Page 13 - TTMNSummer2024

STEM/Engineering
Teaching Today Minnesota | Summer/Back to School 2024 Page 13

St Cloud State University
Technology, Engineering & Careers (TEC) Network

The TEC Network is all about build- America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) CNC TEC Network Program 3. Program development and review
ing partnerships with school and businesses 4. Advisory board support
around the state. The TEC Network has Training The TEC Network program continues 5. Program enhancement plan (district
recently received grants and contracts to St. Cloud State University – TEC Network to support Technology Education, CTE and will determine items needed) Examples
support CNC training, robotics teams and has been awarded a contract to provide free STEM programs around the state. Schools include:
youth apprenticeships across the state. There CNC training to students, teachers, and which are a part of the Technology Network
are 2 specif c programs that will be partnering industry workers in outstate Minnesota. The will engage in: a. Youth apprenticeship plan
with schools and businesses: ACE Net (America’s Cutting Edge - https:// 1. Equipment access b. Career awareness /readiness
• DEED Grant for Robotics Teams and www.americascuttingedge.org/ ) is designed a. Nearly $2,000,000 worth of equip- c. Recruitment ideas / plan
STEM Internship Programs to allow people to gain the skills needed to ment d. STEM activities / curriculum
• America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) CNC answer America’s call for more machine tool b. Maintenance support for the equip- Technical Programs – Careers for
Training professionals with free online and in-person ment
training. Today and Tomorrow
DEED Grant for Robotics Teams and The f rst phase of training will be to c. Opportunity to purchase equipment Undergraduate Programs:
at demo rate
STEM Internship Programs train teachers who will then be able to bring • Construction Management
the training to their students. Equipment and d. New equipment added regularly to
This program will support 40 high school supplies will be available to the schools at meet changing needs of industry • Technology Education
robotics teams, comprising approximately no cost. As part of this program, SCSU TEC e. Equipment is scheduled for 3-4 • Manufacturing Engineering Technology
800 students, in Greater Minnesota through Network will provide training and have the weeks at a time throughout the year. • Environmental Studies & Science
direct team funding support, including access opportunity for delivery and use of a HAAS f. Concrete & Masonry tools, equip-
to practice f elds and advanced equipment or Forest Scientif c mill at your school. The ment, and demonstrations Graduate Programs:
through SCSU’s Technology, Engineering & second phase of the program will be a mobile • Technology Education
Career Network. The project also includes training center, including 2 mills, CNC trailers 2. Professional development: • Career and Technical Education (CTE)
career awareness workshops and events for and laptop computers to do training at schools a. Graduate courses • Work Based Learning
teams and students. The student internships and/or businesses. i. Credits for lane change
component of the program includes mentor- This is a 2-part training: ii. Graduate Certif cates For additional information:
ship training and support for both the students iii. Master’s Degree in Technology Kurt Helgeson
and their company mentors. 1. 6–10 hours of online training Education krhelgeson@stcloudstate.edu
2. 32–40 hours of in person training at 320-308-3127
SCSU or in your area b. Summer workshops www.stcloudstate.edu/ets
If you are interested or would like more c. On-site support
information, complete the survey at: https:// d. CTE License
www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACE_edu e. WBL License

William’s Journey into Engineering and Robotics

but also f nd conf dence, collaboration and
How William Moe turned a curiosity other important skills.
into a career path with help from robotics Teams do more than just build and
competitions and engineering classes. compete with robots, they have to organize,
raise funds, f nd sponsors and market their
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District team like a business. Starting out with the
191 smaller robots, William found that he loved
It started with a school announcement. being a part of a team and learning more
There was an open house to learn more about the trial and error process of coming
about and potentially join the robotics club, up with creative solutions for the challenges
and seventh grader William Moe knew he of the competition.
had to attend. He had always been interested “A lot of it is hands-on learning and
in engineering because his father is an engi- f guring out how to do things and solve
neer, but robots were especially intriguing problems,” said William. “There are a lot of
to him. Little did he know that joining that concepts like learning about force, program-
club would start him on a path to regional ming and just being able to build something
and national competitions and a future as an and then learn all about it.”
engineer. When William started at Burnsville
District 191 is proud to have Robotics High School (BHS) he dove into engineer-
programming including teams that partici- ing classes, while also taking College in the
pate in competitions through FIRST, which Schools and Advanced Placement classes the Blaze Robotics Team, moving up to the pulled together and ended up making the
stands for For Inspiration and Recognition to earn college credits. Courses like Aero- larger robots and tougher challenges of the f nal bracket of the tournaments we com-
of Science and Technology. With differ- space, Fabrication and Design, Principles of FIRST Robotics Challenge. peted in. We have great mentors on the team
ent program options for all grade levels Engineering and Civil Engineering broad- “We had a lot of fun and we started who guide us in learning stuff, but also help
including team-based competitions, FIRST ened his understanding of the concepts and performing really well,” said William. “My to poke holes in our designs and ask ques-
provides a structure for students to learn applications of the world of engineering. junior year was a big year with many of my
important STEM and programming skills, He also became more and more involved in
teammates having graduated, so we really Continued on Page 15