Advanced Technological Education ·

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.

We want the ATE Central Connection to be a valuable tool; please e-mail info@atecentral.net with any suggestions about how to make the ATE Central Connection more useful for you or to suggest any information you would like to see in an upcoming issue.

In This Issue

Best Practices

Featured Best Practices Guides

From DeafTEC:

Best Practices for Teaching Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students: Teaching

www.deaftec.org/classact/challenges/teaching

DeafTEC provides this resource with strategies and ideas for teaching in a mainstreamed classroom with a mix of hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing students. Twelve topics are included such as First Day of Class, Pace, Complexity, Visuals, Attention, and Point of Reference. Each topic includes a description of the challenge along with strategies to overcome it. Related videos are also included from both the interpreter and teacher perspectives.

From Florida Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence (FLATE):

Robotics Camp Survival Guide: A FLATE Best Practices Guide

atecentral.net/downloads/631/Robotics-Camp-Guide-082213-EW.pdf

This best practices guide from FLATE, the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence, is directed at those educators or STEM professionals "interested in learning how to maximize your success for creating and running a middle school summer camp about robotics—with the least amount of problems." Garnered from six years of FLATE's own experience in sponsoring summer robotic camps, this guide outlines camp purposes and goals as well as such administrative tasks as funding the camps, finding a location, getting the equipment needed, and conducting communications. The appendices include helpful document templates and examples, including camp flyers, release forms, thank you letters, and follow-up surveys.

From theConsortium for Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Manufacturing (CARCAM):

CARCAM Curriculum Gap Analysis: Best Practices Guide

atecentral.net/downloads/837/Curriculum%20Gap%20Analysis%20Best%20Practice.pdf

This 28-page best practices document from the Consortium for Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Manufacturing (CARCAM) details a curriculum gap analysis conducted by the center. Industry professionals were asked a variety of questions about CARCAM's curriculum to see if it provides students with the training needed to work at their companies. The best practices guide includes Gap Analysis Instructions, a Sample Survey Instrument, and a Management Plan. Two flow charts are included that detail how the gap analysis was conducted and will be useful for other curriculum supervisors looking to analyze their curricula.

PI Meeting Logo

Community Connection

Preparing for the ATE PI Conference: October 26-28, 2016

As summer winds down and we return to campus and our regular school year routines, it’s also time to start thinking about the ATE Principal Investigators Conference this October in Washington, D.C. For projects and centers old and new, the annual PI conference offers a chance to share experiences, collaborate, learn, and meet other members of the ATE community. Now is a great time to make sure your project or center is prepared for the big event.

To help in your preparation efforts, here’s some information that you may find useful:

  • Showcase Sessions. The showcase sessions are a highlight of the PI conference, with three opportunities for projects and centers to share and display their work and learn about what others in the community are doing. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with NSF program officers. A complete showcase schedule can be found on the AACC website. And remember: all projects and centers are required to have a display at the showcase sessions – so don’t forget to register before the September 20th deadline!
  • ATE Central Centers and Projects Map. The ATE Central Centers and Projects map, located on the ATE Central home page, is a great way to help you learn about possible collaborators in your field, as well as identify just who may be at the PI conference. With the map, you can search through projects and centers by area of the country or by subject area (i.e. manufacturing, nanotechnology, welding, etc.) While you are browsing the map, now is also a good time to make sure that your project or center’s record is up to date. Let us know if you have new resource URLs, a new project description, other social media outlets, or a website we should know about. We can best support and amplify your efforts when we have up-to-date information about your project or center and its deliverables.
  • ATE Outreach Kit. The ATE Outreach Kit can help projects and centers come up with an outreach plan or some specific outreach ideas. Leading up to the PI meeting, the Communication section of the Outreach Kit might be particularly helpful: it includes tips on creating a mission statement and designing key messages so you can get the word out about your project or center.
  • ATE@20 Book + Blog. The ATE@20 book and corresponding blog continue to be a great resource for getting the word out about ATE and the wonderful work being done throughout our community. But the blog and book are also a great way for you to learn more about the ATE community before heading to the PI meeting. Take a read through the book online to get a good overview of the history of the ATE program and stop by the ATE Central booth to look at the print copy – we’ll be happy to mail copies to you for use in your own outreach efforts. And of course, if you have an idea for a blog post before or after the PI Conference don’t hesitate to get in touch at ate20@atecentral.net – we’d love to help you get the word out about the impact of your project or center!
  • PI Meeting App. Plan which sessions to attend and track your PI meeting experiences with the annual PI meeting app. This year's app will be available in October, so keep an eye out for it on the ATE Central PI Conference page.
  • Getting Started Workshop. New community members, especially, should make sure to attend the “Getting Started” workshop at this year’s PI conference. This workshop is recommended for all principal investigators, co-principal investigators, and other team members looking for a smooth transition to ATE. The workshop will cover ATE program issues, financial management and grant management, and evaluation. ATE Central will be presenting at the session, so feel free to ask any questions you might have.
  • ATE Community Resources. There are a number of free tools and resources available throughout the ATE community that can also help you prepare your project or center for the PI conference. Make sure to check out EvaluATE, MentorConnect, and AACC among others.

Please contact us at info@atecentral.net and let us know how we can support your ongoing efforts. Don’t forget that the registration deadline is Wednesday, September 28th. We look forward to seeing you in DC!

Checklist

ATE Success Tips: Outreach

Creating an Outreach Plan that Works for You

The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires grantees to demonstrate broader impacts in an effort to ensure the NSF's mission: "To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes." For research groups, organizations, schools, non-profits, and others receiving federal funding from the NSF and other entities, having an effective outreach and dissemination plan is of upmost importance.

There are many great web resources available to help your project as you move forward with outreach and dissemination. For instance, readers may find this comprehensive guide from Enroll America helpful. Clear, concise, and accessible, it takes readers through the steps of creating an efficient outreach plan, complete with checklists that include goals, strategies, and tasks. It is full of tools like printable templates, example materials, and guides for self-examination.

California

Did You Know?

According to the American Association of Community Colleges, California has the most community colleges of any state with 117, followed by Texas with 62.

ATE Events

Ongoing Events
– Nano Mechatronics Workshop Albany, NY
Upcoming Events
Gen NSF ATE Program Funding Opportunities & Mentor-Connect Orientation Webinar Online
Gen NSF ATE Program Funding Opportunities & Mentor-Connect Orientation Webinar Online
– Eng dSPACE Technology Conference 2016 Naperville, IL
– Eng The Battery Show Novi, MI
Gen Building the Caribbean Innovation Economy Washington, DC
Gen Building the Caribbean Innovation Economy: Online
Info Using Social Media to Promote and Achieve Grant Outcomes Online
Nano The National Nanotechnology Initiative with a Focus on Resources for Educators Online
Info Mount Vernon GIS Symposium Mount Vernon, VA
Info Ethics in GIS Education and Professional Practice Online
Gen Chat Series: S&T Policy Fellowship Opportunities for Social Scientists Online
– Eng APICS 2016 Washington, DC
– Gen Writing in the Disciplines Workshop in Texas White Settlement, TX
– Info 2016 Ohio GIS Conference Columbus, OH
Info National Cybersecurity Student Association - Chapter Development Webinar Online
– Mfg Statewide Tour of Manufacturing , MN
– Eng Future of the Connected Vehicle 7th Summit Novi, MI
– Eng National Career Pathways Network Annual Conference Indianapolis, IN
– Mfg Southern Automotive Conference Biloxi, MS
– Gen Writing in the Disciplines Workshop in Charleston, WV Charleston, WV
Gen Promoting Success in Math Charleston, WV
– Ag/Env Wine Chemistry Workshop - Albany, NY Troy, NY
Mfg 2nd Annual Greater Hartford Mini Maker Faire Farmington, CT
– Eng The North Carolina Community College System Conference Raleigh, NC
Gen Chat Series: Q&A with S&T Policy Fellows Online
– Eng National Council for Workforce Education 2016 Conference Atlanta, GA
– Eng NCATC 2016 Fall Conference Palatine, IL
Info Strategies for Business Engagement (Includes Credential/ Curriculum Alignment) Online
Gen Labor Market and HR Management Implications of Entrepreneurship Online
– Eng 2016 Mississippi Transportation Institute Conference Jackson, MS
– Mfg Alabama Joint Leadership Development Conference Birmingham, AL
– Info 2016 Kentucky GIS Conference Covington, KY
– Eng OSA Frontiers in Optics/Laser Science Rochester, NY
– Ag/Env Wine Chemistry Workshop - Ashtabula, OH Ashtabula, OH
– Eng American Association of Port Authorities Convention New Orleans, LA
– Ag/Env Wine Chemistry Workshop - OK El Reno, Oklahoma
– Info ATE Principal Investigators Conference Washington, D.C.
– Info 39th Applied Geography Conference Louisville, KY
Bio/Chem 2016 National Instititues of Health Community College Day Bethesda, MD
– Info NICE Conference and Expo Kansas City, MO
– Ag/Env Wine Sensory Analysis Workshop - Altus, AR Booneville, AR
– Ag/Env Wine Sensory Analysis Workshop - CA Pomona, CA
– Eng M-STEM 2016 Owasso, OK
– Eng STEMTech Conference Philadelphia, PA
– Ag/Env Wine Sensory Analysis Workshop - Georgetown, TX Georgetown, TX
– Ag/Env Wine Sensory Analysis Workshop - Millbrook, NY Millbrook, NY
– Ag/Env Wine Sensory Analysis Workshop - NC Dobson, NC
– Gen 2016 Leadership Seminar in Science & Technology Policy Washington, DC
– Mfg FABTECH 2016 Las Vegas, NV
– Ag/Env Wine Chemistry Workshop - Dobson, NC Dobson, NC
Info Effective Strategies for Job Placement Online
– Ag/Env Wine Chemistry Workshop - Austin CC - TX Georgetown, TX
– Gen Writing in the Disciplines Workshop in Texas San Antonio, TX

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.

To add a continuously-updated list of ATE and STEM education events to your website, use the ATE Event Widget.

News & Reminders

Have you registered for the 2016 ATE PI Conference?

The 23rd National ATE Principal Investigators Conference will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. October 23-26, 2016. Don't forget, the Showcase Session Deadline is Tuesday, September 20th and the Registration Deadline is Wednesday, September 28th.

Archiving your deliverables with ATE Central is now easier than ever!

Upload your curriculum, professional development materials, or other deliverables created with ATE funding directly to the ATE Central resource portal via the new archive submission form.

Don’t miss your chance to present at NISOD’s 2017 International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence.

Readers are encouraged to submit a presentation proposal that addresses important issues facing today’s community and technical colleges. Be sure to submit your proposal before the January 9, 2017 deadline.

Don’t miss the 2016/17 Mentor-Connect Technical Assistance and Mentoring Support program!

From July 1 through October 13 applications will be accepted for this technical assistance workshop and faculty mentorship opportunity. Click here for more information.

Is your project/center on Facebook, Twitter, or another social media site?

If so, please make sure we've found that site and added it to the ATE Social Media Directory. Having your social media presence linked through the directory will help ensure that interested parties can find you online. In addition, if you currently publish a newsletter, please let us know, as we will be adding links to newsletters to the information available on ATE Central.

Can CWIS software help support your project goals?

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. The latest version (CWIS 3.9.1 beta) was released on and is available for download on the Scout site. Please email cwis@scout.wisc.edu if you have any questions or would like a quick tour of its features!

Follow ATE Central on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all things new at ATE Central and in the ATE Community as well as in the world of STEM Education.


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