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: General Advanced Technological Education

From Scaling Up Through Networked Improvement (SUNI):

Leadership Practices in Scaling Efforts in Community Colleges

atecentral.net/downloads/38798/Leadership+Practices+in+Scaling+Efforts+in+Community+Colleges.pdf

This 19-page article discusses research on how faculty and executive leadership can either support or limit innovations on community college campuses. Published in the Community College Journal of Research and Practice, the article aims to make clear specifically what leaders do to support the sustainability and scaling of department innovations, specifically focusing on mathematics courses. The study "sought to unveil central practices that shape efforts to scale a promising, evidence-based mathematics course within two two-year colleges." The study demonstrates how "executive and mid-level leaders engaged in the intertwined practices of tracking and leveraging, where they attended to institutional culture, practices, and policies, and drew on these institutional features to both constrain and enable efforts to scale." The article includes a literature review and an analysis of the theoretical framework, methods, and data collection used.

From The Role of Community Colleges in Cybersecurity Education: Future Directions:

Community College Leadership Roles Including the Impact of the NSA DHS CAE Program on CCs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2KCAAKH2SI

This video is provided by Whatcom Community College and is the third topic of the Future Direction: 2021 Summit that was held on October 19-21, 2021. The Summit explored the role of community colleges in cybersecurity education. This video features James Rice interviewing Corrinne Sande, Director/PI of the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE). During the interview, Sande discusses her background and her experience with community college leadership roles, including the impact of The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE) Program on community colleges.

From Exploring Past Investment in Learning through Grant-funded Undergraduate Advanced Technology Education Centers:

ATE Epilogue Resource Sheet: Leadership Characteristics

atecentral.net/downloads/13753/Leadership+Characteristics+ATE+Handout.pdf

This document is part of a series of resource sheets related to a study that examines ATE centers after funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) ceases. The sheet contains a bulleted list with general information on leadership characteristics, a list of resources, and a list of questions to consider about leadership characteristics. Eight related case studies and a comprehensive report are available to view separately.

Community Connection

ATE Principal Investigators Conference: ATE for the Future

Fall is here, and so is the 2024 ATE Principal Investigators Conference, from October 25th to October 27th, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. For projects and centers old and new, the annual PI Conference offers a chance to share experiences, collaborate, learn, and meet other members of the ATE community. While you have probably been preparing already, now is an excellent time to double-check and ensure your project or center is ready for the big event.

This year's theme is ATE for the Future. The conference will focus on critical issues related to advanced technological education across the United States. The complete program is available on the conference schedule page. To view more information about the conference, check out the ATE PI conference website and FAQ, and make sure to get you and your team registered ASAP!

ATE Success Tips: Outreach

Crafting an Elevator Pitch

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s essential to have a brief, engaging pitch ready for potential collaborators at events like the ATE PI Conference. While you probably won’t be delivering your pitch in an actual elevator, being able to summarize your project or center quickly and clearly is invaluable. Here are some tips to help you get your pitch conference-ready:

Keep it concise.

Attention spans are shorter than ever. Experts now suggest that even 30 seconds may be too long. Aim for 15–20 seconds of impactful content that clearly conveys what you do without overwhelming your listener.

Start by jotting down the essentials:

  • What is your project or center about?
  • Why does it matter?
  • What’s the next step or goal for your organization?

Once you’ve drafted your thoughts, pare them down into bite-sized key points. This will help you focus on clarity and brevity.

Shift to a conversation

Rather than delivering a one-sided speech, engage your listener right from the start. Ask a question that highlights the problem your project addresses, and show how your work aligns with their interests. By drawing connections between their work and yours, you’ll foster a more meaningful exchange. Aim for a short introduction—just a couple of sentences—and then pivot to dialogue. The goal is to engage and connect, not just inform.

Practice makes perfect

The best way to refine your pitch is to hear it out loud. Practice speaking it naturally, either in front of a mirror or with a colleague, to ensure smooth delivery and natural inflection. Pay attention to body language, tone, and how you engage with your audience.

Finally, don’t forget that your elevator pitch can be a powerful tool in multiple settings—from job interviews to online networking. Use the ATE Central Outreach Kit to extend your pitch’s reach and develop a digital presence that reflects the same message.

Did You Know?

A new federal report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that computer and mathematical occupations will expand by 12.9%, fueled by demand for IT services like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, while the utilities sector is projected to grow by 0.6% annually due to the shift towards renewable energy and electric vehicle demand. Other sectors, including construction and extraction, as well as installation, maintenance, and repair, will see annual growth of 5.8% and 5.3%, respectively, driven by renewable energy jobs.

Select STEM Education Resources

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

National Centers for Career and Technical Education (NCCTE)

www.sreb.org/national-research-center-career-and-technical-education

At various points in the history of the United States, career and technical education has assumed an enhanced sense of importance, and at the National Centers for Career and Technical Education (NCCTE), they have always been intimately concerned about such matters. Over the past six years, they have worked out of two primary offices in Columbus and St. Paul in order "to improve the practice of career and technical education at local, state, and national levels." There is truly something for everyone on their site, as the material offered here includes webcasts, podcasts, scholarly reports, and a "News & Announcements" section that gives users up-to-date information on some of their work. Visitors should be sure to take a look at the Workforce Education webcasts, as they include explorations of such themes as how to improve community college achievement and how to enhance mathematics instruction. Of course, many additional webcasts are archived, and users should avail themselves of these materials as well. The "Publications" section is well-organized, and includes policy briefs, an electronic newsletter, and the latest reports on their ongoing projects. Overall, persons with a vested interest in the future of career and technical education will find this site useful and worth returning to multiple times.

Journal of Industrial Teacher Education

scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JITE

Education in the industrial arts and allied fields has been a common staple of high school and vocational college programs for well over a century. For those persons teaching in these types of fields (or for those who study the field itself), discovering one of the premier journals in this area online will be a real treat. Access to the journal is provided by the Digital Library & Archives at the University of Vermont Library, and visitors can peruse previous issues all the way back to 1994. Visitors will be glad to know that recent articles run the gamut from topics that include the debates over whether teaching is an art or a science and how professors can integrate needs assessment into the technical education curriculum.

Department of Education: Office of Vocational and Adult Education

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html

Given the increasing importance of vocational and adult education across the country, it makes sense that the U.S. Department of Education would have a separate office dedicated to this facet of higher education. As their site notes, it has "information, research, and resources to help prepare young people and adults for postsecondary education, successful careers, and productive lives". The site contains areas dedicated to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and their center for rural education. The "Resources" area is a good place to take a look at in detail, as it contains documents that address the rising expectations in vocational education and related topics. Finally, visitors can also learn about their ongoing initiatives, which include researching adolescent literacy and creating community technology centers.

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
Mfg Connecticut Manufacturing Summit Hartford, CT
– Gen AISES Conference San Antonio, TX
Info Prince George's Secure AI Summit Largo, MD
– Mfg WiM Summit 2024 Boston, MA
– Eng UAS Summit Grand Forks, ND
– Info Kentucky GIS Conference Louisville, KY
– Info United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cybersecurity Expo Online
– Gen Best Practices and Innovations in CTE Conference 2024 Portland, OR
– Info Association for Computing Machinery's 25th Annual Conference on IT Education (SIGITE '24) El Paso, TX
Eng AI in Transportation Education: A Hands-on Demonstration Online
Gen Orientation to the ATE Conference Webinar Online
Gen NSF S-STEM Grant Proposal Preparation Workshop Online
Eng The BIG Event: Believe in Girls East Grand Forks, MN
– Mfg FABTECH Orlando Orlando, FL
Eng Inducing High Angular Momentum Spin Dynamics in a Microwave Oscillator Online
Mfg "Girls Can, Too!" ITW Tour & Career Discussions Lexington, KY
Eng Maker Faire NoVa Alexandria, VA
– Gen 2024 ATE Principal Investigators’ Conference Washington, DC
Ag/Env Space Ag Conference @ Grand Farm Fargo, ND
– Info 2024 Great Lakes Cybersecurity Capabilities and Careers Symposia St Paul, MN
– Mfg 2024 ATMAE Annual Conference Las Vegas, NV
– Gen NRSC and DeafTEC Math and Science Conference Rochester, NY
Mfg Aerospace Alley Future Workforce Opportunities Fair and Tradeshow Hartford, CT
– Mfg AVS 70th International Symposium & Exhibition Tampa, FL
– Bio/Chem 2024 IEDB Virtual User Workshop Online
Eng Experience Northland Thief River Falls, MN
– Gen 2024 Accessing Higher Ground Denver, CO
– Eng Underwater Intervention Conference New Orleans, LA
– Mfg Pipe and Tube Conference Omaha, NE
Eng AI in Natural Sciences & Healthcare: A Hands-on Demonstration Online
– Bio/Chem 2024 ASMCUE Conference Pittsburgh, PA
Mfg "Girls Can, Too!" Computerized Manufacturing and Machining Lab Georgetown, KY
– Mfg Rockwell Automation Fair Anaheim, CA
– Bio/Chem 4th Annual 2024 AFCC Global Biobased Economy Conference & Exhibit National Harbor, MD

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

Online Grant Proposal Preparation Workshop

The Online Grant Proposal Preparation Workshop for Two-Year Colleges, led by former NSF program officers, is designed to assist participants in developing and submitting proposals to the National Science Foundation's Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM). The NSF S-STEM program provides grants to institutions of higher education to fund scholarships for academically talented, low-income students, while also supporting their recruitment, retention, and graduation in STEM fields. It is ideal for STEM faculty, deans, department chairs, grant officials, and student support services directors. The workshop is live, online, and free for two-year college faculty and staff accepted into the program, running Fridays at 3:30 pm Eastern from October 11, 2024, to February 28, 2025. To see more information, visit the Community College S-STEM Network website

AT3 Launches Training Program

The Advanced Technology Technician Training program, offered by CareersInTech.us, is an 8-month intensive designed for students in technical education who aspire to excel in the micro and nano technology industries. Running from October 18, 2024, to May 9, 2025, the program offers participants hands-on learning opportunities, insights from industry partners, and potential earnings of up to $3,000 in stipends. Additionally, students will receive application support for securing summer internships in relevant tech fields.

To apply, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a valid Social Security or Tax ID number and must be enrolled in a technical education program at a U.S. community college or technical school. High school students in dual enrollment programs are also eligible to apply. Applications are due September 30th. For more information or questions, interested individuals can reach out to Internships@micronanoeducation.org. More information is also on the Careers in Tech website.

New UDL Case Studies from CAST

In partnership with equitable learning leader CAST, AccessATE has published four new case studies that utilized CAST's Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework for inclusive and accessible education. Each case study documents and examines strategies for the implementation of UDL in community and technical colleges. The new case studies include:

The complete list of UDL case studies can be found on AccessATE's Case Studies page.

ATE Impacts 2024-2025 Book Promotes Technical Education and Celebrates 30 Years

The ATE Impacts 2024-2025 book showcases the work of the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Community. This edition includes a foreword from National Science Foundation Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, and features the work of 24 centers and 35 projects 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.

ATE Central Outreach Kit

The ATE Central Outreach Kit was developed as a tool to assist ATE Principal Investigators (PIs) and staff in effectively planning, monitoring, and executing outreach activities.

ATE Central has given the Outreach Kit a refresh with a new design and content, accompanied by a downloadable Template. The new kit is designed to guide you through a step-by-step process and helps you explore how to identify your primary audiences and stakeholders, determine the partners and resources that can support your efforts, and start considering aspects such as branding and messaging.

By utilizing the kit and template, you will make significant progress towards developing a comprehensive plan that enables you to achieve the objectives of your grant, effectively communicate your outcomes and impacts, and showcase the valuable work of your project or center to a diverse range of stakeholders.

The Outreach Kit can be found on ATE Central's website, under the Resources tab.

Check out ATE Central's Calendar Feed

The ATE Central Calendar Feed is an easy to customize tool that enables calendar feeds from the ATE Central Events Calendar to quickly be added to either the Outlook or the Mac Calendar app, and will then automatically display upcoming events of interest based on the keywords you include. You can use the feed to populate your personal calendar or to add lists of upcoming events to your ATE center or project website. For WordPress-based sites, free plugins like ICS Calendar will allow you to use a calendar feed to display a list of upcoming events on your WordPress site. You'll need to sign in to your ATE Central account to create a feed - and it's easy to change your selection of keywords to add or subtract areas of interest over time. We look forward to hearing from you as you utilize this new service and as always, we'd love to get your feedback or comments. Don't hesitate to reach out to the team with any questions at info@atecentral.net.

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