Grants, Research and Institutional Effectiveness
National Science Foundation Current and Past Grant Awards
SPRITE Project - ATE
September 1, 2004 - August 31, 2007
Awarded Amount $699,999
Jerry Rosenberg (Principal Investigator)
A collaborative effort between Edmonds Community College, University of Washington Bothell and Edmonds School District, the SPRITE Project seeks to attract underrepresented groups, particularly girls and women, to STEM through research-based educational activities centered on computer animation. Named after the animated character that moves around a computer screen, SPRITE teaches secondary and post-secondary students mathematics and physics by building computer animated scenes and games that incorporate art, music, and communication.
Retreats, summer institutes and ongoing support for college and high school faculty, as well as summer day camps for high school students and incoming freshmen, will be offered. Graduate students from UW Bothell will provide assistance and support during the summer activities and will be available as aids to teachers during the school year. Project curriculum for all sessions will feature new industry-guided modules developed by high school and college faculty in association with game industry representatives to investigate mathematics, physical science and computer technology. A longitudinal evaluation will track enrollments and retention in science and mathematics from 10th grade through two years for both participants and non-participants and will investigate gender differences.
Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarships (CSEMS ) II
September 1, 2002 - August 31, 2006
Awarded Amount $307,000
Deann Leoni (Principal Investigator)
This program provides scholarships to talented, low-income students pursuing careers or transfer associate degrees in computer science, computer information systems, engineering, or mathematics. Special consideration for scholarships is given to women, ethnic and racial minorities and persons with disabilities. Students in the program receive individualized support, peer mentoring, and opportunities for field trips and internships with local employers. The scholarship recipients are required to take 2-credit Special Topics course in Engineering, Mathematic, and Computer Technology, which encourages group discussion and interaction, and focuses on problem solving activities.
PRIOR NSF GRANTS
Planning Grant - National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education
April 1, 2004 - March 31, 2005
Awarded Amount to Date $70,000
Thomas Stoebe (Principal Investigator)
This planning project created the basis for a new National Resource Center in Materials Technology Education. The goals of this project were to develop a curriculum clearinghouse for the broad range of materials as they apply to manufacturing and engineering technology, and to provide the professional development and support needed for instructors to adequately treat the subject of materials technology in their courses. The focus of the program is on enhanced education for manufacturing technicians who handle materials in structural and electronics manufacturing.
The expected outcomes include enhanced curricular modules aligned with industry-based core competencies to provide student education aligned with industry needs, and model programs on how to insert these modules into typical manufacturing and engineering technology courses. Also expected are a set of well-trained instructors at high school and community college levels in this area, and a growing alliance of colleges, schools and industry working to further develop these outcomes. The development of new roles for professional societies and industry in delivering courses and providing mentorships are also included.
Mathematics Across the Curriculum Project - CCLI-Adaption & Implementation
April 1, 2001 - March 31, 2005
Awarded Amount to Date $129,404
Rebecca Hartzler (Principal Investigator); Deann Leoni (Co-PI)
"Mathematics Across the Curriculum" (MAC) integrates mathematics into curricula that are not typically associated with mathematics. The project assists faculty across the disciplines to create, evaluate, and modify projects that incorporate mathematics. The project adapted and implemented the results and practices of previously funded NSF projects at Dartmouth College and Alverno College; principal investigators from these projects served as consultants and evaluators.
Participants included faculty from Washington State community colleges, The Evergreen State College, Western Washington University, and the local school district. Additional support was provided by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology; the Washington Center for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education; and Verizon. Statewide and national dissemination of best practices are a planned key outcome.
Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarships CSEMS
September 1, 2001 - August 31, 2004
Awarded Amount $135,000
Rebecca Hartzler (PI); Melissa Filkowski (Co-PI)
This project provided 20 scholarships to talented, low- income students pursuing associate degrees in computer science, computer information systems, engineering, or mathematics. Special consideration was given to women, ethnic & racial minorities and persons with disabilities.
Enhancement of Materials Technology for Manufacturing - ATE
August 1, 2000 - July 31, 2003
Awarded Amount $1,050,000
John Rusin (Principal Investigator)
To meet the materials training and curriculum requirements of high school and community college technology instructors, a curriculum and training center for Enhancement of Materials Technology for manufacturing (EMTECH) was established at Edmonds Community College (Edmonds CC), in Lynnwood, Washington. In addition to a permanent facility at Edmonds CC, EMTECH is used facilities at high schools, community colleges, universities, professional organizations, and industry located throughout the nation as required for training and special workshops.
Teacher training workshops were held at three partner community colleges: Metropolitan Community Colleges, Kansas City, Missouri, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio; and Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, New York. The project built a clearinghouse to provide instructors nationally with the resources needed to help students make better design and manufacturing process choices. Resources were disseminated through workshops, field trips, curriculum development and materials, professional society and industry contacts, and Internet web pages.
ChemCore: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Real-World Laboratory Chemistry - ATE
August 1, 1996 - December 31, 2002
Awarded Amount to Date $440,137
Mary O'Brien (Principal Investigator)
In response to local needs, Edmonds Community College implemented a curriculum development/pilot project impacting 250 participants. It 1) reconfigured the 12.5-credit laboratories for general and organic chemistry as project-based modules and 2) created a new ChemCore curriculum, part of a combined Associate of Technical Arts/Associate of Arts and Sciences Laboratory Technician program. Developed in close cooperation with government and industry through an advisory board, ChemCore integrated the lab chemistry with 5 new applied academics courses, 25 credits in all: instrumental analysis, information technology, management, and tech writing/applied communications.
The project introduced a new laboratory setting simulating the tasks, customer requests, on-the-job skills training, and working conditions of a commercial laboratory performing chemical analyses; create a series of increasingly sophisticated and open-ended requests for services to replace traditional laboratory exercises; and use outside professionals offering demonstrations and related instruction.
Certificates in Advanced Manufacturing (CAM)
July 15, 2006 - June 30, 2009
Awarded Amount: $810,000
Gene Fusch (Principal Investigator)
Edmonds Community College (Edmonds CC), in partnership with the University of Washington, Everett Community College, Cerritos College and St. Louis Community College, will create specialized Certificates in Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) designed to train and retrain a new generation of manufacturing technicians. This project is innovative because certificates will be developed using multi-media instructional tools, such as online instruction, integrated with John Bransford's advanced theories of cognition and learning. These learning methods provide students the opportunity to experience reality over perception and fully immerse the student into a multi-dimensional learning environment thereby optimizing and accelerating the learning process. The program is built on a strong foundation of partnerships with education and industry, all of which will be represented in an oversight committee that will participate in focus groups and provide input on curriculum. The project team will collaboratively research, develop, test, and offer advanced manufacturing certificates that specialize in aerospace, medical devices, consumer product, communications, marine and transportation. Peer-to-peer, and problem-solving roles required in the culturally diverse manufacturing world of today will also be emphasized. The project will focus on the skills needed by future engineers and technologists as well as those who are presently working in the industry. Training workshops on this innovative curriculum, including its various adaptable delivery methods, will be offered to college instructors and industry trainers at partner locations throughout the U.S.
Proven Practices for Recruiting Women to STEM Careers in ATE Programs - Special Project
September 1, 2005 - August 31, 2008
Awarded Amount: $499,784
Charlene Allison (Principal Investigator)
Edmonds Community College in collaboration with ATE Centers and projects, is researching, assessing, identifying, compiling, and disseminating effective recruitment strategies used in program design to increase the recruitment of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and fields. The goal is to promote long-term, fundamental changes in the recruitment of females into educational programs that prepare them to enter STEM careers. Using the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a basis of a theoretical model, this extensive 3-year research project draws on literature reviews and other projects in gender research. The intellectual merit of the proposal is that it is informed by rigorous research, the outcome of which is a constellation of pragmatic practices for recruitment of females into educational programs that prepare them to enter STEM careers. The project advances understandings of the knowledge base on social cognitive career theory as a model for understanding women's academic and career choices; has the potential to broaden participation of underrepresented students in STEM careers; and enhances the infrastructure for research in the field. The aim to broaden female participation in the workforce is beneficial to society as a whole because it diversifies and strengthens the workforce. Therefore, it is advantageous for ATE programs to address gender equity in recruiting practices, eliminate information gaps, and dispel negative perceptions and inaccurate stereotypes. Project outcomes and deliverables stress implementation of recruitment strategies in real and pragmatic ways. The findings of this project will be significant for educational programs and industries across the United States.
National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education
July 1, 2005 - August 31, 2009
$1.5 million
Mel Cossette (Principal Investigator)
The program is based on the needs of industry for qualified and trained technicians who understand the basics of materials technology. This is especially important relative to new developments in nanotechnology and composites technologies as well as in more traditional areas of metals, plastics, and composites manufacture. The overall objective of this project is to develop a clearinghouse of teaching materials for the broad field of materials technology as it applies to manufacturing and engineering technology, and to provide the mentoring support needed for instructors to adequately treat the subject of materials technology in their courses. The focus is on enhanced education for manufacturing and engineering technicians who handle materials in the wide range of structural and electronics manufacturing. The expected outcomes include enhanced curricular modules aligned with industry-based core competencies to provide student training aligned with industry needs, and model programs on how to insert these modules into manufacturing and engineering technology courses. Also expected are a set of well-trained instructors at high school and community college levels, and a growing alliance of colleges, schools, and industry working to further develop these outcomes. The development of new roles for professional societies and industry in delivering courses and providing mentoring is also included.
