Community College explores data storytelling. An overview of data, stories and narratives, and visualizations are provided. Examples of storytelling and storytelling resources are also highlighted. Examples of data and how data fits into a narrative story telling is also included.

From Expanding the Data Analytics Technician Pipeline from High School into College and High Demand Jobs in Southwest Ohio:

Data Course Building and Next Steps

atecentral.net/downloads/29675/Course+Building+and+Next+Steps+2021.pptx

These PowerPoint slides from Sinclair Community College explore an advanced technological education (ATE) grant that aims to expand the data analytics technician pipeline in southwest Ohio. In the slides, guiding design principles for targeting high schools and building courses are highlighted, which include information on open source (OER) materials, low cost or no cost textbooks, service learning, project work (PBL), and more.

From National Convergence Technology Center:

CompTIA Data+ Certification Exam

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGcEK-jsZMA

This presentation, provided by the National Convergence Technology Center (CTC), was given to attendees of the July 2022 Summer Working Connections professional development event. In the video, Alan Rowland, Director of US Academic Programs for CompTIA, discusses the specifics of CompTIA's new Data+ certification, including specific workforce needs that the certification seeks to support. Rowland also examines the pillars of IT and Data, defines data analytics, and explores partner and instructor resources. The video recording runs 20:14 minutes in length.

Community Connection

HI-TEC Registration Open

High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) has opened registration for this year's event. The HI-TEC conference brings together educators, industry representatives, and workforce development professionals to share ideas and explore ways to promote advanced technological education.

This year's conference will feature presentations and workshops focused on emerging technologies, innovative teaching strategies, and effective workforce development practices. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with experts in the field, learn about cutting-edge technologies, and network with peers from across the country.

The conference is set to take place July 24-27th in Atlanta, Georgia, and early registration is encouraged to secure your spot. Registration and more information is available on the conference website.

ATE Success Tips: Outreach

Creating Quick Graphics with Canva

When distributing outreach materials, it's no secret that the use of interesting and eye-catching graphics can make your project/center stand out among the rest. Unfortunately, developing such a graphic is often a difficult, time-consuming, and expensive task for anyone who isn't an expert at graphic design.

If your project or center is looking to create an impressive looking graphic quickly and at no cost, Canva might be a good option. The online graphic design tool hosts a variety of pre-sized templates that can be used for social media, blogs, email, presentations, posters, and more.

For more information about Canva, including a quick guide on how to use the site, check out this Evalu-ATE blog post!

Did You Know?

Community college enrollment has fallen 37% since 2010, or by nearly 2.6 million, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The Seattle Times conducted an in-depth news report on the phenomena. The article quotes Joseph Fuller, a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, as saying, “The lack of resources inside community colleges is a legitimate complaint. But a number of community colleges do extraordinarily well. So it’s not impossible.”

Select STEM Education Resources

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

National Ecological Observatory Network

www.neonscience.org

Science writers, researchers, and STEM enthusiasts may enjoy the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). Supported by the National Science Foundation, NEON provides "open data to understand how our aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are changing." The website covers everything from meteorology to megapit soil, with many topics in between. On the About page, readers will find a blog with stories from 2008 to present, covering subjects such as site assessments and conversations with experts. The Data Collection page contains information on the instruments and processes used to collect data on subjects such as meteorology, water, and soil. Interested in learning more about where these data are collected from? The Field Sites page provides information on these sites, which span 20 ecoclimatic domains "represent[ing] distinct regions of vegetation, landforms, and ecosystem dynamics." The Data page hosts data collected at these NEON sites, which readers can download for free. Educators may want to check out the Resources tab, as it features Data Tutorials and K-12 Activities with lesson plans available for download. These plans cover topics such as water quality indicators and rain gauge measurements. Under the Community tab, users can find additional papers, memos, and workshops, while the Opportunities tab highlights job openings and upcoming events.

Stem Cells Across the Curriculum

www.stemcellcurriculum.org

Stem Cells Across the Curriculum (SCAC) offers college-level lesson plans and activities designed to help students explore the intersections of science and society and explore ethical debates within the scientific community. These lessons have been crafted by a team of scholars with support from the New York State Stem Cell Science program,NYSTEM. As the team notes, "The topic of stem cells provides an engaging framework for integrating biological concepts and principles with a diverse range of perspectives spanning social justice, religious studies, gender studies, disability studies, and economics." SCAC includes four modules to engage students with these issues: a module about stem cell ownership and property, highlighting the Henrietta Lacks case; a module about the use of human eggs in stem cell research and the question of financial compensation; a module about stem cell research and disability rights; and a module about religious and cultural beliefs and discussions of ethics and stem cell research. All of these modules include complete lesson plans as well as links to readings, videos, and other accompanying resources.

American Nuclear Society

www.ans.org/nuclear/classroom/

STEM educators may be interested in this collection of classroom resources offered by the American Nuclear Society (ANS). These resources include classroom experiments and lesson plans, as well as downloadable fact sheets and posters. Most are intended for students in grades 5-12 and are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Examples of activities include making an electroscope out of household objects to detect static electricity, a half-life lab using candy to model the concept of radioactive decay, and a mini Rutherford activity where students "try to determine the shape of an unknown object by using the scientific thought process of creating a hypothesis, then testing it through inference." This collection could be improved by categorization for easier browsing, and while many of the resources here are available for free, this site also lists some that are available for purchase. However, the free gems here make this site worth the effort. These educational materials are hosted by the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information, an outreach initiative of the ANS that seeks to "encourage and inspire fun nuclear education for K-12 students [and] help people learn the many benefits that nuclear science and technology brings to their lives."

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
April 30 – May 4	Eng	SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing	Kissimmee, FL
May 2 – June 1	Bio/Chem	Inclusive Research Mentor-Manager Training Workshops	Online
May 4	Info	Cybersecurity Skills Journal Proposal Development Workshop (PDW)	Online
May 5–6	Info	21st Century Learning Design & Microsoft Classroom Tools	Online
May 7–10	Bio/Chem	ABRF 2023	Boston, MA
May 8–11	Eng	XPONENTIAL 2023	Denver, CO
May 10–11	Eng	Robotics Summit & Expo 2023	Boston, MA
May 12	Eng	Take Your Classroom To New Heights With Drones	Edwardsville, IL
May 12	Gen	CCPI-STEM Fellows Program: A Unique Opportunity	Online
May 15–18	Eng	Education and Training in Optics and Photonics 2023	Cocoa Beach, FL
May 16–18	Mfg	SME EASTEC 2023	West Springfield, MA
May 19	Nano	Recent Advances in Surface Emitting Lasers	Online
May 21–24	Info	GEOINT 2023 Symposium	St. Louis, MO
May 22–25	Mfg	Automate	Detroit, MI
May 22–26	Info	CISA: Certified Information Systems Auditor	Online
May 23–27	Ag/Env	18th Annual VESTA National Summit 2023	Branson, MO
May 27–30	Gen	NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence	Austin, TX
June 5–7	Info	2023 NICE Conference	Seattle, WA
June 5–8	Bio/Chem	BIO International Convention	Boston, MA
June 5–9	Mfg	Weld-Ed Summer Training: NDT	Chattanooga, TN
June 5–8	Nano	University of Minnesota: Micro Nanotechnology Health and Safety Course 2023	Minneapolis, MN
June 5–8	Gen	NSF Virtual Grants Conference	Online
June 6–9	Eng	BEST Center BAS Workshop XII	Omaha, NE
June 7–8	Eng	Auto Tech: Detroit	Novi, MI
June 12–14	Eng	7th Annual Energy Drone & Robotics Summit	The Woodlands, TX
June 12–16	Info	GenCyber Student Academy	Prestonsburg, KY
June 12–16	Bio/Chem	Immersive Learning Bootcamp	St Cloud, MN
June 12–16	Info	(ISC)2 CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional	Online
June 12–16	Mfg	Weld-Ed Summer Training: Joining and Cutting Processes	East Peoria, IL
June 12–16	Eng	AIAA Aviation Forum	San Diego, CA
June 14–16	Gen	Mentor Up Workshop	Online
June 14–16	Nano	Nanotechnology Hands-On-Site Workshop	University Park, PA
June 19–23	Mfg	Weld-Ed Summer Training: Joining and Cutting Processes	Wahpeton, ND
June 20–24	Eng	MATE ROV Competition 2023	Longmont, CO
June 20–21	Info	GIS Workshop: Visualizing and Analyzing Health Data	Online
June 21–23	Eng	Teaching Rough Vacuum Technology	Bloomington, MN
June 21–22	Eng	South Dakota Statewide Geospatial Conference	Mitchell, SD
June 25–28	Eng	ASEE Annual Conference	Baltimore, MD
June 25–27	Eng	2023 National Advocacy Conference	Washington, DC
June 25–28	Bio/Chem	The Future of the Bioscience Workforce	Washington, DC
June 26–30	Mfg	STEM Guitar Summer 2023 Instructional Event	Bethlehem, PA
June 26–27	Bio/Chem	Envisioning the Next Bioscience Workforce: A Summit of Industry, Academic, and Government Leaders	Washtington, DC
June 27–29	Ag/Env	2023 NC STEM Educator Energy Institute	Pittsboro, NC
June 27–29	Mfg	The FHE Commercialization Path for Aerospace Applications	Renton, WA
June 28–30	Ag/Env	Cultivate Conference 2023	Fargo, ND
June 28	Nano	Arduino Microcontroller Course – 2-Day Workshop	Ottumwa, IA

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

HI-TEC 2023 Registration Now Open

Connect with colleagues and update your knowledge and skills at HI-TEC this year!

HI-TEC is a national conference on advanced technological education where secondary and postsecondary educators, counselors, industry professionals, trade organizations, and technicians can update their knowledge and skills. Charged with preparing America’s skilled technical workforce, the event focuses on the preparation needed by the existing and future workforce for companies in the high-tech sectors that drive our nation’s economy. This year's conference will be held at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, July 24–27. Pre-conference events will be held July 24–25. Read more and register on the HI-TEC website!

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.

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.

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