The STCCler online - Springfield Technical Community College's Student Newspaper

Announcements

Please take a look at the NCTT Events page.

Planning Workshop on Optics and Photonics Education
March 1 - 2, 2007, Waco, TX

OP-TEC, the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education, will be hosting a workshop on March 1 - 2, 2007, in Waco, Texas. This workshop is designed for schools and colleges interested in curriculum and technical assistance in photonics. The workshop is free of charge. Participants will be responsible for travel, meal and lodging expenses.

The workshop will provide a broad overview of photonics technology and its role as an enabler of other technologies. Skill standards, curriculum options and supplementary materials will be discussed. The workshop will also include lab sessions in laser-photonics, semiconductor manufacturing and nanotechnology. These sessions will be held at Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Waco.

Workshop attendees will also receive the following:

The National Skill Standards for Technicians (2nd ed.) (CORD, 2003) - detailed catalog of knowledge and skills required by employers, course outlines and supporting information
Photonics as an Enabling Technology - overview of photonics applications
Sample classroom teaching modules created by the STEP II project (precursor of OP-TEC, also funded by NSF-ATE) - 18 modules covering topics in manufacturing, medicine, forensics and homeland security
Mathematics for Photonics Technicians (CORD, 2003) - supplementary math resource for postsecondary students
Many other informational items

Additional information about the workshop can be obtained by visiting the "Events" page on our website (www.op-tec.org) and clicking on the link "additional workshop details" for the Spring 2007 workshop.

To register online, simply go to www.op-tec.org and click on the "OP-TEC Event Registration" link.

For more information, please visit our website, e-mail questions to op-tec@cord.org or contact our office by phone at 254-741-8338 (ext 394).

Rivier College has recently launched the SECOND issue of the Rivier College Online Academic Journal. This archival issue of the Journal (registered by the Library of Congress ) (URL: http://www.rivier.edu/journal/current_issue.htm) published four articles of our CS graduate students and two articles of CS faculty members:

Automated Music Composition: An Expert Systems Approach, by John Dion, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Software Reliability Estimations/Projections, Cumulative and Instantaneous, by David Dwyer, BAE Systems
An Overview of Voice over IP, by Ajay Kumar, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
An Overview of Broadband over Power Line, by Bruce R. Trull, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Towards Using Online Portfolios in Computing Courses, by Bryan Higgs and Mihaela Sabin, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Challenging Projects and Virtual Labs in Web-Enhanced Networking Technology Classes, by Vladimir V. Riabov, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Editor-in-Chief Vladimir V. Riabov was a presenter at the NCTT 2005 Curriculum Workshop and the 2006 Workshop.

In a Global Village, Where is the 'Public Square'?
David Liroff, vp, chief technology officer, WGBH (NCTT Summer Workshop 2005 Keynote Speaker)
A lecture from Friday, January 13, 2006 at American University

David Liroff launches the Public Media Roundtable Speakers Series at American University's Center for Social Media. The Center for Social Media showcases and analyzes strategies to use media as creative tools for public knowledge and action. It focuses on social documentaries for civil society and democracy, and on the public media environment that supports them. The Center is part of the School of Communication at American University.

Massachusetts Telecom Council Industry Achievement Awards
The MTC awarded Gordon Snyder (Executive Director of NCTT) the Workforce Development Leader Award, recognizing his direction of the NCTT to consistently promote and develop a highly trained nationwide workforce in Information and Communications Technologies.

A NEW 7-PART VIDEO SERIES AND ONLINE RESOURCE showcasing advanced technological education programs is now available. "Pathways to Technology: The Community College Route" includes multimedia tools designed for use in community college recruitment programs. The video series provides an overview of Advanced Technological Education programs at community colleges, an in-depth look at five technology education fields, profiles of successful community college graduates and more. Pathways to Technology also includes a Web site (www.pathwaystotechnology.org) with a searchable database of community colleges. Resources also feature a CD-ROM Recruitment Toolkit that contains videos, activities and customizable print resources. Sets of the complete video series are available through WGBH Enterprises for $39.95. Log on to the WGBH Web shop at www.shopwgbh.org or call 800-949-8670.

Pathways to Technology is funded by the National Science Foundation and produced by WGBH in collaboration with AACC.

Unique New Learning Resource for K-12 Teachers Available from NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a new resource for teachers and others that provides examples of creative ways to explore science and technology and examples of successful inquiry-based learning techniques. New Formulas for America's Workforce: Girls in Science and Engineering catalogs the methodology and results of more than 200 NSF grants since 1993. Judith A. Ramaley, head of NSF's Directorate for Education and Human Resources, says, "This is a perfect back-to-school tool for those teachers who want to see how research has identified hands-on learning that works. The book is full of ideas, contacts, and research that makes it an essential element in the toolkit of every educator between the kindergarten and college undergraduate levels."

The book is available FREE in electronic format and may be downloaded from www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf03207/start.htm.

The Case Files project is funded through the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program. The main focus of the project is to develop an expert faculty base that use case studies and to create an inventory of case studies to be used by faculty nationwide.

Case Studies are problem-based learning exercises framed around a real-world situation in a business/industry setting. The focus of the case study is on learning content in a collaborative learning environment. The case studies integrate multiple skills related to technical content, financial and business implications, safety and ethical issues. This is all done as a team, facilitated by a trained instructor.

The Case Files project is looking for faculty members interested in using case studies in their classrooms. We are also looking for faculty members to author case studies. If your case study is published you will receive royalties.

If you would like to be involved in this exciting project, it is important to get on board now. The Case Files project’s team members will conduct several orientation and professional development workshops.

For more information, contact the staff, or visit the Case Files website at http://www.nscc.edu/casefiles.

Be sure to check back soon for more details about future events at NCTT!

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.

This material is based on work
supported by the
National Science Foundation
under Grant Number DUE 0302548.

Springfield Technical
Community College

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