ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION ·
JULY 2011
Welcome to the ATE Central Connection! Published the first Monday 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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HI-TEC is a national conference on advanced technical education where technical educators, counselors, industry professionals, and technicians can update their knowledge and skills. Charged with Educating America's Technical Workforce, the event focuses on the preparation needed by the existing and future workforce for companies in the high-tech sectors that drive our nation's economy. HI-TEC will uniquely explore the convergence of scientific disciplines and technologies including: Advanced Manufacturing; Energy and Environmental; Biotechnology and Chemical Process; Engineering; Information, Geospatial, and Security; and Electronics, Micro, and Nano Technologies. In addition, HI-TEC will also explore Learning and Evaluation, Best Practices in Technology Education, and Technicians in the Workplace. HI-TEC is supported by the National Science Foundation and contributions from corporate and industry partners. HI-TEC will consist of one and a half days of pre-conference workshops and two days of conference sessions and keynote speakers.
Here is a sample of the valuable resources in ATE Central that focus on Micro and Nanotechnologies:
From the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN):
This experiment, presented by the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, covers Shape Memory Alloys or Smart Materials. A Smart Material or Shape Memory Alloys belongs to a class of materials which displays the shape memory effect (SME); they possess the ability to radically change crystal structure or phase at a distinct temperature. The lab will "explore how smart materials work and what applications these materials are used in." Additionally, students will be provided with a brief history lesson about the origins of smart material. The experiment is quite fun, students will observe how smart materials can "think and do amazing things." A student and teacher guide is provided with the lab. Overall, this is a great exercise for any science classroom interested in the workings of nanotechnology.
The National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) is an integrated partnership of thirteen user facilities, supported by NSF, providing unparalleled opportunities for nanoscience and nanotechnology research. The network provides extensive support in nanoscale fabrication, synthesis, characterization, modeling, design, computation and hands-on training in an open, hands-on environment, available to all qualified users. On this page, visitors will find the project's educational materials, including resources for K-12, undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals. Videos, lesson plans, links to outside resources, and professional development opportunities for teachers are all available here.
From Silicon Run Productions:
Developed by Silicon Run Productions, this 40-minute video uses "live industrial footage to show the many processes necessary to manufacture microchips, including crystal growth, circuit design, and the wafer fabrication process for CMOS technology." The video uses close-ups of actual processes and animation to illustrate concepts and is a great training tool for students and professionals in the field of semiconductor manufacturing.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recently released a report that addresses a fundamental question about community colleges: why are so many of them unable to successfully secure federal funding for computing programs? The report, Digitally Enhancing America's Community Colleges, offers recommendations designed to spur new grant proposals, inventive initiatives, and dynamic partnerships that infuse innovation into community college computing courses and programs. The full 24-page report is available online here: http://www.acmccecc.org/.... NSF's release about the summit, ACM, and the report is available here: http://www.nsf.gov/news/.... Printed copies of the report along with a strategic planning template are available for free via an online request form at http://www.acmccecc.org/contactus/.
ATEEC is looking for environmental and energy specialists to vet (review) materials for the electronic Environmental and Energy Resources Library. If you are interested in participating please contact Lora at lkaisler@eicc.edu.
CWIS is open source software, created with NSF funding, that can help your project or center showcase resources online. It's free and very easy to use — click here to check out a few of the sites running CWIS. We'd be happy to provide you with more information about CWIS and give you a quick tour of its features — please e-mail cwis@scout.wisc.edu to get started!
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