Resource of the Month
Engineering for a Changing World: A Roadmap to the Future of Engineering Practice, Research, & Education

Powerful forces, including demographics, globalization, and rapidly evolving technologies are driving profound changes in the role of engineering in society. The changing workforce and technology needs of a global knowledge economy are dramatically changing the nature of engineering practice, demanding far broader skills than simply the mastery of scientific and technological disciplines. This study published in December, 2007 for the University of Michigan/The Millennium Project (J.J. Duderstadt), pulls together the principal findings and recommendations of the various reports concerning the profession of engineering, the technology and innovation needs of the nation, and the role played by human and intellectual capital, into an analysis of the changing nature of engineering practice, research, and education.

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SAME-TEC is a unique opportunity bringing together education and industry professionals seeking knowledge on converging and emerging technologies and workforce development solutions. The conference focuses on national networking and collaboration between education and industry partners to promote the viability of our high tech industries through a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce. SAME-TEC provides industry and educators an up-close look at the ever-changing tools and training needed by technicians for our emerging workforce.

This year's conference theme calls attention to how different technologies are seamlessly converging into new all-encompassing technologies. High tech gadgets such as the Apple iPhone force us to fine-tune our focus as we endeavor to bring new technologies to our students and future employees. At SAME-TEC, faculty will connect with each other to share practices, knowledge, and new approaches to help students succeed. Industry members will connect with educators to ultimately help ensure students emerge into the workforce with the knowledge and skills desired by themselves and employers. Exhibitors will connect with existing and potential clients to help determine current and future needs. SAME-TEC 2008 provides the venue for learning about seamless technologies and the forum for creating seamless connections.

Who Should Attend

• Faculty in technology programs who want to learn about new technologies and how to expand their existing programs
• College representatives, program development specialists, and counselors who are interested in creating more robust technology education programs and strategies for recruiting students
• K-12 teachers who want to learn how to integrate advanced technology concepts into their existing science and math curriculum
• Industry trainers and learning managers who want to gain insight into future training needs
• Industry personnel investing in workforce education and training
• Workforce development personnel from government, labor, business, and education who are involved in shaping workforce development programs
• Individuals concerned with issues related to skill standards and employability

Congratulations to all involved in developing the “Manufacturing and Engineering Resource Center: An NSF National Center of Excellence” grant submitted to the National Science Foundation in October of 2007.  Since 2004, engineering technology and manufacturing technology educators have been served by two online searchable databases for high quality materials to facilitate and improve classroom and lab activities. The MERC Online clearinghouse based at Sinclair Community College and the NETEC clearinghouse based at Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey operated cooperatively but independently until January of 2008, at which time the responsibility for both clearinghouses was assigned to the NCME Team. This award is effective June 1, 2008.

In addition to integrating the two websites into a comprehensive resource for all of engineering technology education, MERC Online will also focus on attracting students at the pre-college level into the STEM pipeline, and also will research trends and best practices in engineering technology and manufacturing education programs. The goal is to increase the national impact of engineering and manufacturing technology education reform through the dissemination of model instructional resources via the web-based clearinghouse, as well as by offering faculty development and related outreach activities.

Meet the NCME staff! Steve Wendel joined the team this past fall as Director of NCME to continue to provide a smooth pathway for the center’s continued growth and success. In addition to teaching mechanical engineering technology courses at Sinclair Community College, Steve has also been involved implementing National Science Foundation grants, including his position as a co-principal investigator for the Midwest Coalition for Comprehensive Design Education.

Derek Hardin, Websites Manager, is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of the current MERC Online. Derek came to the NCME eight years ago as a technical writer, authoring and editing numerous textbooks within the NCME’s 61-module Manufacturing Engineering Technology Associate Degree curriculum.

Amy Strong has been supporting MERC Online since April 2007 as our Customer Engagement Coordinator. Amy primarily works with the acquisition and evaluation of materials and resources submitted to MERC Online.

Sandy Feola is the most recent member joining the team this April as the Customer Engagement Manager to help grow both resources and customers for the online clearinghouse. Sandy has supported manufacturing industries in various production and engineering roles and also teaches part time at the college.

Gilah Pomeranz, Project Manager, has been with the NCME for ten years leading the development of curriculum and faculty workshops. She writes and edits publications and has delivered numerous presentations at national conferences.

Our MERC Online team actively seeks all type materials that can have an impact on the improvement of manufacturing education, using such methods as online research, reviews of conference proceedings, word-of-mouth, news and wire feeds, or research of organizations and educational programs. When we find relevant materials, we contact the content author/source and start the submission process.

Using data-mining as a method to populate the clearinghouse is one way to gather materials, yet this has its limits for being timely. Materials are published everyday and searching is not efficient enough to uncover all of the educational programs, emerging technologies, industry and organization breakthroughs that would be useful to you.

Please take the step to become a MERC Online resource submitter! We invite you and your colleagues to recommend AND share your instructional materials. You are the best source for high quality materials in manufacturing education.

Here are a few examples of the types of submissions recently added to the clearinghouse in 2008:

(Curriculum) Robo Educators CAD Instructional Unit
(Activity) Materials & Processes Activity
(Booklet) Manufacturing Matters to the U.S.
(Website interviews) What’s Cool about Manufacturing
(Textbook) Handbook for Research of Instructional Systems and Technology
(Collection of Problems and Articles) Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Clearinghouse
(Conference Paper) The Use of an Automotive Technology Course in Engineering Technology
(Paper) From Art to Science in Manufacturing: The Evolution of Technological Knowledge

The MERC Online clearinghouse serves as a source of materials, support services, and professional development opportunities for educators and industry professionals. In addition to the online resource clearinghouse, these links provide quick access to specific areas of interest or materials! Check it out!

Visit the Searchable Database for peer-reviewed materials submitted by educators from around the world. These materials are abstracted and linked to help you acquire what you need.

Check out Links and Resources to find more information/contacts from links in 19 different categories. This includes trade organizations, grants and awards, student competitions, NSF-ATE Resource Centers and more!

Published by the NCME. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
MERC Online and the NCME are funded by the National Science Foundation.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.