FLATE’s second Caucus session for the Future of Work for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians was held earlier this month with 60 attendees, many of whom were new to the project. The session presented the analysis of data collected over the past six months, including responses from a Fall 2020 questionnaire and data captured from an October 2020 virtual Caucus. The questionnaire responses included 133 Florida manufacturers and 26 of Florida 2-year engineering technology faculty. Gaps were identified between the perceptions of the industry and educators with respect to skills related to Industry 4.0 technologies. These were explored by the project team to identify what Florida colleges should include in future advanced manufacturing curriculum.
Significant “gaps” between the Caucus output and the Florida Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks were noted and researched before this second caucus session. The investigators discovered that many of the skills areas identified as “gaps” are currently upper level (junior and senior) bachelor’s degree skills for B.S. programs in information technology programs and elective courses in Florida’s B.S. engineering technology programs. However, participants agreed that the 2-year college programs should be introducing these topics and integrating them into the curricula. These “gap” skills related to data integrity, cybersecurity, cloud, and network and database fundamentals.
A second major outcome of the project research was the identification of five critical crosscutting skills. These five skills, distilled from the questionnaire responses and the Caucus 1 input, were found to be important for all skills groups. These five skills are found in the table below.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Chris Mizell |
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It’s inspiring when someone finds a job doing what they love. It’s even better when someone finds their “dream job” straight out of school and in the same city where they live. Chris Mizell is one of the lucky ones.
After completing the two-year Engineering Technology degree with an advanced manufacturing focus at Hillsborough Community College, Chris landed a position at Advanced Airfoil Components, where he has continued to build upon the skills he learned while earning his degree. Today, he is a senior maintenance technician and looks forward to continuing to advance in his manufacturing career.
“I love my job, and I love the everyday change,” says Mizell. “I love the innovation with the technology and the environment in general. Not everybody does what we do here.”
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Get Ready for Summer STEM Camps |
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Camp is a great way for children to combine learning and fun during the summer months. Structured learning outcomes with engaging vehicles like robots, drones, 3D printers, and more can be a recipe for success. The hard work involved often yields a rewarding result for both student and teacher. We encourage STEM professionals to participate in industry panels, demonstrations, and/or tours (virtual or in-person).
If you’re planning a summer STEM camp, we’ve got two great half-hour sessions that will help: “Educator Webinar Series-Tools and Tips for Virtual STEM Summer Camps” and “Educator Webinar Series - Tools and Tips for Funding Virtual STEM Summer Camps.” Find the recordings on FLATE’s YouTube Channel. Additionally, FLATE’s Wiki has several free downloadable resources, including a Best Practice Guide booklet for summer robotics camps, as well as a day-by-day robotics camp curriculum.
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Workforce Training and Development Resources |
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FLATE works closely the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Leadership Council (AMWLC) on student outreach and recruitment activities and other education-related initiatives. FLATE, the AMWLC and the regional manufacturers associations (RMAs) through the FloridaMakes Network, are working together to develop resources to support manufacturers, create a framework for capturing best practices, and develop metrics to define local and regional impacts. Currently, the AMWLC is rolling out a new statewide “Adopt-A-School” initiative that will help capture the impact of the work many companies and organizations are doing with their regional educational institutions.
The Council currently has three priorities:
- Building apprenticeships for manufacturers
- Educational pipeline development (student outreach and recruitment)
- Upskilling the current workforce
The AMWLC is managed by FloridaMakes, a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida's regional manufacturers associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. Resources for workforce and talent development are just one of the multi-prong solutions FloridaMakes offers.
Tina Berger, FloridaMakes’ Director of Talent Development, oversees the work the AMWLC and its diverse manufacturing members from across the state. Using a sector strategy approach, the Council is an essential business feedback loop to ensure Florida’s training and workforce system has a deep understanding of and is responsive to the talent needs of the advanced manufacturing industry sector.
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Zach Trautt (left) and Shelby Platner share a video call. Credit: N. Hanacek/NIST/Virginia Tech
The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) has a variety of internship programs for students from high school to graduate school. These opportunities are great ways to explore Federal careers while getting paid and gaining work experience. Many students who work at NIST while in school eventually transition into permanent jobs after completing their education. Share these opportunities with students of all ages!
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March is Women’s History Month |
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March is Women's History Month and a great time to celebrate all women working in manufacturing. One great way to celebrate Women's History Month is to recognize women in your programs, your faculty, and in the the manufacturing companies you partner with. To recruit women into your programs, share the stories of these manufacturing heroines with potential students. Find resources for recruiting girls into STEM programs on FLATE's website. |
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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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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 3: Exploring Occupational Safety and Health Administration for Manufacturing
Friday, April 23, 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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The 2021 FLATE Manufacturing Education Awards will be celebrated during the Talent Development Segment of the MakeMore Manufacturing Summit taking place on June 22 and 23. Announcement for this event is below.
Sponsorship opportunities available!
In their 14th year, the awards are geared to recognize secondary and post-secondary educators, and industry professionals for their outstanding contributions to promote and support technology education and careers awareness in manufacturing.
Your financial contribution will help cover the costs for the Awards ceremony, the winners' trophies, as well as their participation in the Florida Association for Career & Technical Education Annual Conference-FACTE and the MakeMore Manufacturing Summit.
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For more information about the Awards click here.
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Register for the 2021 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit |
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Join FLATE at the 2021 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit for important discussions on the future of manufacturing in Florida! Hosted in partnership with Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, Inc, Enterprise Florida, the Florida Chamber, and FloridaMakes, the Summit will help build a roadmap to strengthen and advance Florida’s economy through innovation, talent development, and leveraging our resources to accelerate the productivity and technological performance of the manufacturing sector.
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For a special discount on registration use promo code: FLATE
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FREE Registration for Students! |
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Join FLATE at the virtual Space Coast Cybersecurity Forum, presented by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, FloridaMakes and The Association of Florida Industries, to learn about the latest cyber protections for businesses & the Department of Defense's new CMMC requirements. Students with a valid school email can register for free.
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ASME International Mechanical Engineering Education (MEED) Leadership Summit |
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The ASME International Mechanical Engineering Education Leadership Summit (MEED), which launched in 1989, is the only conference specifically for mechanical engineering Chairs/Deans/Department Heads that addresses issues affecting the current and future state of engineering education. Join educators, industry, government and ASME representatives to network, foster partnerships and share ideas for effective educational initiatives to prepare students to enter the workforce post-graduation.
March 18-19, 2021 | Free Virtual Event
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National Center for Supply Chain Automation (NCSCA) 4th Annual Virtual Symposium |
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Explore emerging technologies that can be incorporated into your programs at the NCSCA 4th Annual Virtual Symposium on April 28-29, 2021.The symposium offers a collaborative, online networking opportunity for college educators that teach supply chain automation and related fields.
April 28 - 29, 2021 | Free Virtual Event
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HI-TEC (High Impact Technology Exchange) Conference |
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Abstracts now being accepted for asynchronous presentations.
July 21-22, 2021 | Virtual Event
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Win Money and a Trip to Washington, D.C. |
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The Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) is led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF). This national, two-phase competition brings together community college student teams and faculty and administration mentors to find innovative solutions to “real world” problems using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The CCIC also includes a Virtual Innovation Boot Camp and cash awards.
Submission Period Opens: February 18, 2021
Submission Period Closes: April 20, 2021 11:59 p.m.
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Seeking STEM Subject Matter Experts |
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The NSF ATE “Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work” project is hiring subject matter experts to boost their collection of instructional cards. The cards will cover 43 cross-cutting knowledge and skills defined by experts and considered essential for STEM technicians of the near future.
The project is seeking SME faculty from community college technical programs in the areas of advanced manufacturing, agricultural & environmental, biological & chemical, data science, engineering, information & security, and micro & nanotechnologies to review and pilot the instructional cards. For more information, please contact Ann-Claire Anderson.
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Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast Sponsors CPT Program and New Manufacturing Boot Camp |
Learn how the EDC's new Certified Production Technician Program will help increase skilled workers, supporting new businesses moving to the Space Coast. |
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SpaceX and University of South Florida |
Three of the 143 satellites aboard SpaceX’s first dedicated rideshare mission on January 24, 2021 — named Transporter-1 — were engineered by USF Institute of the Applied Engineering (IAE) program’s students and faculty. |
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Congratulations to Miami’s Palmer Trinity School –
a STEM School of Excellence
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The International Technology Engineering and Education Association (ITEEA) recognizes schools whose teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders are providing a meaningful STEM education experience for students. These are STEM Schools of Excellence and STEM Schools of Merit. By highlighting these schools, ITEEA hopes to help others learn effective “best practices” and continue sharing them amongst the STEM education community. ITEEA named Miami’s Palmer Trinity School a 2021 “STEM School of Excellence.” We commend Palmer Trinity School on this well-deserved award. |
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Manufacturing Podcast Series by CMTC (California Manufacturing Network). |
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Free Guide: Careers in Metal Fabrication |
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This career guidebook is available to download from the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA). |
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The Industry that Makes the Supply Chain Work videos are short clips featuring the latest technologies and issues important to the material handling industries that use advanced manufacturing technologies. Check out the latest videos that include topics such as virtual reality for training and the use of micro fulfillment for grocery businesses. |
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