Madeline Patton, NSF consultant, is writing blog articles for Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work . She is working with educators and industry to identify cross-cutting skills in three areas: Data Knowledge & Analysis, Advanced Digital Literacy, and Business Knowledge & Processes.
Next month, she would like to interview a commercial building technician who uses these high-tech skills and has deep knowledge of equipment and building management systems. The article will focus on that person’s 1) daily tasks and responsibilities, 2) educational preparation, and 3) need to stay current about new technologies. If you have any suggestions, please contact Madeline at mpattonwriting@gmail.com.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program has awarded Wake Technical Community College grants to add classes and enhance opportunities for students to meet industry needs for skilled technicians in modern, high-tech facilities. Andy Smart is the Principal Investigator. Read more.
This year, BEST Center conducted High-Performance Building Operations Professionals (HPBOP) trainings at Mt. San Antonio College (Los Angeles area) and Laney College (Oakland). A combined total of 26 employees (from DGS, City of Oakland, Marriott, and others) successfully completed the coursework in October and will continue to share ideas and best practices with each other. Supported by the investor-owned utilities and the California Department of General Services (DGS), the 12-week training was intended to improve the knowledge and skills of existing technicians so they can increase energy savings at their own facilities.
Dr. Deb Hall, Program Chair and Professor of Electronics Engineering Technology, Valencia College, presented a poster about the Energy Management and Controls Technology (EMCT) program at the 2019 High Impact Technology Exchange Conference held this past summer in St. Louis, MO. The poster illustrated the latest updates from the internship program, lab features, and outreach efforts to vets and women. It was well-positioned at the entrance of a hall at the conference for maximum exposure. Conference attendees, including our own Larry Chang, were drawn in by the poster and had wonderful reactions to the information. Some attendees learned about the EMCT program for the first time while others inquired about internship and outreach strategies for their own programs. Congrats, Dr. Hall!
We are sad to bid farewell to Pamela Wallace, BEST Center Director. She recently decided to trade in her business-chic attire for something more casual. Pamela spent the summer healing from minor surgery and decided to transition to a life of leisure. We will miss Pam’s upbeat spirit and “can do” attitude. She asked us to share this farewell letter to the BEST Center community. Thank you for sharing your magic, Pam!
We also heard that long-time BEST Center member, James Bevins, AC/Heating/Refrigeration Instructor at Chippewa Valley Tech College in Wisconsin retired last June. Thank you for your involvement and dedication, Jim!
The Association for Career and Technical Education has named Bob Clark, College of DuPage HVACR Coordinator as the Region III Postsecondary Career and Technical Educator of the Year. Read COD’s article.
As a regional winner, Bob is in the running for the National ACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year award. National winners will be announced at the ACTE’s CareerTech Vision Conference in early December.
Congratulations and best of luck, Bob!
An interactive map is now available to identify careers in climate control technology.
HVAC Career Map
From the website:
“The Careers in Climate Control Technology map explores an industry exploding with job opportunities in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technologies (HVAC/R), describing diverse occupations across the industry, charting possible progression between them, and identifying the sorts of credentials necessary to do them well.”
Teamwork makes the dream work!
We hope you’re having a productive fall season in your classrooms and labs and are looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday. In this season of gratitude, we would like to thank you for your dedication to your students and their education. Keeping the forward momentum can be trying and BEST Center is here to help but there’s also strength in our peer network. Stay connected and support your fellow BEST Center members. Let Pam Wallace’s favorite mantra ring in your ears, “Teamwork makes the dream work!”
Here is what’s happening at BEST Center.
Apply Now for BEST Center’s 2019 Annual Institute
The 2019 Annual Institute will be held from Tuesday, January 8 to Friday, January 11 at Laney College in Oakland, CA, where we will focus on the development of project-based learning exercises. Applications are due on November 30th. Apply now.
Building Automation Systems Workshop VII
BEST’s 7th Building Automation Systems workshop was held this past June at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE. Faculty convened in MCC’s new, impressive Construction Education Center and took a deep, hands-on dive into a capstone-level exercise. In case you missed it, be sure to check out the presentations and videos.
EasyIO Trainer and Trainee Opportunities
EasyIO’s introductory classes are in high demand and they plan to expand but first, they need more instructors. Find out more.
Summer Internships at U.S. Department of Energy Labs
Applications are open for Workforce Development & Education (WD&E) summer internships at 16 U.S. Department of Energy labs across the country including Berkeley Labs, BEST Center’s partner organization. We encourage you to share with eligible undergraduates, post-baccalaureates, graduate students, and faculty. Read more.
Valencia College Launches New Energy Management and Controls Technology (EMCT) Program
In Orlando, FL, Dr. Deb Hall is proud to share that Valencia’s very first “EMCT Fundamentals” class began this fall. Melissa Boutwell also joined the faculty and attended her first BEST workshop in Omaha. Welcome, Melissa!
High-Performance Building Operations Professional (HPBOP) Training in California
Three separate sets of training, sponsored by investor-owned utilities and BEST, were conducted this year. Among the completers were 60 Facilities Management Division (FMD) employees from California’s Department of General Services. Read more. See photos.
Sporlan Training
In August, the Sporlan Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation held an exclusive training for HVACR instructors. Keith Otten, HVAC Coordinator at Southern Illinois College was there. Read more.
2018 ACEEE Summer Study
At the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Building Study, Larry Chang, BEST Center Manager, presented a poster display about BEST and the development of its future High-Performance Building Operations Professional Certification. Read more.
UN Climate Action Forum
As part of the United Nations Bay Area Climate Action Forum on June 26, Pamela Wallace, BEST Center director, facilitated a small group discussion about local acts of resiliency stemming from the impact of climate change. Read more.
Laney College’s “Smart Home of the Future” Summer Program
Laney College’s “Smart Home of the Future” Summer Program welcomed 20 high school students to explore building science concepts through clean energy technologies. Read more.
ACE Mentor’s Oakland high school team
ACE Mentor’s Oakland high school team successfully completed its second spring after-school program at Laney College in Oakland, CA. Under the guidance of mentors from the building industry, 30 students from seven schools were engaged in hands-on activities. Read more. Interested in organizing one at your college? Connect with ACE Mentor.
“Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.”
– John McCain, U.S. Senator,
from his book “Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir”
BEST Center is funded by
a National Science Foundation
Advanced Technological
Education Grant
Advanced Technological
Education Grant
No. 1700705.
Applications are open for all Workforce Development & Education
EasyIO’s introductory classes are in demand and they plan to expand into advanced and online training programs. First, they need instructors! Instructors are needed across the country who would like to conduct certification training two times
Here’s more info:
EasyIO_Instructors-flyer.pdf (1822 downloads )
.
EasyIO-Sample-Training-Agenda.pdf (1695 downloads )
.