ATE is Advanced Technological Education. With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the National Science Foundation's ATE program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.

Faculty Fellowship: Microsoft 21st Century Skills Workshop

Workshop

April 18 Online

The National Community College Cybersecurity Faculty Fellowship Program will introduce and prepare students for a career path of teaching cybersecurity in a community college setting.  This workshop is one part of that program.  Prerequisite is completion of the NCyTE Cybersecurity Fellowship Orientation.

Who should attend:

Attendance is limited to participants who attended the Faculty Fellowship Orientation Workshop in February 2025.

About the Workshop: 

After completing the orientation, all participants will be required to complete a 16-hour virtual workshop designed to prepare participants with basic knowledge and skills to be an effective community college cybersecurity educator. Participants will acquire insights into teaching and learning pedagogy, classroom management skills, student assessment, curriculum development, and the cultivation of student workforce competencies.

The workshop will run on the following dates, (16 hours, all dates required) - virtual:

  • April 18 & 19, 2025 (Friday & Saturday) – 9AM-1PM PDT
  • April 25 & 26, 2025 (Friday & Saturday) – 9AM-1PM PDT

Workshop Highlights

The Microsoft 21st Century Skills focus on the following teaching domains:

  • Collaboration
  • Skilled Communication
  • Critical Thinking and Autonomous Learning
  • Classroom Relevance and Real-World Problem Solving
  • Use of Instructional Technology, Tools, and Techniques

The workshop will prepare students to take the required Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification.


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KidWind Virtual Workshops - Marine & Hydropower 101

Workshop

April 19 Online

Join this hydropower virtual workshop to explore the science of water based power!

During this virtual workshop, educators will learn the foundations of water power including the science and technology of hydropower turbines. This workshop will also introduce activities for the classroom that engage students in dynamic, hands-on energy-based learning.

All teachers who pre-register will receive a $100 kit before the 3 hour virtual training and the workshop will go through how to use these materials in the classroom. This workshop has self guided and in-person components.

Some things to know:

  • Workshop cost is $200.
  • This workshop and the materials used are geared towards middle school and high school teachers.
  • No prior knowledge of hydropower is required.
  • You will need a stable internet connection and dedicated space in which to work.
  • You will need access to a sink to do some basic hydropower experiments.
  • You will be shipped a box of material 4-7 days before the workshop.
  • Preservice and retired teachers are welcome!

Use discount code 25CREATEVWKS to reduce the registration cost to $10.

Register by April 5th to receive materials prior to the workshop.


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Experience Northland

Student Event

April 23 East Grand Forks, MN

Brought to you by Northland and the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT), Experience Northland is open to all students (grades 7-12) and teachers. It offers a large variety of 50-minute hands-on learning activities directly related to Northland programs. Schools/students can choose to attend one session or make it a day-trip and attend sessions throughout the day. 

All sessions are 100% cost-free! Register as soon as possible. Last year's events filled up quickly.
 


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POD Security Matters

Conference

April 24 Murray, KY

Security Matters 2025 will be held at Murray State University's Curris Center on April 24th. The event is hosted by Community Financial Services Bank and Murray State's Cyber Education and Research Center. The registration is now open. The conference will start at 8:00 am and will run until 1:30 pm.
 


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2025 Northeast Cybersecurity Capabilities and Careers Summit

Summit

April 25 Bethlehem, PA

Five symposia provide the opportunity to learn, experience, and discuss the latest tools, techniques, and technologies for Teaching, Practicing, Demonstrating, and Showcasing Cybersecurity Capabilities.

3CS includes a symposium in each of the five areas below.

  • Community College Cyber Summit: The granddaddy and foundation of the 3CS program that has welcomed those interested in experiential cybersecurity education for over a decade! Presentation sessions in classrooms with support for hybrid sessions about practice improvements for cybersecurity education
  • Cybersecurity Science and Practice Symposium: Poster and classroom presentation sessions with support for hybrid attendance about evidence-based professional and instructional cybersecurity practices -- the human factors of cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Symposium: Cybersecurity skill development workshops on specialized topics not typically taught in higher education courses but required to develop the skills needed to advance in the cybersecurity profession
  • Cyber Technology and Careers Symposium: Open spaces supporting an exhibit hall with demonstration sessions and a career fair - combining a job fair and a talent fair
  • Cyber Games, Simulations, and Competition Symposium: Individual and team-based interactive challenges and opportunities for hands-on experience with or observation of demonstrations of skills in the Cyber Ready Arcade, including the new Community College Collegiate Defense Competition (3CDC)

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“Fun with Engineering” – Student Recruitment in Engineering Technology, All in One Package Webinar

Webinar

April 25 Online

Join the webinar on “Fun with Engineering” – Student Recruitment in Engineering Technology, All in One Package from CREATE as a part of their Spring 2025 Innovation Webinar Series.

The past four years, CREATE has sponsored the Call for Innovative Ideas, highlighting the outstanding work faculty have done to integrate technology, engage students with industry-relevant tools, and create student-centered, hands-on courses. This year they are excited to announce their line up of Innovation presentations. These webinars are 30 minutes and showcase the amazing work being done by energy educators across the nation.


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Professional Skills Series: Dealing with Difficult People Workshop

Workshop

April 25 Online

High school and community college STEM educators are invited to participate in the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing's Professional Skills Series. 

Workshop #1:  Dealing with Difficult People - April 25, 2025 - 11:00am-3:00pm Eastern Time

High School and community college educator participants completing both the “Dealing with Difficult People” and “Emotional Intelligence” workshops will be eligible for a $100 stipend. All participants will receive a Microcredential for each workshop they attend. Each workshop must be registered for separately.


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Workplace Navigation Training Workshops - Utilizing an Interview to determine a “Good Fit”

Workshop

April 25 Online

Go beyond focusing solely on presenting yourself as the optimal candidate and utilize the interview to determine if an internship/job opportunity is a “Good Fit” for you! In this workshop you’ll gain strategies to clarify your career and educational goals and frame questions to obtain accurate information to assess if a workplace will support those goals, while also learning to recognize potential misalignments.

Workshop participants will come away with strategies to:

  • Define what a ‘bad fit' or 'toxic work environment’ is
  • Outline and clarify your own goals before the interview
  • Use questions during an interview to determine whether a workplace is in alignment with your goals and values
  • Articulate strategies and practice language to frame questions
  • Describe examples of verbal and non-verbal red flags indicating the opportunity may not be a “Good Fit”
  • Describe factors that can make it difficult to recognize and weigh the potential impact of red flags during and after an interview

Presenter: Naledi Saul, MPM, Director, UCSF Office of Career and Professional Development


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ATE Project Talks: Industrial Biomanufacturing and Work-based Biotech Education

Webinar

April 25 Online

Welcome to the 2025 InnovATEBIO series of virtual ATE project talks.  This series features leaders in biotechnology workforce education from across the US sharing their work on exciting projects funded by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.  The ATE program supports the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.

Talk 1:  Module Development for Bioindustrial Manufacturing Workforce Readiness

BioMADE and member Delgado Community College recently received a National Science Foundation grant to develop pioneering new industry-driven curricula for bioindustrial manufacturing that will build the technical workforce needed to support this growing sector. This webinar will cover the modules that will be developed, the topics they will cover, and opportunities to participate in the project.

Speaker:  Louise Petruzzella (BioMADE)

Talk 2:  Work-based biotech education

Speakers:  Michael Fuller, BABEC


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Spotlight on the Water/Wastewater Certificate at Waubonsee CC

Webinar

April 25 Online

Join presenters for an engaging conversation with educators & industry leaders as they take a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Waubonsee Community College’s new Drinking Water/ Wastewater Technology Certificate, launching in fall 2025. 

In this webinar, you will get a glimpse of the process of creating the program—from identifying industry needs and building partnerships, to designing curriculum based on KSAs vetted with workforce demands using the Business & Industry Leadership Team(BILT) model of co-leadership. 

Presenters will explore the certificate’s structure, its connection to regional and national wastewater industry standards, and how the program is preparing students for essential roles in water and wastewater management. Whether you're an educator, industry partner, or workforce development professional, this session will offer valuable insight into building responsive and forward-thinking technician education. 

Key topics include: 
- The collaborative process behind program development 
- Curriculum highlights and hands-on learning components 
- Industry affiliations and advisory support 
- Long-term goals for workforce impact and student success 


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2025 STEM Educator Virtual Solar Institute

Workshop

April 26 Online

The goal of the STEM Educator Institutes is to provide STEM Educators with renewable energy lessons, classroom equipment, and a unique hands-on learning experience to take back to their students. The events are funded by the CREATE Energy NSF ATE National Center. Any STEM educator of middle school through college is invited to apply.

Each participant will be mailed a box of equipment, a $200 value at no cost, before the institute begins. You can perform each lesson with the provided equipment and guidance from the online sessions. You will also meet other teachers who you can collaborate and share ideas with.

Virtual Institute Schedule:

  • Saturday, April 26, 11:00-1:00 CDT
  • Wednesday, April 30, 6:00-7:00 pm CDT
  • Saturday, May 3, 11:00-12:30 CDT
  • Wednesday, May 7, 6:00-7:00 pm CDT
  • Saturday, May 10, 11:00-12:30 CDT

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RSA Conference 2025

Conference

April 28 San Francisco, CA

At RSAC 2025, you're not just attending a conference—you're stepping into a vibrant, thriving community of thinkers, innovators, and achievers. Though everyone comes from different corners of the cybersecurity world, everyone is united by a common mission: to foresee risks, counter threats, and embrace the challenges ahead. Together, everyone shapes the future of security. Together, everyone shines as one.

Join RSAC 2025 to be a part of something bigger. Many Voices. One Community.


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BioMADE 2025 Member Meeting

Meeting

April 29 Minneapolis, MN

Members, join BioMADE for the 2025 Member Meeting: April 29-30 in Minneapolis, MN. Committees will meet May 1. If you’ve attended the Member Meeting before, you know it’s the event of the year for bioindustrial manufacturing. Attendees leave inspired about the state of the industry, informed about the latest developments in products and technology, and energized to work with newfound connections.


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ATE Projects and Centers





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All
Mfg

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies topics include:

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Automotive manufacturing
  • General manufacturing
Ag/Env

Agricultural and Environmental Technologies topics include:

  • Agriculture and aquaculture
  • Environmental technologies
  • Natural resources
  • Nuclear power
  • Solar energy
  • Wind power
Bio/Chem

Bio and Chemical Technologies topics include:

  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical and process technologies
Eng

Engineering Technologies topics include:

  • Electronics and controls
  • General engineering
  • Marine technologies
  • Materials technologies
  • Optics
  • Space technologies
Gen

General Advanced Technological Education topics include:

  • Evaluation
  • Learning research
  • Recruitment
  • Teacher preparation
Info

Information and Security Technologies topics include:

  • Geospatial technologies
  • Information and communications technologies
  • Logistics
  • Security, information assurance, and forensics
Nano

Micro and Nanotechnologies topics include:

  • MEMS
  • Microsystems
  • Semiconductors
 
Screenshot for J ATE (Volume 2, Issue 2)

This issue of J ATE, published by Portland Community College, is issue two of the journal's second volume and focuses on the theme of undergraduate research at community and technical colleges across the United States. J ATE is a peer-reviewed technical journal focused on community college faculty and staff who work with technician education. This journal is cross-disciplinary and encompasses all technologies under the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program. Some of these technologies include: Micro Nano, Biotechnology, Autonomous Technology, Cyber Security, Advanced Manufacturing, Earth Sciences, Agriculture Technology, Energy, and Welding. Some topics that cross cut across all disciplines of technician education are also covered. Those topics include: Evaluation, Mentoring, Undergraduate Research, and Applied Technician Research.

This 115-page issue of J ATE includes ten full articles and five guest letters written by ATE professionals....


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Screenshot for Powers of Ten with the Blue Morpho Butterfly

This lab, presented by the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, introduces students to the concepts of scale and magnification using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image of a Blue Morpho butterfly wing. If educators do not have access to an SEM, images are included with the activity. This lesson will prompt students to think about nanoscale, biomimicry, SEM technology, and measurement. During the lab, students will examine the nanostructures of the butterfly's wings using either the images or the SEM (if available). Included in this lab are: teacher guide, student worksheet, and an image of a Blue Morpho butterfly.


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Screenshot for Speed Networking Guidelines

These 21-page guidelines "provide methods, strategies, and templates for community college programs to easily implement and host speed networking events to support student recruitment and retention in their technical education programs." The guidelines were developed from biotechnology speed networking events held at City College of San Francisco, Austin Community College, and Johnston Community College, and provide a step-by-step guide for each phase of the speed networking process. Included are the following sections:

  • Organization & Coordination
    • Timeline
    • Speed Networking Event Planning
  • Benefits & Outcomes
  • Variations on Implementation
    • Recruitment
    • Skill Building and Retention
    • Maintaining Alumni Network and Community
    • In-person Events
  • Management
    • Who could do the work?
    • Creating and Sharing Materials
  • Speed Networking Event Tips & FAQs
    • Tips for Getting Started
    • Tips for Sustainable Implementation (Building Speed Networking into your Program)
    • ...

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Screenshot for Industrial Automation Sensors and Motors

This 219-page textbook, created for the ELCT 241: Introduction to Industrial Automation course at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, covers concepts related to motors and sensors found in an industrial environment. The course familiarizes students with industrial automation through the study of motors and censors, equipping students with "the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the automated workplace of tomorrow." Also included are review questions for various sections. The textbook consists of the following parts:

  1. Fundamentals of Sensors
  2. Load Sensors and Pressure Sensing Technologies
  3. Temperature, Flow Control, and Vision Sensors
  4. DC [direct current] Motors
  5. Stepper Motors
  6. AC [alternating current] Motors

Upon completing this course students should be able to do the following:

  • Implement and manage automated systems
  • Analyze data and optimize processes
  • Troubleshoot and maintain automated equipment
  • Communicate affectively within an automated work environment

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Screenshot for ATE Student Success Stories: Sam's Story (Series 3)

This video from the Internet Scout Research Group is part of a series that highlights student success stories related to advanced technological education (ATE) programs. In this video, Sam Martinich discusses his experiences with Central Wyoming College's geospatial information systems and technologies (GIST) program. Topics covered include Sam's career path and journey to Central Wyoming College, the impact of the program on his life, and his work collecting climate data. Funding for the program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is also explored.

The video runs 5:38 minutes in length.


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Active ATE Centers 19
Active ATE Projects 296
ATE Resources 6,773
   
New Projects/Centers 60
New Resources 168

ATE Resources by Subject Area

ATE Events by Subject Area

 
Cover of the April/May issue of the Community College Journal along with a coffee cup and a plate with donuts

New Issue: Community College Journal


The April/May issue of the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Community College Journal is now available online and in print through subscription. A featured publication by AACC, this journal provides contemporary information, insights, strategies, and connections for those in academia, industry, government, and workforce development.

The latest issue highlights:

  • Supporting the needs and goals of parenting learners
  • Strategically planning in a dynamic, evolving landscape
  • Using trauma-informed strategies in higher education
  • Leveraging artificial intelligence to assist with the transfer process
  • Meeting workforce demands amidst the emergence of Web 3.0

AACC's April/May publication of the Community College Journal can be accessed online here, and archived issues can be viewed in AACC’s library.


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Text that says "Building the AI-ready campus webinar, April 20, 2025 2:00PM ET" with abstract circuit board graphics

Upcoming Event: Building the AI-Ready Campus Webinar


Dive into the future of education with the "Building the AI-Ready Campus" webinar on April 29th, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Hosted by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACN), this session will showcase how Forsyth Technical Community College has harnessed artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools to improve campus enrollment rates, streamline processes, decrease employee workloads, and address students’ questions and online inquiries using “AI Agents.” Attendees will discover actionable strategies to elevate learner engagement, optimize staff efficiency, and create an overall more personalized, interactive college experience through leveraging the power of artificial intelligence.

Featuring leaders in the worlds of education, technology, and innovation, the webinar aims to redefine the campus experience and support staff in building an engaging, unified learning community that welcomes AI and its many applications.

Register now for the April 29th event on AACN’s website.


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Illustrated image of a person using a laptop, with the text "The Common App's First Partnership with Community Colleges"

Common App Partners with its First Group of Community Colleges


To serve even more students across the nation, the Common App will be granting membership to a select group of community colleges in Illinois, according to a report from Inside Higher Ed. More than three million students, educators, and academic counselors use the online platform each year to inform, support, and streamline the application process for over 1,000 four-year universities. This is the first time the Common App is partnering with institutions that largely offer two-year or associate-level degrees.

The cohort for the 2024-2025 application cycle includes four Illinois members: Black Hawk College, Carl Sandburg College, Rend Lake College, and Sauk Valley Community College. Three Illinois institutions will likewise join in 2025-2026: Oakton College, Lincoln Land Community College, and Triton College. Data from the National Bureau of Economic Research has shown that education institutions saw an average 12% increase in overall admissions after joining the Common App, a trend that may offer community colleges a similar increase in enrollment rates. According to Insider Higher Ed, there are hopes by educators and administrators that the Common App will continue to expand its...


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Illustrated image of people at a workshop event with a lightbulb, with the text: Application due April 1, 2025

Upcoming Deadline: Application for the 2025 NSF ATE Mentor Up Workshop


This year’s National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Mentor Up workshop will center around grant-writing and proposal submission. To attend the virtual event, participants must apply by April 1, 2025. Application requirements include (1) a concise, one-page pre-proposal document outlining a specific idea for an ATE-related project and (2) evidence of administrative commitment to supporting grant writing, proposal submission, and carrying out of the project itself.

During the Mentor Up Workshop, attendees will explore the role and scope of the NSF ATE program, dive into a focused idea based on their submitted application, and discover the intricacies of grant funding. Presentations, mentorship groups, and structured sessions on proposal planning and writing will provide various opportunities for participants to learn and network. The 2025 NSF ATE Mentor Up Workshop will be held virtually on June 4-6, 2025.

Visit the ATE Mentor Up site for information on eligibility, stipends and support, application guidelines, and more.


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