1. SC ATE Center of Excellence and National Resource Center for Expanding Excellence in Technician Education Florence-Darlington Technical College

2. SC ATE Center of Excellence To increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of Engineering Technology graduates in support of economic development Partially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

3. How Do You: Put the emphasis on technician education? Increase enrollment, retention, and graduation rates? Engage diverse learners and address multiple learning styles? Improve workplace readiness skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communications?

4. Take a different approach Work closely with industry partners Emphasize faculty development Pay attention to learning vs. teaching Help students make connections Focus on what is really important “Loosen” your hold on content coverage – listen to industry vs. academia

5. Exemplary Faculty Project

6. SC ATE Center of Excellence – Now 15 years old!

7. SC ATE Solution Interdisciplinary faculty coordinating teams Problem-based learning –Mathematics, physics, communications, & technology –Student teamwork –Industry-based problems –Problems with multiple solutions New ways to assist the under-prepared More scholarships/financial aid/incentives

8. SC ATE Center of Excellence Curriculum Integrated, problem-based (STEM + C) ET Core: First year, all ET majors Technology Gateway: pre-ET & secondary Industrial Core: First semester, industrial technology majors

9. Is the SC ATE Curriculum good? SC ATE ET Core curriculum ranked 4.0 on a 0-4 scale for "its effectiveness in helping students learn the knowledge and skills and/or practices needed to be successful in the technical workplace." 1 1 Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University, 2003.

10. Technology Gateway Students

11. SC ATE Industry Consortium Supports marketing and recruitment efforts for Engineering Technology programs “Grow Your Own” approach to finding the best students Industry pays consortium dues and pays tuition and books not covered by Financial Aid

12. SC ATE Scholars/S-STEM 100 Students have received tuition, books and wages totaling over $500,000 since program’s inception Scholar/interns start at $10/ hour (5/1/08) All classes on Monday-Wednesday-Friday to allow students to work all day on Tuesday and Thursday Loan-to-own laptop computer program On-time graduation!

13. “A Win for Students, Companies and The School” Clarence Davis, ATE Scholar Mentor, Nan Ya Plastics Clarence Davis, ATE Scholar Mentor, Nan Ya Plastics

14. Fast Track to ET Project Reduced time to graduation Credit hour reduction New marketing and recruitment strategies Business & Industry Liaison position created Visits to High School math and science classes ET Career Ambassadors model developed

15. SC ATE Center of Excellence SC ATE National Resource Center for Expanding Excellence in Technician Education Major partner – National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University Partnering with High Schools and Two- year Colleges to offer the Technology Gateway curriculum

17. A new approach to connecting providers of faculty development to those seeking faculty development >250 events posted since launch >450 registered users to date >49,000 visits

20. SCATE Inc. 501(c)(3), not-for- profit corporation Material sales Project Evaluation Curriculum Development Technical and Grant writing assistance

21. Future Initiatives Future Initiatives?

22. Patressa Gardner, Project Manager Joshua Phiri, PI Elaine Craft, President/CEO SCATE Inc. & Director, SC ATE Center of Excellence Florence-Darlington Technical College, Florence, SC scate@fdtc.edu843-676-8547 www.TeachingTechnicians.org www.TeachingTechnicians.orgwww.scate.org