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Hopefully, everyone had a great, restful summer and comes back with energy and enthusiasm for this new school year.
There is some great new research about class sizes and their impact on safety. Go to the online site for the International Journal of Technology and Design Education for more details.
This newsletter contains new and updated MDE resources, professional development opportunities, career exploration events, scholarships and grants, and much more. Check it out!
Take care and have a great start to the year!
Tim Barrett
 International Journal of Technology and Design Education
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Annual Trade & Industry Teacher Survey
Every year, we conduct a survey to help to gauge the state of secondary Trade and Industry education programs and identify future professional development/learning opportunities in Minnesota. We are asking for your feedback on how things are going and the most pressing needs for professional development not available or already being supported in your locale.
The following survey should not take more than 7-10 minutes to complete, but your answers will help us determine future professional development offerings. Please complete the Minnesota Trade & Industry Fall Survey 2024. Respond by Friday September 27, 2024.
Minnesota Safety Guidance Resource Updated
The Minnesota Schools Safety Resource: Instructor Materials and the Minnesota Schools Safety Resource: Student Materials were updated with additional fifteen tools and equipment for this school year. Check it out!
In addition, the Minnesota Schools Safety Resource: Student Materials is now posted along with the Minnesota Career and Technical Education (CTE) Safety Manual on both the Trade and Industry page and the Safety Guidance for CTE page.
The Minnesota Schools Safety Resource: Instructor Materials is available to all Minnesota Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers on request. To request the complete resource, please contact the CTE team at mde.cte@state.mn.us
Don’t Forget License Renewal!
Is your CTE license or Out of Field Permission (OFP) up for renewal for this new school year? Get the information you need from the license agency, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
For questions on:
– Check the PELSB website.
Annual Program Approval Reviews
Trade and Industry programs in four Perkins consortia—Dakota County, Minnesota West, South Central, and South Central—are up for Program Approval renewal in 2024. All programs are approved in a five-year cycle. However, if your district is considering submitting an application for a new Trade and Industry program, you will want to do so before the November 1, 2024, deadline.
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is currently receiving renewal application documents. If you were not able to attend one of the Program Approval training sessions held last spring, contact Tim Barrett to arrange for an individual meeting to discuss the process and documentation needed.
MDE also has a Program Amendment Form for submitting any program changes which occur during the years when your program is not due for program approval renewal. The form allows you to note changes in your program teaching staff, CTE courses offered, and/or the person to serve as the contact for program information. Use this form if any of these changes take place in your program.
New MDE Guidance Page for Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has put together guidance and suggested resources around Artificial Intelligence (AI). There is general information about what is AI and how it works, its history and importance, some considerations about using AI in education, and resources to learn more. You will find the new page at the MDE website.
Minnesota Computer Science State Plan
Minnesota’s Computer Science Working Group developed a state strategic plan for computer science, finalized in March 2024, which describes 10 recommendations for long-term and sustained growth of computer science education across all public K–12 and charter schools in Minnesota, as outlined in the Computer Science Education Advancement Act. Minn. Stat. 120B.241 (2023). The recommendations are aligned to the requirements outlined in the legislation, such as licensure, high-quality professional development, continuous improvement, and standards, among others.
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New CTE Teacher Program
The CTE Teacher Induction Program (TIP) was developed as a professional development opportunity for early-career teachers in career and technical education to support their development, efficacy, success, resilience, and retention. Application is limited. Check out the New CTE Teachers page at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website for more information.
MDE Trade & Industry Professional Development
A number of professional development opportunities will be available this year for Trade & Industry teachers. Check out the ones that can best help you and your program. Also, feel free to suggest further topics for discussion. Send any ideas to Tim Barrett (tim.barrett@state.mn.us).
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Grill Tim – Trade & Industry Office Hours
- I will be offering an open session every third Tuesday of the month to allow T&I teachers to ask any questions you might have or to raise any issues you would like to discuss.
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T&I Hot Topic Webinars
- Jump online with other Trade & Industry Teachers to learn about current issues in the field. You will need to register for this event to receive the link to attend.
- Program Approval: September 23, 2024
- Equipment Request (w/AFNR): September 25, 2024, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
- CTE Licenses: October 21, 2024
- School-Based Enterprise (SBE): October 30, 2024
- Most sessions will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Additional Topics may be added throughout the year.
You can find more information about training and technical assistance on the Trade and Industry webpage.
ITEEA launches Xperience Labs
Xperience Labs are educational and immersive free, one-hour webinars designed for those interested in STEM, technology, and engineering, or even just looking to enhance their students' experiences. Attendees can engage in hands-on, interactive experiences, ask questions, and discover innovative solutions to enhance their classrooms. The first session is Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6 p.m. CT. To register, go to the ITEEA website.
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NASA TechRise Student Challenge
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge empowers teams in grades six through 12 to design, build, and launch experiments on NASA-supported test flights. Guided by an educator, student teams affiliated with U.S. public, private, and charter schools can submit ideas for experiments to test on a high-altitude balloon flight with exposure to Earth’s atmosphere and views of our planet. Sixty winning teams will be selected to receive $1,500 to build their experiment, technical support from Future Engineers, and an assigned spot for their experiment on a high-altitude balloon flight. No experience is needed. Entries are due by November 1, 2024.
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MN FTC Team Grants
Looking for funding for your FIRST Tech Challenge team? Check out the grants available on the High Tech Kids FTC Team Grant page. There is also new Minnesota DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) Funding! If your FTC team has at least one high school participant, check out the Minnesota FTC Team DEED Grants. There are grants for new/rookie teams as well as ways that current teams can earn money.
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StellarXplorers STEM Program
The StellarXplorers National Space Design Competition is a fun, hands-on competition that is inspiring our nation’s youth to explore education and careers in space, aviation, and other STEM disciplines. To learn more about how to get involved, visit The StellarXplorers website. Send any questions to info@stellarxplorers.org.
Minnesota Manufacturing Student Video Contest
Students are encouraged to create a video that highlights the importance of manufacturing in Minnesota. Three cash prizes will be awarded to the winning students as determined by the Statewide Tour Video committee. See the full details of the contest, including video topic ideas, best practices, resources, and much more at the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence website.
Construct Tomorrow Plans School Year Events
The Construct Tomorrow program provides students with information about career training and opportunities in the construction industry. The team includes staff members from Apprenticeship Minnesota, apprenticeship coordinators, prime and sub-contractors and local educators. The organizers host events for students to introduce them to opportunities in the construction industry.
You will find more information and updates at the Construct Tomorrow website.
Aerospace Career Exploration Opportunities
Discover boundless horizons with Aerospace Professionals in Schools (APIS). Designed to ignite the curiosity of young minds aged 6-10, APIS is a transformative initiative by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). Through science clubs and engaging career days, APIS showcases the world of aerospace and aviation.
Mark your calendars for immersive events:
- September 23-27
- October 14-18
- November 12-15
- December 9-13
- January 20-24
- February 17-21
- March 17-21
- April 21-25
- May 12-16
For information on how to register, contact Donovan Baptiste.
Women in Trucking Foundation Fall Scholarships
The Women In Trucking Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fall 2024 scholarship cycle. Any female who will be attending a training facility for the purpose of advancing their career in the areas of safety, driving, technical, or leadership in the trucking industry is eligible to apply for a scholarship. The application deadline for the Fall cycle is September 16, 2024.
For more information and to apply, visit the Women in Trucking scholarships webpage.
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ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge from the Minnesota Zoo
If you are a grade 3-12 teacher looking for ways to engage your students in authentic integrated STEM, join the ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge! Participation is free!
Registered teachers will receive access to a free Zoo training (virtual or in person), design challenge supporting curriculum resources for both in person and digital learning, and ongoing implementation support throughout the school year from Zoo education staff. Deadline to register is Friday, November 15, 2024.
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In Person Training at the Minnesota Zoo
- Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Virtual Training on Zoom Platform
- Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To register, go to the Minnesota Zoo website.
Youth Skills Training (YST) Program
YST supports education and employer partnerships to provide students with related classroom instruction, safety training, industry-recognized credentials and paid work experiences in high-growth and in-demand occupations.
If your school or business is interested in creating a YST program and paid work experiences for 16- and 17-year-old student learners, visit the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website and contact YST program staff to get started.
IT Exploration (ITX) Computer Science curriculum
IT Exploration is a curriculum built to support teachers by providing them with a free introductory Information Technology curriculum. In partnership with STEM Fuse, IT Exploration is supported and placed in their Educate platform. By using STEM Fuse and their Educate platform, teachers have access to all the curriculum and are free to use it however necessary. The best part is that teachers can easily integrate the curriculum into their preferred platforms, such as Canva and Google Classroom.
For more information about IT Exploration at STEM Fuse, visit the STEM Fuse website. Contact Melissa Rousu with any questions.
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The Minnesota Century Program Videos
The Minnesota Century program is the result of The Rural Career and Technical Education Consortium Grant that was awarded to 38 northwestern Minnesota school districts in 2020. The funding supported the purchase of CNC equipment and continues to support instructor training and professional development for computer-aided drafting (CAD) and design software. One of the resources developed was a series of videos around a Nightstand Project which introduce students to all the basics of woodworking. You can check out the videos and more at the MN Century Program website.
Aerospace Classroom Resources for Teachers
The Aerospace.org STEM team has developed resources for teaching space in the classroom including slide packages, video, student worksheets and lesson plans on a variety of topics. You can download resources from the Aerospace Teacher Resource page.
AI and the Workforce
AI and You, a nonprofit organization educating marginalized communities about artificial intelligence, has added a new “AI and The Workforce” section to their website. This innovative space is dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of employment, skills, and career development.
Check Out These Additional Career Exploration or Curriculum Resources:
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Want to let folks know about a great project or new program or initiative? Know of a great resource or professional development opportunity you would like to share? Have a burning question that needs answering?
Let me know about it so I can include it in an upcoming newsletter. If you have images that go with the information, please send it along to Tim Barrett (tim.barrett@state.mn.us).
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Professional Organizations:
- International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) – Find more information at the ITEEA website.
- Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) – Learn more at the ACTE website.
Minnesota-Based Partner Organizations:
- Midwest Teachers of Transportation and Industrial Areas (MTTIA) – Sign up to join at the MTTIA website.
- Minnesota Technology and Engineering Education Association (MTEEA) – Get more information at the MTEEA website.
- Minnesota chapter of the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA MN) – Get more information at the CSTA MN website.
- SkillsUSA Minnesota – For more information, visit the Minnesota chapter of SkillsUSA at the SkillsUSA Minnesota website.
- Minnesota Association of Career and Technical Administrators (MACTA) – Check out how MACTA helps support CTE on the MACTA website.
Minnesota State’s Centers of Excellence
Explore the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence.
Labor Market Infographics
This page has links to a number of helpful infographics that provide key data to parents concerning the value of CTE career pathways.
RealTime Talent Minnesota Career & Technical Education Pathway Reports
These labor market reports and corresponding presentations provide future trends in workforce needs by regions of Minnesota.
DEED Regional Labor Market Profiles
Downloadable information about jobs/careers most needed per state region.
Advisory Committee Handbook
This handbook was developed to help build and sustain a strong and active advisory committee.
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