Plan Now for PD Opportunities for 2019

As we approach the holiday season and the beginning of a new year, it’s time to both look forward to where we want to go and who we want to be, and back to see where we have come. However, right now let’s focus on professional development (“PD”) and the future. What do we want to learn more about? What do we still want to learn? How can we better help our students?

What is Professional Development? One official definition is “the process of improving and increasing capabilities of staff through access to education and training opportunities in the workplace, through outside organization, or through watching others perform the job. Certainly, “PD” is one way that educators keep current with their academic and technical disciplines as well as teaching and learning strategies.

However, “PD” helps build and maintain morale and is thought to help attract higher quality people to an organization”. Additionally, “PD” can provide educators with innovative tools and helps them to develop skills to use these new tools effectively to affect a direct impact on student achievement. When educators feel empowered and confident in bringing something new to their instruction, they can reach students they may not have been able to with traditional teaching methods. Innovative technology and teaching tools in the classroom can allow for diverse and interesting lessons that will engage learners in new ways.

FLATE has always and continues to focus on helping Florida manufacturing and technical educators find and participate in a wide variety of professional development opportunities all year. This month FLATE is posting a variety of upcoming 2019 workshops, webinars, conferences and other events. (Check the attached flyer or go to the FLATE wiki and take a look behind the “Professional Development” button for the most current information.) We think you will find some events that you won’t want to miss. If you don’t see something that you want to learn or need to know about, please let us know and we will try to find some opportunities for you.

FLATE, in partnership with the Central Florida College will conduct a 4.5-day Industrial Robot workshop in June. Registration and educator travel and lodging support is covered by our partner FACTE through a Perkins grant. FLATE will also host a MSSC CPT/CPT+ workshop this spring (dates and location will be finalized early in January). For the post-secondary Engineering Technology crowd, the spring ET Forum will be hosted for the first time by our colleagues at Sarasota Technical College (STC) on March 28-29.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of some free local events that focus on new and emerging technologies. Two great candidates are the Synapse Innovation event in February in Tampa and the Florida HAAS Machining Educator Day hosted by Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Campus on May 2. Another good deal is the $25 Tech Tour pre-conference day hosted by FAITE and FLATE in conjunction with the Annual FACTE conference each July.

Florida educators can also sign up for free FACTE (Florida Association of Career and Technical Education) online courses. FACTE typically publishes a calendar of courses a month or two before each semester. If you are interested in strategies for integrating problem based learning or new technologies into your courses or want to know more about teaching students with disabilities or working with standards, FACTE courses can help.

Have a wonderful break from classes and we will be back with the first 2019 edition of the FLATE Focus!

MFG DAY and Month Happenings in Tampa Bay

The month of October saw over 30 student tours in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, but many other events celebrating Manufacturing in Florida also took place.  Here are a few highlights!

October 4- Upper Tampa Bay-Florida SunCoast Manufacturing Association (UTBMA) Sixth Annual Advanced Manufacturing Awards Ceremony at Nielsen Global Technology, Oldsmar.

The UTBMA is dedicated to serving the unique business and networking needs of the approximately 400 manufacturers located in the region. The 2018 awards ceremony recognized regional manufacturers for their exemplary labor in manufacturing innovation and for the first time outstanding students and alumni were also recognized. During this event, FLATE’s dear friend Roy Sweatman from Southern Manufacturing Technologies received the distinguished 2018 Service Award. The 2018 Student Excellence award was presented to Michelle Puentes from Hillsborough Community College and Ryder Fizpatrick from St. Petersburg. Michelle and Ryder were recognized for their outstanding perseverance, leadership and academic achievement in pursuit of a career in advanced technology and manufacturing.

October 9- Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County M-Pact Meeting hosted by Southern Manufacturing Technologies (SMT), Tampa.
The Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County is working to build a better future for our region’s manufacturing industry. Through M-Pact meeting series, manufacturers connect to address the latest trends and challenges facing our industry. This M-Pact meeting, hosted by SMT, focused on improving the talent pipeline and provided an provided an overview of National and State apprenticeship opportunities for manufacturers by Richard (Ted) Norman, Florida Department of Education’s State Director of Apprenticeship, Division of Career and Adult Education in Hillsborough County. In addition, a local apprenticeship model was presented by Steve Cona III, President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, and a SMT machinist apprentice Robert Falor spoke to manufacturers and educators about his apprenticeship program and life experience.

As the manufacturing sector’s most passionate advocates, Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County are committed to changing the perception of modern manufacturing in Tampa Bay, simplifying the path to a successful manufacturing career, fostering critical connections across the manufacturing community, and guiding individuals and our community towards enduring prosperity. For more information about Hillsborough Alliance, visit https://madeinhillsborough.org/

ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE: MANUFACTURING DAY/MONTH IS HERE!

October is right around the corner and it’s time to celebrate! You can find Florida “Manufacts” on the FloridaMakes website to add to your own local manufacturing info facts.

Here are some of the statewide facts you can find under FLORIDA MANUFACTS.

•  In April 2018, manufacturing had 375,500 jobs in Florida, an increase of 12,300 jobs over the year.
• Manufacturing has gained jobs for 88 consecutive months, after losing jobs over the year for more than four years.
• Manufacturing is 4.3% of total nonagricultural employment in Florida
• Miami-Dade, Pinellas and Orange counties contributed over 30,000 manufacturing jobs each, while Broward, Hillsborough, Duval, and Brevard counties contributed over 20,000 jobs each,
• The Average wage for Manufacturing in Florida is $57,884.00, which is the third largest in the state for all industry sectors and is $10,829.00 above the average wage in the state.   (Data source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity)

In addition to statewide data, you can find downloadable in-depth regional reports on that same MANUFACTS webpage. For example, the report for West Central Gulf Coast is 28 pages, was compiled by IHS and looks like the image to the left. In addition to West Central Gulf Coast, reports available for you to find include regional reports for Central Florida, the First Coast, Gainesville Area, Mid-Florida, Northwest Florida and Capital Region, South Florida, Southwest Region, and Volusia County. Check out the report for your region to gather local details to support your Manufacturing Day events.

More Florida Manufacturing facts can be found on FLATE’s website with the Engineering Technology Degree pages. Each year, FLATE partners with the Florida Department of Education to obtain completion and enrollment data for the A.S. Engineering Technology degree, its college credit certificates and all other related degree programs. For FLATE, related programs are those academic programs that also support manufacturing. The annual report is a 5-year summary with break out data by college and program. In addition to state and community college data, FLATE also reports on related high school and post-secondary programs. These programs provide articulated pathways into college programs and dual enrollment with the A.S.E.T. The Florida Advanced Manufacturing high school program has shown significant growth in the past several years. Here are a few FACTS captured from this report. We do not expect the 2018 data from the Department of Education until later this fall, so the most current report covers the 5-year period, 2012-2017. Below are a couple snapshots of ET enrollment and completed data.

A summary of MFG DAY-FL student tour data for the past 5 years is posted on the MFGDAY-fl.com site (scroll down to bottom). Links to student, hosts and chaperone surveys, lesson plans, graphics, tour tips for the industry hosts are all available from this page. To date, we have 49 events posted on MFGDAY.com for Florida. I know that there are many more, so please get your events posted as soon as possible.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Florida Manufacturers Starts with MFG Day Student Tours

Since 2012, MFG DAY/Month has grown across the nation. A central focus of the celebration is to introduce Advanced Modern Manufacturing to young people in order to attract them to careers in the industry.  If Florida, FLATE and its many partners that include regional professional and business associations, Workforce and Economic development organizations, educational institutions of all levels have organized student tours and other events to celebrate the industry and introduce the community, especially students, to manufacturing and its many great careers. It’s time to plan for MFG DAY/month in FL 2018.

I encourage ALL manufacturers to host student tours.  100% of the feedback we have gotten over the past 5 years from company hosts is incredibly positive: that the tours were a good investment of time and energy; their own workforce was jazzed by experience of having student visitors, and a few had direct hires. The vast majority said it was also great for company morale. Overall, its been all great!  Here is what you need to get started:

1. In most areas of the state, there are regional coordinators, you can find a pretty up to date list of these folks here:
2. Coordinators do their best to help identify a middle or high school for you.
3. PLAN!
   •  Most tours happen on MFG DAY, Oct 5.  If that day doesn’t work for you or your school, no worries, you tour can be any day in October (Mfg Month!) [We all get more publicity if a bunch of tours happen on the same day, so many areas try to have most of the tours on the official date.}

•  Most tours happen in the middle of the day (10-1:30) to take advantage of school buses for transportation. Many coordinators work directly with the school district, which schedules the buses and covers the cost of the buses.
•  Provide lunch (pizza/drinks), inside or outside if at all possible. This is a great time for employees to connect with students AND for students to complete a short tour survey that FLATE will provide (and will tally as well). Allow 30 min.
• Review FLATE’s “Tour Tips” to maximize your impact.
• Plan the tour, engage your employees. You don’t have to show it all.
•  Post your tour on mfgday.com – and let everyone know about your event.
•  Report your tour info to FLATE (mbarger@hccfl.edu).
•  Invite the press, local officials, etc to share the opportunity.

FLATE provides a number of resources for Manufacturing Day in Florida. In an effort to make a statewide impact, we have developed and posted teacher lesson plans (to help prepare students for tours), outreach materials like special MFG DAY – FL logos; classroom poster, graphic for MFGDAY-FL 2018 t-shirts, web buttons & banners, how to booklets and handouts, recorded webinars about these resources, and more.  All resources can be found on FLATE’s wiki: www.flate.pbwiki.com – look for the tour and MFGDAY button to access these free resources. FLATE also has posted the Florida student tour surveys as an online survey or downloadable pdf files.  There are also links to surveys for company hosts and educators /parents accompanying students.

We want to keep Florida on the national manufacturing map as an active and enthusiastic participants. Its time to get start planning your student tour and other activities or events.

If you are new to MFGDAY in Florida (or even if you are not new), don’t hesitate to contact us at FLATE with any questions.

Mechatronics and Vacuum Technology

The terms Mechatronics and Vacuum Technology represent 20^th Century state-of-the-art “tags” for leading edge STEM based skill sets that are even more significant in this 21^st century digital world.  Mechatronics was coined in the 1960’s to verbalize the then brand new integration of mechanical and electronic knowledge for commercial (automobiles, etc), space (moon mission) and defense (ICB’s) applications.  Vacuum Technology could trace its heritage to the 19^th Century (Edison’s work with incandescent filaments for example) but certainly is anchored in technology development (radio and television) in the 1920’s and cemented in all advanced technologies triggered during and post Manhattan Project.  Although there is always a tendency to rebrand almost everything (IHOP to IHOB for the latest example), new identifiers for either of these incredibly STEM based skill sets is not necessary.  What is important is to recognize that from a technician’s perspective both are indicative of the required and similar advanced knowledge and skills for today’s advanced manufacturing sector technicians.

FLATE’s mission to build Florida’s advanced manufacturing workforce is driven by the fact that Florida’s high tech industries (defense, aero-space, biomedical devices and communications sectors) are dependent on both Mechatronics and Vacuum Technology and the reality is that the skillset of these two discipline areas have a significant overlap. FLATE continues to work with A.S. programs around the country that support mechatronics certifications alignment to year degree programs. Additionally, FLATE annually provides a range of professional development opportunities at the HI-TEC conference (this year in Miami Florida in July). Mechatronics events include: workshop on Programmable Logic Controllers; Mechatronics group “mixer”; and an industry panel on Industry 4.0.

FLATE is now beginning an initiative to build a community of practice that supports vacuum technology and its overlapping Mechatronics skills. The National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education program (NSF-ATE) is supporting FLATE activities focused on technician education that lead to careers in advanced manufacturing that depend on vacuum technology and science skills and knowledge. FLATE has entered into a partnership with the American Vacuum Society (AVS) to identify the essential skills that are and will be essential to support this industry sector.   (The AVS is the internationally recognized premiere organization of academic, industry, Department of Defense, National Laboratory, and NASA STEM professionals that require or use controlled pressure environments to accomplish their missions.) This objective will be reached through a joint effort by the AVS Education Committee, Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MN, and FLATE. The work has already begun at workshop supported by AVS at the Colorado School of Mines that took place in early June. Stay tuned for the next steps in this project in the fall of 2018. For more information, contact gilbert@fl-ate.org.

So what’s next? As with the action item generated in last month’s FOCUS workforce related message, “On-Time and Drug Free”, We need input from manufacturers and their technology supporters that rely on vacuum technology and science to share insight and experience. From your perspective, what are required skills that support manufacturing operations conducted in controlled pressure environments? What skills and tasks do your engineers and scientists have and do that should be within the technician’s domain? What vacuum related skills are now not key to your vacuum supported processes?

In summary, to paraphrase and repeat the bottom line message from “On-Time and Drug Free”, drilling down into the skill set expectations of manufacturing workers in high performance complex vacuum required processes will increase process efficiency and product quality. This exploration requires extra energy from all parties but the increased details will refine the processes Florida uses to produce the fundamental non-competitive technical expertise necessary in this manufacturing sector. Florida has a great future in global manufacturing when the needed skills development is transferred to the education system. FLATE can help with that transfer into the education system but manufacturers have to identify the critical skills. If you can help, let us know.

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida 2030 Project and Earners to Learners Summit Explores the Future Opportunities and Needs for Florida’s Workforce

The recommendations released come from three years’ worth of research and feedback from more than 10,000 Floridians in each of Florida’s 67 counties as part of the Florida 2030 initiative- a multi-million research initiative that seeks to identify the challenges and opportunities Florida has between now and 2030, and to create a blueprint for Florida’s future. Recommendations found that:

• Florida is growing- our state needs to add 1.7 million net new jobs by 2030.
• Florida must prepare its workforce to take advantage of global consumer demand.
• Florida is experiencing generational changes.
• Florida will need to adapt to shifting skills and the training that will be required.
• Innovation and disruption are transforming industries and jobs.
• The nature of work in Florida is changing.

FLATE, FloridaMakes, the Able Trust, Economic Development organizations and Educational institutions gathered to hear the specific recommendations for Talent and Education Pilar of Project 2030 at the recent Earners to Learners Summit held in Tampa. In addition to the project recommendations, Commissioner Pam Stewart presented the Commissioners Business Recognitions Awards during the event. These awards to a number of exemplary programs and businesses around the state. The award winners are posted here: https://www.flchamber.com/commissioner-pam-stewart-honors-businesses-at-2018-learners-to-earners-workforce-summit/ . You can also view the recorded videos of Summit speakers and see the agenda here: https://www.flchamber.com/2018-learners-to-earners-workforce-summit-videos/

For more information about Project 2030, click on the images below for the recommendations listed above. You can also download and share the Drivers for Florida’s Future report, which covers all Six Pillars of Florida’s growth (Talent Supply & Education, Innovation & Economic Development, Infrastructure & Growth Leadership, Business Climate & Competitiveness, Civic & Governance Systems, Quality of Life & Quality Places.)

https://www.flchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/20

2018 Manufacturing Day/Month – SAVE THE DATE!

October 5 marks the official kick off for Manufacturing (MFG) Day with industry tours, open houses, career fairs and other miscellaneous events being planned in Florida and across the country.

This year FloridaMakes, FLATE and the network of Regional Manufacturers Associations across the state are taking the lead in organizing statewide industry tours and events that kick starts on MFG Day/Month. Counties and cities across Florida are set to issue proclamations marking October as MFG Month. Thousands of students and educators from schools across Florida are also anxious to participate in industry tours that are geared to showcase products that are “Made in Florida” as well as get an up-close and in-depth look at high-skilled, high-wage careers that the industry offers. Manufacturing Day is expected to be celebrated across Florida, and there are a number of ways to be involved in this nationwide event that focuses on the strength of American Manufacturing.

For more information and Florida’s MFG Day/Month educational resources, please visit these online sites.

Made in Florida Industry Tour Educational Resources

Pre & Post Tour – Teacher Lesson Plan

Industry Tour Lesson Plans

CIS Lessons to be used w/industry tours

If you are interested in hosting a student tour either on Manufacturing Day or any day during the month of October, please contact your local Regional Manufacturers Associations and Regional MFG Day team in your area.

For information on MFG Day/Month in Florida visit FLATE, www.mfgday-fl.org, or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.

FLATE’s Student Outreach – Supporting STEM Education Mentoring Engineering Capstone Projects for Middle School’s 8th Grade

Every year, the Florida Advanced Technological Center-FLATE, helps middle school students by mentoring in their Engineering Capstone projects. The 8th grade STEM students are tasked to exhibit technical expertise to solve challenging problems by producing ideas and products that have the potential to be marketed in the real world.

Among some of the schools that FLATE serves as mentor is the James Madison Middle School (MMS) in Tampa, FL. MMS opened in 1952 and is recognized as a leader in STEM education in Hillsborough County. The school prides itself in designing enriching and engaging curriculum that takes students on a “learning adventure” focused on applying key engineering skills that are critical to problem-solving and developing higher order thinking skills. During 2008 J. Madison Middle school was selected to host, on behalf of Hillsborough County Schools, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM Aerospace Engineering Academy with a strong focus on leadership skills.  Part of J. Madison Middle School’s success can be attributed to its successful strategy in formulating key mentorships/partnership with industry and education institution like FLATE (the Florida-based National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence for technological education). This strategic mentorship offers real educational opportunities for students to interact with top professionals in different STEM fields.

To support some of its STEM based initiatives, J. Madison Middle School also created the “Ghost Riders STEM Institute”, now referred to as the “STEM Aerospace Engineering Academy”, and has recently started the 8th grade capstone project which involves the development and creation of an innovative product over the period of the whole year. Each student group is mentored by an “expert professional” in the field. These professionals, or experts, would help them complete their projects with their guidance. Meetings with mentors are performed via phone, emails, and video provide each group with the proper direction for the creation of their product.

Each group is to develop a company and create a plan to introduce a product to the market. A product that will be presented to a panel of judges, like the TV show Shark Tank. Products are to address current environmental issues, solve problems with waste and inefficiency, meet the increasing demand for power, make lives safer and healthier, etc.

Dr. Marilyn Barger and Danielly Orozco, Principal Investigator and Associate Director of FLATE, are currently part of the mentor/expert professionals program for the 8th grade capstone project. Daniel Mills is the lead instructor of Madison Middle’s STEM Aerospace Engineering Academy. For more information on the list of the 2018 8^th Grade students’ Capstone project please visit https://tinyurl.com/madisoncapstone17 or contact Daniel Mills at daniel.mills@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

Middleton HS Engineering Capstone Final Projects: “Project Lead the Way” – Pathways to Engineering

Engineering Capstone Project- Lead The Way (PLTW), another project supported by FLATE, provides a comprehensive approach to STEM Education. Through activity, projects, and problem-based curriculum, PLTW gives students in high school a chance to apply what they know, identify problems, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning. The implementation of this program provides tools to empower students and transform the classroom into a collaboration space where content comes to life.

Currently Middleton HS is recruiting judges of this pre-engineering design event, the objective is to constructively critique and evaluate the projects. This type of event is a great opportunity to promote STEM and Engineering Technology targeting high school students.

When: May 4th, 2018 – 8 am—11am morning session, 1:30—3:00 afternoon session

What: Morning—Gallery Walk of all Senior Capstone Projects

Where: Morning session Cafeteria, Afternoon session auditorium

For more information contact Elizabeth Simpson  by April 20th if you are able to attend.

8th Annual STEM Professional Association Event

Middleton High School (https://middleton.mysdhc.org), a Pre-Collegiate STEM Academy, would like to invite you to our 8th annual “STEM Professional Association Event” from 6:00-7:30 PM on Thursday, March 22th, 2018.

This STEM Professional Association Event is held on an annual basis to connect Tampa Bay area students, parents, educators and professionals in order to promote student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.

A robotics demonstration will be conducted by Middleton High School robotics club students, winners of the 2012 World FTC Robotics Championship and 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Florida State FTC Robotics Championships!

Middleton’s Electrathon Car, powered only by commercial rechargeable batteries weighing no more than 73 pounds, designed and built by students will be on display.

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FLATE Visits Virginia Mechatronics and Advanced Manufacturing Programs

ON THE ROAD

This month FLATE had the opportunity to visit two two-year advanced manufacturing and mechatronics programs in Virginia: Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) in Charlottesville and Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke (VWCC). PVCC was hosting an outreach event for high school programs to introduce the students to their new program launched this academic year. Over one hundred twenty juniors and seniors from 4 regional high schools arrived at the college for a 10 am program start. After welcome from the program director and dean, a lively panel of local manufacturing and production employers talked to the young people about their companies and what they make. They went on to talk about the kinds of skills new employees need to have to be hire and successful in their companies. The business sectors represented all voiced the need for some common fundamental technical skills like measurements, electronics and quality. They also strongly endorsed the need for personal success skills (employability skills, soft skills, personal skills, etc). After the lively discussions and questions from the audience, the students cycled through four stops: manufacturing lab tour and program information; company displays where they showcased their products and individually talked about their technician workforce needs. Several high school and college engineering student projects were also on display. The last two stops were hands on activities building a small ball bearing system and wiring a LED light circuit. It was a great opportunity to get ideas for effective outreach and benchmark the labs of our Florida Engineering Technology programs, and hear about the workforce needs of manufacturing companies in other states and regions.

My second visit was to Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) located in Roanoke, VA. The mechatronics degree at VWCC was started by and still let by program manager Dan Horine about ten years ago. The program has grown to well over 100 students and has attracted a number of manufacturers to the region. After visiting the mechatronics, computer aided drafting and “Fab” lab, I was lucky to observe the following required mechatronics systems course: ENG 105 – Problem Solving in Engineering Technology:

“Teaches engineering problem solving, using hand held calculator. Applies computers to solving problems. Laboratory 3 hours per week”

This innovative strategy is helping to secure specific math skills needed by mechatronics technicians by providing relevant context to the math skills being taught. The course basically provides a faculty “tutor” for students currently taking math, engineering and mechatronics courses. Personally, I was struck by the non-threatening and team environment and overall “helping” atmosphere. The required course has only been offered a couple of years so its impact on mechatronic student success has yet to be determine.

You can find out more by visiting the colleges’ websites: www.virginiawestern.edu and www.pvcc.edu. Additional questions about mechatronics programs in the US or the Engineering Technology A.S. degree in Florida, visit the Mechatronics Community Exchange site or contact Dr. Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.

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