Addressing a Problem in Technician Training

PSU OEWD Thematic Initiative Fund - Spring 2007

Wes Grebski Project Coordinator, Engineering Faculty,

Coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program

Jung Hun Choi Instructor of Engineering

Dan Downey Director of Vocational Career Services, Penn State Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre,

Worthington-Scranton

Mark Toda Senior Technical Specialist, PennTAP

Jackie Ritzko Penn State Computer Specialist

Jackie Stash Northeast Tech Prep Consortium

Goals

To develop a career advising and guidance website related to engineering and technician training for students, parents, teachers, & guidance counselors.

To attract high tech industry to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

To provide job descriptions as well as job predictions in the engineering technology field.

To guide students toward their career destination point and alert them to the many opportunities for early technical experience in and out of the classroom.

Increase career awareness in engineering technology/technical fields including knowledge about career opportunities, and a road map of how to get there.

To create a database from which teachers can access engineering & engineering technology related modules which can be incorporated into the curriculum. (linked to Pennsylvania State Standards in Science and Technology)

To increase the number of students enrolling in engineering technology programs.

To improve the understanding of opportunities that exist with local companies and increase the stream of trained technicians

Website Content

Explanation: Engineering vs Engineering Technology Front Page Highlights Announcements Events Audience Career Pathways Multidisciplinary Programs Employment Requirements/Soft Skills Resume Writing Interviewing Etiquette Ethics

Website Content (con’t)

Teaching Resources (Grades 7-12) Lines of Communication Penn State Students Teachers Guidance Personnel Parents Problem of the Month Act 48 Teacher Training TEEM-UP (Teaming Engineering, Education, and Mathematics in

Undergraduate Programs

Website Content (con’t)

Learning Modules Joint Projects Summer Camps Auditing Classes Global Opportunities Speakers’ Bureau Minority/Female Resources (eg. ACEIT Program Survey faculty/students/teachers/guidance personnel/parents (CQI

for website needs) Testimonials from graduates Pennsylvania State Standards for Science and Technology

Relevance to Economic and Workforce Development Goals

Increasing awareness of career opportunities in the engineering technology field.

Providing guidance to students and parents in selecting a rewarding career which matches the students’ interest and aptitude.

Providing guidance for students in selecting classes while they are still in high school, so that they are prepared for engineering technology post-secondary programs.

Providing teachers with resources that meet the Pennsylvania State Standards in Science and Technology.

Providing guidance counselors with resources to make them more aware of engineering technology related career opportunities and requirements.

Website issues & Timeline

Webmaster Selection Professional vs In-house IT Personnel

Disability Friendly

Year One Development/Research of Website Identify Local Technician Needs/Job Requirements Organize career pathways information (secondary/post secondary)

Year Two Disseminating information about the website Testing and Modifying the website

Sustainability

Penn State Computer Specialists

Penn State IT Department

Northeast Tech Prep Consortium

Partners in Education Partners in Education (PIE) is a non-profit business-education

partnership involving K-12 education, businesses and higher education.

TEEM-UP Representatives Engineering, Education, Mathematics, IT faculty from Penn State

Representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Education