The National Science Foundations (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is a diverse and dynamic set of projects intent on improving the USA's technical workforce. This book uses the ATE work as a means to focus on key issues for federally funded projects and all community colleges facing the difficult challenges of staying current and reaching constituents in positive ways. This book brings a wealth of information on key issues for community colleges. Topics addressed include: how to sustain innovative programs; how to develop effective instructional materials; how to promote and maintain collaboration among various institutions including business and industry; how to provide high quality professional development; how to strengthen and improve programs of study; how to recruit and retain diverse students; how to evaluate and use evaluation effectively; and how to engage advisory committees to effectively serve program needs. In developing these topics, the authors drew heavily on previous research and a common set of evaluation studies including site visits at 13 different projects and surveys of more than 100 ATE projects.

The National Science Foundations (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is a diverse and dynamic set of projects intent on improving the USA's technical workforce. This book uses the ATE work as a means to focus on key issues for federally funded projects and all community colleges facing the difficult challenges of staying current and reaching constituents in positive ways. This book brings a wealth of information on key issues for community colleges. Topics addressed include: how to sustain innovative programs; how to develop effective instructional materials; how to promote and maintain collaboration among various institutions including business and industry; how to provide high quality professional development; how to strengthen and improve programs of study; how to recruit and retain diverse students; how to evaluate and use evaluation effectively; and how to engage advisory committees to effectively serve program needs. In developing these topics, the authors drew heavily on previous research and a common set of evaluation studies including site visits at 13 different projects and surveys of more than 100 ATE projects.