The New Year Rings in New Executive Director at FLATE
by Dr. Marilyn Barger
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Welcome everyone to a New Year (2022) and a new semester. I hope everyone had a restful relaxing winter break, stayed healthy, and enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. The start of a semester is always a time to look forward to the new and the improvements we plan to make in our professional careers. January 2022 rings in a new role for me and a new Executive Director for FLATE. After 18 years serving as the Executive Director of FLATE, I am moving into another role. My new position is Senior Education Consultant for FloridaMakes and FLATE. Ernie Friend starts his tenure as Executive Director of FLATE. I will work closely with Ernie in 2022 to provide a bit of “corporate memory” to help FLATE continue on its steady path forward. Of course, I am still here to help FLATE and its partners with whatever they might need, but this is not about me, it’s all about Ernie.
Ernie Friend, FLATE’s new Executive Director assumed his new role as of January 3, 2022. He comes to FLATE after 25 years at Florida State College at Jacksonville serving various administrative roles over IT, Manufacturing, and other related technology associate degree programs. Ernie and I have worked together on various projects since the early 2000’s. FLATE helped him transition his previous manufacturing program to the A.S. Engineering Technology Degree at FSCJ. Over the years, we worked together on several large and small U.S. Department of Labor and National Science Foundation (NSF) grants for manufacturing and other IT programs across Florida and the entire country. After Ernie was re-assigned to be an administrator over FSCJ’s IT and Cybersecurity degree programs, we continued to work together with shared Florida visions for better connections of ET and IT programs around the state, providing state-wide access to industrial and IT internships (both in-person and virtual), and engaging more Florida industry professionals in technician education.
Please welcome Ernie as the new leader of FLATE and help him learn about your program, your industry, your partners, and your community. We look forward to seeing everyone this spring at Broward College for the Spring 2022 ET Forum. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Nominations Open for 2022 FLATE Awards |
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In their 15th year, the awards represent FLATE’s commitment to recognizing educators and industry professionals who have made outstanding contributions to manufacturing or engineering technology outreach or educational programs in our public or private educational institutions. FLATE Awardees include individuals in any manufacturing area including economic development, industry, education and administration.
Nominate secondary and postsecondary educators or industry professionals in these categories:
Timeline
* Nominations close: February 28, 2022
* Nominee application deadline: March 31, 2022
* Award winners will be notified by April 29, 2022
and on October 25-26 at the FloridaMakes Make More Summit.
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Celebrate Manufacturing Month All Year in 2022! |
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Manufacturing Day has been celebrated across the country every October since 2011 in order to change career perceptions in manufacturing. FLATE has worked for the past decade with Florida's Regional Manufacturing Associations (RMAs), FloridaMakes and many other organizations and industry partners to celebrate Manufacturing Month in Florida each October; and the number of in-person student tours of manufacturing facilities grew each year until the pandemic, exposing many students, parents, educators and counselors to modern manufacturing careers.
Since the pandemic, Manufacturing Month student events have evolved with many partnering organizations coming up with new, innovative ways to reach students. FLATE would like to recognize those organizations, companies and/or schools who created innovative student outreach events in 2021 to promote manufacturing career awareness and technology education. To do so, we are launching a new FLATE Award in 2022: the Most Innovative Manufacturing Month Student Event Award. See above article on FLATE Awards for details and to make a nomination. Events held in 2021 that included students and manufacturers are eligible to be nominated.
And although many successful student events were held in October and throughout 2021, many scheduled events were postponed due to the pandemic. These events will be rescheduled as soon as feasible so we will not be waiting until October to celebrate Manufacturing Month in 2022! Student events throughout the year will highlight the current, unique opportunities for careers in manufacturing. But in addition to a year-long celebration, stay tuned for information on a statewide celebration to be held on Manufacturing Day in October!
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Visualizing our Community College Programs |
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The Hidden Innovation Infrastructure is an NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) research project (2026262) that aims to define the “hidden innovation ecosystems or infrastructures” that evolve from ATE grants and community college technical programs. It also intends to inform regional economic development efforts. Findings are also expected to contribute to the national conversations about the impacts of the community college workforce education ecosystems on regional labor markets.
The project goals include an ambitious, qualitative study of ATE-educated technicians at their workplaces and in the regional economy. This includes deep dive studies with NSF ATE regional projects; analysis of past and current ATE grants for impact on economic development; and nationally available student and industry data. Looking at the national data sets, the project team has developed a visualization tool to facilitate comparisons and review trends. The visualization tool/web application is very simple to use and reveals the number of technician graduates in a particular technician program or programs across the country, across a state, or across several states as desired. This tool will support the project but can also assist colleges and systems in identifying potential areas of skill needs and can help with the understanding of how programs have evolved over time and help with decision making about programs they might want to consider offering and ones they might want to consider closing.
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CTE Career Cluster Professional Learning Communities
February Topic: FLATE Resources & Best Practices
February 15 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET
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The purpose of the CTE Cluster PLCs is to provide support to CTE classroom instructors by building a stronger sense of community across the state. This series is hosted by the Office of Career and Technical Education. Throughout the year, webinars will feature expert teachers and industry professionals sharing best practices for programs in their respective career clusters.
All CTE faculty and administrators are welcome to attend these PLC's each month. Invitations are sent out with the webinar details and link prior to webinar dates. The GotoMeeting platform is used to allow for more enhanced interaction between guests and attendees and it does not require advance sign up.
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Employer-Education Partnership Webinar: Developing Local Education-Employer Partnerships from the Ground Up with IETs on January 27, 2022 - 2:00 PM |
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Integrated education and training (IET) programs combine occupational skills training with basic and academic skills instruction to expedite the education and career advancement of learners. Join us for this webinar as panelists discuss strategies for developing employer-education partnerships that get results through IETs.
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17th Annual FEEC Conference
University of Central Florida - February 25, 2022
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The Center for Initiatives in STEM, in conjunction with their industry partners, will hold the 2022 Florida Engineering Education Conference (FEEC) on Friday, February 25, 2022. K-12 STEM teachers, administrators, practicing engineers and other (informal) educators from across Florida involved in and/or interested in learning more about STEM education are invited to attend.
Early bird registration will be available until January 31st. Space is limited.
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Supported by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) program, HI-TEC is a national conference on advanced technological education where secondary and postsecondary educators, counselors, industry professionals, trade organizations, and technicians can update their knowledge and skills.
Call for Proposals: submit your proposal below to do a preconference workshop, session, or poster session. Speaker guidelines will be provided upon acceptance of proposals. Deadline for submitting for preconference workshops is February 15th and deadline for main and poster sessions is March 3rd. Conference Registration will be open beginning March 15.
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Florida’s Space Coast Spaceport Selected for Worldwide Campus and Manufacturing Complex |
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Space Perspective, the world’s leading luxury spaceflight experience company, announced that it has selected Florida’s Space Coast Spaceport in Titusville, Florida as the location for the company’s worldwide campus and manufacturing complex. Space Perspective will invest more than $38 million in new construction and high-value equipment and tooling, including the $9 million, 120,000 square foot manufacturing building slated to be fully operational within the next 24 months. The investment will also spur the creation of approximately 240 full-time permanent jobs by the end of 2026, with an annual average wage of $80,000, plus benefits. Hiring began in 2021 and will continue through 2022.
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Florida Technology Student Association (TSA) State Conference: Judge Link is Active |
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Consider volunteering as a judge for the 2022 Florida TSA State Conference February 23-26 at the Doubletree by Hilton Universal Orlando. The judge sign-up link is active and includes specific competitions where help is needed. On Saturday, February 26, these include Fluid Power, Structural Engineering I and Structural Design and Engineering II. |
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Skills USA Week is February 7 - 11 |
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SkillsUSA Week is Feb. 7-11, 2022, and you can participate in many different ways: Honor your community supporters, connect with local business and industry professionals, or make a presentation about your CTE program and SkillsUSA chapter at a school board meeting. Celebrate all week by planning activities that follow the daily schedule of events that will be held by local chapters nationwide. |
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FIRST Robotics Kicks Off 2022 Competition Season
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This year's game, RAPID REACTTM presented by Boeing, was revealed at the Kick-Off on January 8th. Teams must use innovative engineering, creative thinking, and teamwork to reimagine the future of safe, high-speed travel, and lightning-fast deliveries to propel the next evolution of transportation forward.
Save the dates for the three Regional Competitions in FL in 2022:
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2022 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) |
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The Community College Innovation Challenge is about to begin! Join a number of previous teams in a quest to win a chance at the Innovation Boot-Camp from Jun 13-16 in Washington D.C. The Boot Camp provides professional development, mentoring, and coaching designed to build strategic communication skills to help students advance their innovations in both the private and public sectors. The event includes a pitch presentation in front of a panel of industry and entrepreneurial professionals to determine the first, second, and third place winning teams. Registration opens January 12, 2022.
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Leading Practices for Accessibility and Inclusion in STEMM #2 - Virtual Conversation Series
January 25, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM ET
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This second conversation in the series hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine will focus on specific aspects of access and inclusion for laboratory-based research and education in STEMM, including best practices for establishing accessible and inclusive lab spaces. More information on upcoming conversations in this series can be found here.
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Mentor Up: Advanced Technological Education Grant Mentoring for Two-Year Colleges |
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Participants in this workshop will learn about the NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program and how to most effectively apply for grant funding.
- When: June 15, 16, and 17, 2022
- Location: Virtual Zoom
- Eligibility: Full-time STEM discipline faculty involved in technician education programs from two-year colleges. Two faculty per college are eligible for stipends.
- Stipends and Support: Each faculty participant will be eligible for a $500 stipend at the completion of the virtual workshop. An additional stipend of $250 will be available upon submission of an ATE proposal in the October 2022 competition.
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Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups - Students Must Apply by January 31st |
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A unique opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and law students to get hands-on experience in public service while learning more about transportation challenges and advancements in the U.S. Interns can build a network, develop skills and learn about open positions. The 10-week program takes place between June and August each year. Interns receive a monthly stipend. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to COVID-19 considerations, it has not yet been determined if the Summer 2022 program will be in-person or virtual. Application deadline is January 31, 2022.
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10-week Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program at Utah State University |
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The Department of Engineering Education at Utah State University will hold a ten-week summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program starting May 16, 2022, to provide undergraduate students (in either 4-year or 2-year schools) in a STEM discipline with intensive experience in engineering education research, such as how learners’ experience, background, and perception play a role when they learn engineering knowledge and skills. Each REU student will receive up to $8,450, including 1) a stipend of $6,000, 2) a housing and meal allowance of $1,700, and 3) up to $750 for a round-trip airfare ticket to travel between their distant location and USU. Apply by March 7, 2022.
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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Scholarships (2022-23) for Students |
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The ASME Foundation and ASME Auxiliary have over 80 scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students studying mechanical engineering and closely related ME discipline. Students apply for all scholarships with one application and can be awarded more than one scholarship. Scholarship recipients are selected based on scholastic ability, character, integrity, leadership, and potential contribution to the mechanical engineering profession. Student must be an ASME student member, a full-time student enrolled at an ABET accredited institution and have a financial need. Undergraduate deadline is February 17, 2022. The graduate deadline is March 3, 2022. High school seniors need to apply by March 15th.
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New and Updated Electro-Mechanical Online Lectures |
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Jim Pytel has a new collection of online resources for use in supplementing electrical circuit analysis, hydraulics, and/or motor control classes. He will also soon publish new and updated material on motors and generators, pneumatics, industrial wind power, solar power, and more as part of a new NSF ATE funded project.
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Metal Fabrication Resources for Educators |
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Show your students the unique opportunity for young people to start a career in manufacturing, specifically the metal fabrication sector, right now. The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) created Careers in Metal Fabrication, a practical guide for young job seekers and those who influence their career choices. This free guide explains the opportunities available and how to take advantage. FMA also provides a poster series that describe popular careers within the industry, along with average expected salary ranges. Click here to print out and post the flyers in high-traffic areas for optimal visibility.
Also available to CEC-member faculty, and their students, free of charge are FMA’s e-Fab® learning courses that combine the elements of traditional live seminars with the accessibility and flexibility of online learning. These interactive, self-paced training courses cover topics relevant to the fabrication industry — from learning about the right tools for precision sheet metal operators to building a part to print. Add one or several e-Fab modules to your curriculum to enhance your school’s metal fabrication program. Message us at education@fmanet.org to activate your classes’ access.
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America’s Best and Worst Metro Areas for School Quality |
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Researchers at the Thomas B Fordham Institute wondered: If we could measure school effectiveness the right way, by looking at student progress over time, would a different picture of school quality emerge? Could we start to determine at the metro-area level which American regions really had the best schools? Might that encourage business leaders to give some metros another look when making location decisions?
Fordham and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partnered to use the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA) to build valid comparisons at the metro-area level for schools across the United States, using measures that are most clearly connected to school effectiveness and that are available nationally at the school district level including academic growth, academic growth for traditionally disadvantaged students, improvement in achievement in recent years, and high school graduation rates.
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New Underwater Adhesive: Hydrogel is as Strong as Spider Silk & Sticky as Mussel Foot Protein |
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Replicating the effective underwater adhesion of some marine organisms has been an elusive endeavor, until recently. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation, used synthetic biology to successfully fabricate a biocompatible hydrogel that adheres to underwater surfaces, mimicking marine life. The easy-to-use material has potential for use in manufacturing to medicine and beyond.
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NSF Pilot Programs Help Workers and Students
Cross Transit Deserts
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Transit deserts – areas with poor public transportation and possibly poor biking, sidewalks or road infrastructure – are found in urban areas throughout the U.S. and often impact low-income neighborhoods of color and can have negative effects on the health, job prospects and economic mobility of the population. NSF, with the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security, is investing up to $1 million in six community-focused projects being developed as part of the National Science Foundation's Civic Innovation Challenge. The solutions will improve the lives of local residents and also become templates to address community-level issues across the U.S. Read more about these six mobility projects below.
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