MSSC Partnership Workshop Gives Educators Chance to Collaborate on Curriculum Opportunities

On May 11 and 12, FLATE hosted a Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) Partnership workshop which was designed to give educators from across the state and MSSC members the chance to collaborate on curriculum opportunities. The two day teacher workshop was very informative. Nine instructors from high schools and colleges across the state participated. FLATE’s Curriculum Coordinator, Jesse Kokotek was the workshop facilitator, with three guest speakers which included Ted Norman, State Supervisor for Engineering & Technology Education Neil Reddy Executive Director of MSSC, and Steve Meints Service Department Manager at DC Jaeger Corporation. The educators were also engaged in hands on activities around measurements, precision and accuracy led by Danielly Orozco, FLATE's Associate Director, which they can take back to their classrooms. Quality and measurements are challenging for many students and often require regular practice but is very important skills in all manufacturing processes.

At the conclusion of the event, the instructors gave positive responses about the workshop. The instructors said that receiving their Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification will lead to better outcomes with student testing scores. In addition, the information they received during the two day workshop helped identify and create solutions from the various types of challenges that go along with teaching inexperienced high schoolers (hands-on activities and teaching strategies). Another benefit from the workshop was the networking opportunities and getting to meet with other instructors.

Shirley Dobbins, an engineering technology instructor at Hillsborough Community College, stated that the workshop was a good way to meet high school instructors and “hear about their programs and learn about the challenges they face, and how that compares to our college programs.” Ms. Dobbins will also be taking the MSSC CPT certification exams as part of this program.

FLATE is working with educations and industry across the state to increase implementation of the MSSC CPT certification in high schools, technical colleges and the workforce as a strategy to improve the state’s entry level manufacturing workforce. In Florida, the MSSC CPT also provides an accelerated pathway for the Associate in Science Engineering Technology Degree. Current MSSC CPT credentials articulate for 15 credit of the 60-credit degree. The Engineering Technology Degree is offered at nearly every state and community college in Florida and supports manufacturing industry with manufacturing technicians with strong technical skills.

For more information about FLATE and MSSC’s partnership, please contact Dr. Marilyn Barger, Executive Director of FLATE, at barger@fl-ate.org.