Eric Owens: FLATE’s “Go-To” FDOE Person Says Goodbye |
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By: Marilyn Barger
When I first met Eric Owens in 2006, it was at the introduction of Nancy Cordell. Nancy worked in the Division of Career and Adult Education at the FDOE. She brought Eric to the ET Forum at Indian River Community College (now known as Indian River State College). Eric was the new supervisor for the DOE’s Manufacturing Career Cluster. He quietly observed all that was going on during the ET Forum, and we would talk over lunch about FLATE and our curriculum goals. At the end of the day, Nancy said that “FLATE would be in really good hands” with Eric. Nancy left the Florida Department of Education shortly thereafter, and it was then that Eric became FLATE’s “go-to” person at FDOE as we created the A.S. Engineering Technology (A.S.E.T.) and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology secondary programs.
It’s impossible to convey how much FLATE and all of the students who went through the programs owe to Eric for his patience, thoughtfulness, support and guidance over the years. On behalf of FLATE, I wish Eric the very best as he retires from FDOE. Many students and many manufacturers have Eric to thank for ensuring an integral educational pathway into Florida’s dynamic manufacturing sector and hope he decides to spend most of it with his feet solidly on the ground. January 29, 2021, was Eric’s last day at the FDOE.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Showcasing Engineering Technology (ET) Students
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FLATE is proud of the 2000 students enrolled in the Engineering Technology (ET) A.S. degree programs offered at over 20 state and community colleges across Florida. Meet Donnie, an ET student at St. John’s River State College, who is working for Georgia Pacific. His story is not atypical of many non-traditional ET students who graduated from high school several years ago: they work, attend classes, and have family obligations. |
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REMINDER!
FLATE Manufacturing Education Awards
Nominations are open for the 14th Annual FLATE Manufacturing Education Awards.
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- Secondary Educator of the Year
- Post-Secondary Educator of the Year
- Distinguished Manufacturing Partner Service Award
Join us in showcasing Florida’s manufacturing sector by nominating your favorite manufacturing education heroes for one of these prestigious awards. The awardee will be recognized at FloridaMakes’ MakeMore summit later this year. Learn more about the awards program and submit your 2021 nominations today!
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JUDGES NEEDED!
CTE Month Needs Competition Judges
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As part of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, FLATE and FloridaMakes are encouraging manufacturers and other STEM professionals to sign up to judge at the 2021 spring statewide virtual CTE student competitions:
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TSA (Technology Students of America) February 22-26, 2021)
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Skills USA Florida April 12-26, 2021
You can learn about the different competitions and sign up to judge specific events on their websites. These are events you will want to experience because working with students is very rewarding.
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Florida Manufacturing Month 2020
Succeeds and Looks to the Future
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As FLATE was met with challenges due to COVID-19, Manufacturing Month overcame obstacles and successfully brought people together to learn about manufacturing throughout the month of October. State leaders and decision-makers, education institutions and faculty, and Florida's high school and college students celebrated Florida’s essential and vibrant manufacturing sector.
Across Florida, students and businesses joined together and participated in an array of virtual activities and events aimed at paving the path for the next generation to step into manufacturing careers. FLATE and FloridaMakes applaud Florida's students and manufacturers for “staying the course” and making Florida Manufacturing Month 2020 a success.
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Interested in getting involved with Florida’s 2021 Manufacturing Month?
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Engaged Quality Instruction Through Professional Development |
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Engaged Quality Instruction Through Professional Development (EQuIPD), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is a facilitative, train-the-trainer coaching model used by the University of Florida faculty in several districts around the state. At the core of its efforts and framework is an achievement of effective student learning. Powerful tools and strategies including, inquiry-based lessons, technology, and computational thinking are emphasized in the program. The results? Students who are better prepared to achieve their goals and successfully navigate their careers.
In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to find a considerable “mismatch” between the expectations of the workplace and the skills that students develop during their education. By focusing on guidelines well-established by the Common Career Technical Core (CCTC), EQuIPD remedies that “mismatch” by equipping teachers, and in turn, students, with the skills they need to function competently in the workplace. Our teacher field trips help us bridge the gap by addressing real-world scenarios and expectations by demonstrating the actual skills that are important in careers in the local industries. In doing so, we also foster interactions between the schools and industries so that there is less of a communication gap between the classroom and the workplace. EQuIPD has partnered with FLATE and the FloridaMakes Network to bring manufacturing professionals and their virtual tours found on their MFG Month Hub to EQuIPD teachers from all over Florida.
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Upcoming Events & Recorded Webinars |
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Session 2
Friday, March 5
11 AM - 1 PM
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Last October, FLATE gathered Florida manufacturers and 2-year college technical educators at a virtual caucus to review and discuss the data from a survey about the near-future skills needed for manufacturing technicians in the next three to five years in their facilities. The data from that meeting, in conjunction with the summer survey data, looked at next steps and real opportunities to address gaps that have been identified between manufacturers and educators about their expectations for recent 2-year technician grads. You can learn more about this project here.
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Learn about emerging technologies that should be included in 2-year manufacturing technician programs. Industry experts will present the technical side of emerging Industry 4.0 technologies and provide techniques and tools for technician educators to use in their classrooms. |
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Session 2: Practical Tools to Better Implement Root Cause Analyses
Friday, February 26, 9:00 – 10:00 AM EST
Key Takeaways:
- Online resources for emerging Industry 4.0 technologies
- Available techniques and tools
- Define and select the appropriate root cause analysis tools
- Implement root causes analyses
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Session 3: Exploring Occupational Safety and Health Administration for Manufacturing
Friday, April 22, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST
Key Takeaways:
- Online resources for emerging Industry 4.0 technologies
- Basics of occupational safety and health
- Available training and tools
- Improve safety, compliance and risk management initiatives
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Tools and Tips for Funding Technology Summer Programs
Thursday, February 18, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST
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This webinar will provide tools and tips to help educators search for funding options for technology summer camps.
Key takeaways:
- Learn about available resources
- Funding options
- Tools and Tips for a fun summer camp free-of-charge
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The ET Forum is an important vehicle to bring together the diverse and geographically dispersed colleges in Florida with common issues and challenges. The Forum is a semiannual 2-day meeting of Florida community college engineering technologies faculty, administrators and any ET stakeholders.
You must register for each session separately through the link below.
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Session 1: Friday, March 19, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Session 2: Friday, March 26, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST
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Available STEM Scholarships |
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Now Open: Lockheed Martin's STEM and Vocational Scholarship Program
Lockheed Martin has recently opened their 2021 STEM and Vocational Scholarship Program application period.
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The Lockheed Martin’s STEM Scholarship is open to high school seniors and undergraduate students who plan to pursue a major in engineering, physics, or computer science, demonstrate financial need and come from underrepresented or underserved communities.
The deadline to apply is April 1, 2021.
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The Lockheed Martin’s Vocational Scholarship is open to students attending or planning to attend a U.S. vocational-technical school, trade school, or two-year community college and are pursuing or planning to pursue an associate degree, credit-bearing certificate, or industry-recognized credential in the areas of technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
The deadline to apply is March 11, 2021
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American Welding Society (AWS) Scholarships and Education Resources |
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Applications are being accepted for the 2021-22 American Welding Society Foundation Scholarships. Scholarships are available for students in welding engineering/engineering technology and related engineering fields.
The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021.
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Educators can find AWS curriculum, videos, grant opportunities, a downloadable poster and welding career profile sheets on the website here.
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Now Open: NUTS, BOLTS, THINGAMAJIGS Scholarships |
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Scholarships for manufacturing related education are now open.
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021.
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Educator Resources & Other Events |
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Florida’s CTE Audit: Statewide Review of Programs |
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Great information about Florida’s Audit of CTE programs and what will be coming next. Register to get access to the recording.
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Introduction to the Necessary Skills Now Network (NSN) |
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Learn about free resources and workshops to help integrate employability skills into your courses.
March 11, 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST
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February is CTE (Career and Technical Education) Month!
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Proudly celebrate and showcase all your CTE programs and students.
Three years running, ACTE and NASA HUNCH is excited to host their student video challenge, which celebrates CTE and project-based learning programs.
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College of Central Florida’s Corporate College offers FANUC Training Courses |
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These courses will be held in-person, and they will take place on the Ocala Campus of the College of Central Florida (CF). CF hosts the only FANUC authorized Satellite Training Center in Florida!
HandlingTool: Feb. 23-26, 2021, Tuesday to Friday, 8 am-5 pm all four days
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2D iRVision: Mar. 17-19, 2021, Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. all three days.
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Learn how to Write Grants in this Free Grant Writing Program |
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Mentor Up: Thinking about a new NSF ATE project for Fall 2021? Not sure where to start? Apply to the FREE ATE grant writing program, MENTOR UP. Get free help and get a stipend! Formalize your idea in a one-page write up and submit it to the program by April 1, 2021.
NSF ATE Resources: Spread your wings and check out educational resources and events from around the country on ATEcentral.net. This site features free resources for advanced technology education in many disciplines as well as pedagogy from NSF funded ATE projects and more.
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Join the ASEE ETD Engineering Technology Listserv |
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ET faculty and administrators should consider joining the free ASEE ETD Engineering Technology Listserv. It has 4,500 members from all 50 US states and 50+ countries at over 1,000 institutions. Posts are of general interest to all Engineering Technology educators. |
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NCPN (National Career Pathways Network) webinar recording of “Re-entry and Re-engagement During a Pandemic: How Employability Skills Surface as In-Demand Skills in Today’s Workforce” is now available. |
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The Increasing Role of Community Colleges Among Bachelor's Degree Recipients: Findings from the 2019 National Survey of College Graduates |
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A new InfoBrief focuses on NSCG data related to community college attendance by the nation’s employed college graduates who earned their first bachelor’s degree in the United States before 2018. Findings are presented in relation to selected sociodemographic characteristics, broad fields of study, and reasons for their attendance.
The data reveals that increasing numbers of U.S. college graduates reported attending or graduating from a community college. Review the InfoBrief for data details that including gender, veteran, and minority differences.
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