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: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

From Developing and Implementing Hybrid Instruction to Increase the Access of Women and Adult Learners to Diesel Technology Training:

ATE Synergy Session - Current Landscape - Women in the Automotive Industry

atecentral.net/downloads/36273/ATE+Synergy+Session+Presentation.pptx.pdf

This presentation from the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science, provides survey results that shed light on the status of women in the automotive industry. The presentation emphasized the importance of targeted recruitment and tailored retention strategies for school programs. Overall, the presentation highlighted efforts to empower women in trades and technology through targeted interventions, support systems, and recruitment in education.

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

Integrating Emerging and Cross-Cutting Technologies: Vacuum and Automation

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBw002qh9m4&ab_channel=PreparingTechniciansfortheFutureofWork

In this webinar, published by the Center for Occupational Research and Development, Nancy Louwagie and Tom Johnson from Normandale Community College discuss the vacuum and thin film technician program and certificates offered at Normandale. First, the presenters provide a background on vacuum technology, contextualizing Normandale's vacuum and thin film program, and discuss the program curriculum. Next, the presentation focuses on the remotely operated vacuum equipment trainer (VET) developed to offer Normandale students hands-on experience with vacuum technology. The VET's construction is covered, and a demonstration of the VET's remote access program is provided. This video runs 23:16 minutes in length.

From Preparing Students for Technical Careers in Autonomous Technologies for Commercial Trucks and Off-Highway Vehicles:

OnLane(TM) Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System Manual

www.zf.com/products/media/automotive/cv/literature_downloads_wna/truck_solutions/adas_maintenance_manuals/MM1291_web.pdf

This resource from WABCO is a maintenance manual for the OnLane(TM) Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System. The manual "... provides installation procedures as well as the diagnostic procedures required to troubleshoot the .... [LDW] system installed in a vehicle." The manual includes a section on warnings, cautions, and operating guidelines. The following sections are also included: Introduction; Diagnostics, Troubleshooting and Testing; and Component Replacement. Related instructional material is available to view separately.

Community Connection

New Research on Dual Enrollment

The Community College Research Center (CCRC) recently conducted a study to explore the needs of dual enrollment (DE) students, particularly those from underserved communities.

The research highlights six key insights: students want earlier awareness of DE opportunities, well-informed advisors, career-aligned courses, more engaging online classes, support in balancing high school and college coursework, and financial guidance. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted support for historically marginalized students in DE programs.

To learn more about these findings and strategies to address them, read the full blog post on ATE Central's Impacts page.

ATE Success Tips: Outreach

Getting Started Creating Social Media Images with Canva

Canva is a user-friendly design tool that allows individuals to create professional-quality graphics quickly, without needing advanced design skills. It has a wide range of customizable templates and features making it great for producing social media content, presentations, and marketing materials.

Step 1: Sign Up for a Canva Account

Go to canva.com and sign up for a free account using your email, Google, or Facebook.

You can also download the Canva app for your mobile device from the App Store or Google Play for on-the-go design.

Step 2: Choose a Social Media Template

Once you're logged in, click the search bar and type the platform you're designing for (e.g., "Instagram Post," "Facebook Cover," or "Twitter Header"). Select a pre-made template from Canva’s library or choose a blank canvas to start from scratch.

Step 3: Customize Your Design

  • Text: Click on any text box to edit the content. You can change the font style, size, color, and alignment using the toolbar at the top.
  • Images: Use Canva’s stock photos or upload your own by clicking the “Uploads” tab. You can drag and drop images onto the template.
  • Elements: Add icons, shapes, or illustrations by clicking the “Elements” tab on the left. Search for relevant items to enhance your design.
  • Brand Colors: If you have brand colors, add them by clicking the color palette icon.

Step 4: Adjust Layout and Design Features

Rearrange and resize elements on your canvas by clicking and dragging them. You can layer elements or group them for easier movement. Use Canva's alignment tools (snap to grid) to keep everything evenly spaced.

Step 5: Save and Download Your Design

Once satisfied with your design, click the "Share" or “Download” button at the top right corner.

Choose your file format (PNG, JPEG, or MP4 for animations), then click “Download.” Canva will save the design to your computer or mobile device.

Step 6: Post to Social Media

Upload your newly created design to your social media platform!

For more help with getting started, check out Canva’s how-to guide and the branding section of ATE Central’s Outreach Kit.

Did You Know?

According to NSF, they have sponsored 262 Nobel laureates to date. This includes 67 Chemistry Nobel Laureates, 72 Physics Nobel Laureates, and 50 Physiology or Medicine Nobel Laureates.

Select STEM Education Resources

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

Society of Automotive Engineers

www.sae.org

The highlight of the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Web site, under the Products section, is the listing of a vast array of magazines, books, technical papers, standards, CD-ROMS, professional development tools, and software engineering tools produced by the organization. Thousands of items are available, and though there is a fee to obtain each one, the listings themselves make up a virtual library catalog of automotive engineering. The site also offers a large calendar of SAE events including meetings and expositions, collegiate design competitions, and professional development seminars, among others.

EPA Automotive Trends Report

www.epa.gov/automotive-trends

This Website offers technical reports on US light duty automotive technology and fuel economy trends for model years 1975 through the present model year. A Fact Sheet, the main body of the report, and appendices are available in .pdf format. The latter two can also be downloaded as zipped WordPerfect files. Among other things, the report reveals that average fuel economy has declined consistently since the late 1980s and now stands at its lowest level since 1980. The primary source of this decline, the report states, is the increasing market share of light trucks, which have a lower average fuel economy than cars.

United States Advanced Battery Consortium

uscar.org/usabc

United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) is a collaboration between DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation and is part of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR). USABC conducts research and development of advanced energy systems with applications for electric vehicles. The website reviews the goals for the battery systems under investigation, provides information on submitting proposals for research funding, and posts manuals on USABC Abuse Test Procedures, Electric Vehicle Battery Test Procedures, the FreedomCAR Power Assist Battery, and 42 Volt Battery Test procedures. Related Links offer additional information on projects such as the Electrochemical Energy Storage Tech Team and the 42 Volt Working Group.

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
– Bio/Chem 2024 IEDB Virtual User Workshop Online
Eng Experience Northland Thief River Falls, MN
Mfg Fusion360 Workshop Manassas, VA
– 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
Gen How to Build Institutional Capacity for NSF ATE Grants Online
Mfg Junior Makers: Holiday Picture Puzzle (Laser Cutting & UV Printing) Manassas, VA
Mfg "Girls Can, Too!" Computerized Manufacturing and Machining Lab Georgetown, KY
– Mfg Rockwell Automation Fair Anaheim, CA
– Gen MN 2024 CTE Summit Plymouth, MN
– Bio/Chem 4th Annual 2024 AFCC Global Biobased Economy Conference & Exhibit National Harbor, MD
Eng Northland College Aerospace - Aerial Drone Competition Thief River Falls, MN
– Gen ACTE CareerTech VISION San Antonio, TX
Bio/Chem BIOTECH Pathways: Workshop December 2024 Bel Air, MD
– Info 2024 NICE K-12 Conference San Antonio, TX
– Info The AI Summit New York New York, NY
– Ag/Env 2024 Diesel Technology Competition Williamsport, PA
– Mfg 2025 FCPN Symposium Jensen Beach, FL
Eng Combatting vs. Integrating Student AI Use 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

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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