The Engineering
Technology Forum provides an
excellent opportunity for industries and educators across the state to meet
each year at different college locations to discuss common interests and issues
surrounding the education of tomorrow’s advanced manufacturing workforce. FLATE works with the Forum to strengthen the
consortium, share its administrative activities and projects, provide
professional development, bring industry and academia together, and engage in
statewide curriculum reform. Over the years, it has become a true engineering
technology community of practice. The Forum meets twice a year; and since 1996
has convened forty times at over 22 different Florida colleges.
The 2018 Spring Forum on
Engineering Technology (ET Forum) was held at South Florida State College
(SFSC) in Avon Park, Florida. The Forum was well attended with 50
representatives from 17 state and community colleges, the University of South
Florida, the Department of Education, technical education sales representatives,
and local industry.
In keeping with the
theme of the Forum, Innovation in
Engineering Technology, the Forum included discussion about new projects,
new technical trends in education, curriculum and industry certification updates,
course numbering issues, articulations, accreditations by the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), PathTech LIFE updates updates, benefits
of Smart Factory/Industry 4.0, Florida Department of Education (FL DOE) program
updates and registered apprenticeships which include how these work in the
state of Florida.
Industry 4.0 involves
the use of advancements in communication and information technology to increase
the degree of automation and digitization of production, manufacturing and
industrial processes. The ultimate goal is to manage the entire value chain
process, by improving efficiencies in the production process and coming up with
products and services that are of superior quality.
An update on the PathTech LIFE, (Learning, Interests,
Family, and Employment) National Science Foundation (NSF) survey, showed that
1872 students from 62 community colleges from around the country have
participated in this survey. The survey is still open with 700 students
participating at an additional 20 community colleges.
Regarding
FL DOE program updates at the secondary level; these include Advanced
Manufacturing Technology and Electronic Systems Technology as new programs. The
new programs in PSAV are the Advanced Manufacturing & Production Technology
and Electronic Systems Technology.
As is the case with all ET Forums, participants are surveyed
for effectiveness to ensure that the Forum continues to meet attendee needs. Overall
presentation and forum format were rated as very good (16%, n=4) and excellent
(84%, n=21). Two events at this Forum ranked highest with overall ratings of
4.9 out of a possible 5 (Excellent). Those included updates provided by Richard
“Ted” Norman who serves as Apprenticeship Program Director at FL DOE. The other
was the Industry 4.0 presentations by the vendors. 100% of survey responders
reported they intended to use information presented at the ET Forum and
that they will recommend this Forum to others.
The Florida
Engineering Technology Leadership Council and the Engineering Technology Forum
was established in April 1997 at Seminole Community College (now Seminole State
College). Membership includes department heads and the leaders of the
Technology programs in the State of Florida.
Since 2009, the ET Forum has served over 400 participants at this
bi-annual statewide meeting where Engineering Technology college faculty,
program managers, workforce and economic development personnel, the Florida
Department of Education (FL DOE) and related college technology educators and
administrators can bring common issues to the table for discussion, share
resources, and learn.
Currently
more than half of Florida’s community and state colleges (17 out of 28)
regularly attend these meetings, making them a nexus, not only for raising
awareness, but for mobilizing discussions into actions. The ET Forum also
provides a venue for collecting information about ET students. FLATE conducts
surveys, collects data and compiles information that it shares with Forum
members who are interested in recruiting new students and/or capture how ET
students have used their degree to augment professional aspirations.
The 2018 Fall ET Forum
will be traveling for the first time to Pasco-Hernando State College at New
Port Richey on October 18th and 19th.
For more information on
the Forum and/or A.S.E.T degree visit http://fl-ate.org/projects/et-forum.html.
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