October 2019 Issue of Techdirections (Page

technically speaking

I’m excited to share a technology that is coming to my using bike lanes because of hometown, Ann Arbor, MI. This fall, residents will be able its slow speed—it only trav- to have their food delivered from selected restaurants by els 10-15 mph. It carries the an autonomous robot called REV-1. The robot is the brain- food in a large storage com- child of a local business called Refraction AI, which was partment which is accessed founded by University of Michigan professors, Matthew by using a unique passcode Johnson-Roberson and Ram Vasudevan. The two have a entered on a keypad. long history with autonomous vehicles and work together “We’d been working in the space for a fairly long time at the university’s Robot- and working on the large self-driving vehi- ics program. cle problems,” Vasudevan says. “We want- The story behind how ed to see if there was a way that we could they came up with the bring some of those things that we’d been idea was from a food deliv- thinking about into the real world, without ery that went wrong. Two having to worry about solving the full self- years ago, they placed a driving car problem”, says Vasudevan. delivery order and when “We thought that deploying in a place

they received it, it was half AI like Ann Arbor, where there’s a young an hour late and was miss- community that’s more willing to engage ing items. They called the efraction with this type of thing, and also making r restaurant to fix the issue of it accessible to places that have winter and were surprised when weather, was really important. So, Ann Ar- the owner herself came courtesy bor fit that set of requirements in a really to deliver the food and nice way.” Refraction has partnered with Photo apologize. She explained two restaurants in town, one of which, of that the restaurant was having a bad day, and it was her course, is the one that started the whole thing. birthday. “We were hearing this really sad story and we thought, ‘Hey, we work in the autonomous vehicle space. This seems like a really great opportunity to start addressing some real problems,’” Vasudevan says. So, the two started working on developing the three-wheeled vehicle. It trav- els between restaurants and delivery locations primarily

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4 techdirections ◆ october 2019 October 2019 contents Vol. 79, No. 2

CNC/ELECTRICITY/ELECTRONICS Electronics, 3d Carving, and Molding and Casting at Fab 12 Faculty institutes By Sallye Coyle Cross-platform training encourages faculty and managers to “mess about” with a variety of tools and technologies. SPECIAL FEATURE Fall product Guide 15 A guide containing a variety of excellent equipment, materials, and media that career-technical and STEM educators can pull-out and save for future reference.

ENERGY/ page 15 ELECTRICITY/ CONVENTION PREVIEW ELECTRONICS Convention preview—Get inspired at Careertech vision New pv Cells Benefit Energy 25 The Association for Career and Technical Education’s annual 19 Harvesting By Steven Keeping convention will offer ample opportunities for professional This article explores how development and a chance to see a variety of excellent products PV cells work, the role and for the CTE field. advantages/disadvantages of silicon, as well as the potential of new semiconductors, CTE architectures, and assembly techniques. three reasons that Career and technical Education 28 doesn’t preclude College By Kimberly Green and Kate Kreamer A look at what the word college encompasses and why a four- year degree isn’t the only path to success. COLUMNS 2 technically Speaking 10 technology’s past Vanessa Revelli Dennis Karwatka 6 the News report 30 More than Fun Vanessa Revelli 8 technology today Alan Pierce

about the cover: the shape-shifting Aquanaut transformer becomes a very powerful humanoid robot that can perform all kinds of underwater construction tasks. See more on page page 12 8. Photo courtesy Houston Mechatronics. cover design by Sharon K. Miller. www.techdirections.com CONTENTS 5 receives $250 as well as a Victor Medalist 350 Outfit, while the school the news report associated with the winning team receives a cutting and welding package valued at more than $8,400, which vanessa revelli consists of the following items: [email protected] Two Victor Journeyman EDGE 2.0 Outfits and an assortment of Victor win Classroom prizes victor® “rulers tips for cutting various thicknesses in this K-12 StEM of the Flame” of metal, pBl Competition 2019 Student Contest One Thermal Dynamics® Cutmas- The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Building on Victor’s “Rulers of the ter® 60i Manual Plasma System, science competition challenges stu- Flame” brand campaign, Victor, an One ESAB Rebel™ EMP 235ic dents to envision and communicate ESAB brand, launched its 2019 “Rul- Welding System, new technology 20 years in the future ers of the Flame” student contest, Two Sentinel™ helmets, and through collaborative brainstorming which is open to students in cutting, Six pairs of MIG gloves and six and research of current science and welding, and related programs (e.g., pairs of TIG gloves. technology. ExploraVision is a STEM ag mechanics, metal art, engineer- The student contest coincides competition for K-12 students. It en- ing) at secondary, post-secondary, with Victor’s “Rulers of the Flame” technical, and voca- social media campaign, which tional schools. Victor encourages anyone who wants to will award more than share their best work with Victor gas $50,000 in equipment equipment to use #rulersoftheflame and cash prizes as part for recognition on Victor’s social of the contest. Entries channels. Or, projects may be sub- will be accepted from mitted at www.esabna.com/us/en/ now until December 2, rulers/index.cfm for the chance to 2019, and winners an- win a Victor Performer EDGE 2.0 nounced on December Outfit. Eligible entries will be entered 14. for monthly drawings. “The Rulers of the “Victor’s ‘Rulers of the Flame’ Flame contest encour- social media campaign is a great op- ages students to dem- portunity for non-students to partici- courages students to combine their onstrate leadership, character, and pate in oxy-fuel projects and share imagination with their knowledge of empowerment through individual es- their gas cutting skills on social science and technology to explore says and team fabrication projects,” channels, not to mention the chance visions for the future. says Bill Wehrman, Global/North to win a Performer EDGE 2.0 outfit,” Teams of 2-4 students select a American Marketing Communica- says Wehrman. “The student contest technology, research how it works, tions, ESAB. “Thousands of students and the campaign coincide to inspire learn why it was invented, and then use oxy-fuel equipment everyday, fabricators of all ages to take pride in predict how that technology may and we want to encourage their pas- their craft.” change in the future. Students identi- sion and vocation.” The student contest is open to fy what “breakthroughs” are required ESAB judges will select three win- students with a passion for welding for their idea to become a reality and ners in each of the contest’s two cat- and cutting who are residents of the describe the positive and negative egories—individual essay and team United States or Canada (excluding consequences of their technology on fabrication project. Individuals will Quebec). Offer/participation void society. The students write a paper win $250 and a Victor Medalist 350 where prohibited or restricted by and draw a series of web pages to Outfit by submitting a 500-word essay law. No purchase necessary for entry. describe and communicate their that best supports the contest theme. For more information, visit www. idea. Finalists make an actual web- Teams will submit a metal fabrication esab.com or call 1-800-ESAB-123. site, video, and a prototype of their project that incorporates an oxy-fuel future vision. equipment process (cutting, heating, Hypertherm Expands Spark ExploraVision is more than a welding, or brazing) as one or more Something Great Grant science fair or a competition—it can of the fabrication steps and MUST program to 12 be a tool to ignite every student’s incorporate the Rulers of the Flame North american Schools enthusiasm for STEM subjects! Dead- logo. To obtain the logo, rules, details, Hypertherm, a U.S. based manu- line for submissions is February 10. entry forms, and tips for winning, visit For more details and to register, visit esab.com/rulerscontest. Vanessa Revelli is managing editor www.exploravision.org. Each member of a winning team of techdirections.

6 techdirections ◆ october 2019 facturer of industrial cutting systems available at www.hypertherm.com/ CAM nesting software, robotic soft- and software, is now accepting appli- plasmaeducation. To date, teach- ware, and consumables. Hypertherm cations for its Spark Something Great ers from more than 2,000 schools systems are trusted for performance educational grant program. This year, have taken advantage of the free and reliability that result in increased in response to demand and school download, helping standardize the productivity and profitability for hun- need, Hypertherm is expanding the teaching of plasma cutting to tens of dreds of thousands of businesses. program to 12 schools in the United thousands of students. The company’s reputation for cutting States and Canada. Winning schools Hypertherm designs and manu- innovation dates back 50 years to will receive a Hypertherm Power- factures industrial cutting products 1968, with Hypertherm’s invention of max45® XP plasma system, the full for use in a variety of industries such water injection plasma cutting. The AWS SENSE-approved Plasma Cutting as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and 100% associate-owned company has Technology: Theory and Practice automotive repair. Its product line more than 1,400 associates along curriculum kit, and in-person training includes cutting systems, in addition with operations and partner repre- from a Hypertherm plasma expert. to CNC motion and height controls, sentation worldwide. The program, now in its fifth year, is meant to support the next generation of welders and metal fabricators by making the newest generation of plasma cutting equipment and standardized instruction available to schools. To date, the company has awarded systems to 40 schools. More information, including instructions for applying, are available at www. hypertherm.com/grant. “Interest in the grant program grows every year as more and more schools struggle with falling budgets and increasing enrollment. In keeping with our commitment to provide the latest cutting technology to today's students, we are pleased to expand the program for 2019,” said Betsy Van Duyne, who manages Hyper- therm’s educational program. “The Powermax45 XP is a perfect system for schools since it gives teachers the flexibility to teach both handheld and mechanized cutting, as well as applications such as gouging, flush cutting, and marking with air plasma. In addition, it ensures students are aware of the capabilities of our Pow- ermax plasma systems.” In addition to the grant program, Hypertherm will continue to make all ten hours of its AWS SENSE-approved Plasma Cutting Technology: Theory and Practice curriculum available for free download to teachers. The curriculum covers the plasma cutting process, common industrial uses for plasma systems, the differences between various cutting methods, safety procedures, as well as proper setup and operation. Electronic ver- sions of each lesson, a facilitator’s guide, student workbook, and supporting reference material are all www.techdirections.com NEWS REPORT 7 mini submarine with all the vertical and horizontal thruster controls and technologytoday hull features necessary to travel and maneuver underwater. See Photo 1 again. alan pierce The Aquanaut Transformer trav- [email protected]; on Twitter @ TechToday_US els under its own power without a tether; its power is supplied by its the aquanaut transformer own internal batteries. Most of the The 2018 Paramount movie down to physically do the repairs. Houston Mechatronics engineers Bumblebee tells the story of a trans- ROVs are robotic systems that can who designed and built this transforming robot that shape-shifts into a perform physical tasks in deep water. former are former NASA employees; 1957 yellow Volk- they designed the control swagen Beetle. It system so that it is under was a movie I truly human control for parts enjoyed as much of its mission and under as my grandchil- AI autonomous control dren and it was for other parts of the the first thing mission. that popped into Its ability to travel to my mind when I the worksite becomes selected the Aqua- critical when the body naut Transformer photo 1—in its of water where a robot as this month’s submarine form the is needed to do physical topic. If you never aquanaut transformer has an work has no safe place saw the movie, it aerodynamic shape which allows it to easily move through water. to park an ROV support is already listed ship. Physically it is on Netflix. These robots are tethered by a line about as big as Bumblebee after it The Aquanaut Transformer is real, to a ship or drilling platform which shape-shifted out of its Volkswagen and it shape-shifts between a subma- supplies them with the electricity Beetle form (Photo 3). This YouTube rine and an Aquanaut robot (Photos they need to power their robotic video https://www.youtube.com/ 1 and 2). Its submarine shape allows arms and systems. watch?v=DZPjsB--qas can give you it to quickly move through the water The tether to the ROV also al- more insight into this Aquanaut to get where it needs to be. Once lows the robot’s operator to there, it shape-shifts into a very have total control over the powerful humanoid robot which robot’s systems even though can perform all kinds of underwater they are in a control room on construction tasks. the ocean surface. Because of Prior to the development of the the tether, the people in control Aquanaut, two types of underwater of an ROV need to be almost di- robotic systems have already been rectly above the robot that they at work under the sea. Autonomous are observing on a video feed. Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are They controll its movements in used to photographically inspect the the same way that you control hulls of ships, visually map ocean the movements of your avatar floor features, and find ship wrecks in a video game. that lie beneath the sea. They oper- The Aquanaut Transformer is ate autonomously and when they very different from these other Mechatronics surface the operators of these AUVs underwater robotic systems, download the information they gath- beyond its ability to transform its Houston ered for analysis. shape between a submarine and

So, an AUV might be used to find the working Aquanaut. As a sub- courtesy a problem and then a Remotely Op- marine it can travel 108 nautical erated Vehicle (ROV) might be sent miles from the point it is released Photos in the ocean to the location photo 2—when the aquanaut Alan Pierce, Ed.D., CSIT, is a tech- where it is going to perform its as- transformer shape-shifts, it becomes nology education consultant. Visit signed tasks. Its aerodynamic shape a very powerful humanoid robot that www.technologytoday.us for past col- allows it to easily move through the can perform all kinds of underwater umns and teacher resources. water. In this configuration it is a construction tasks.

8 techdirections ◆ october 2019 photo 3—a scuba diver swimming next to the aquanaut helps you visualize the physical size of the robot.

Transformer’s capabilities. It is not outer space and then transform into surprising that NASA is now very robots that can build the infrastruc- involved with Aquanaut’s continued ture that people will need to survive development. in an alien environment when they The Aquanaut Transformer does arrive as explorers. underwater what NASA eventually needs robotic systems to do in taking it a Step Further POSTERS space. To physically send astronauts Working in teams and using plans for StEM/CtE Classrooms to Mars, NASA is going to need to from the Internet build classroom order online build similar transforming systems robots and have classroom competi- at https://bit.ly/2Siv0Et that can travel great distances in tions.

www.techdirections.com TECHNOLOGY TODAY 9 va" (Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom). Bassi earned a doctorate technology’s past degree and the university approved her to teach physics that year. She also became the first female member dennis Karwatka of Italy's Academy of Sciences. [email protected] Bassi organized a well-equipped teaching laboratory in her home. laura Bassi—the First Female University-level Her reputation encouraged students StEM department Head to come from as far away as Greece, The acronym STEM stands for of Isaac Newton (1643-1727), the Spain, and Germany. She did a sci- science, technology, engineering, world's most influential scientist. entific demonstration in 1764 for the and mathematics. Technical founder of Philadelphia's College of The letters often topics were Physicians. Bassi developed a profes- describe specific beyond the sional collaboration with Giovanni educational de- capabilities of Veratti and they married in 1738. The livery systems. A her tutors so two taught various science and tech- 1990s Washing- Bassi studied nical subjects. They had five children ton, DC, summer independently who reached adulthood. program known during her teen Bassi was interested in the new as the STEM Insti- years. She was techniques of experimental observa- tute was among particularly tion and wrote about 50 scientific the first to use interested in papers during her lifetime. All were the term and light refraction, in Latin, the language of instruction the National Sci- pneumatics, at that time. Most have been lost to ence Foundation and the nature history, but a few have survived. popularized its of electricity. Bassi regularly corresponded use shortly after- A fam- with technical professionals such ward. There are ily physician as electricity pioneers Alessandro about 17,000 high who attended Volta (1745-1827) and Luigi Galvani schools in the portrait of laura Bassi, circa 1732 to Bassi's (1737-1798). The Bassi-Veratti Col- United States and chronically ill lection of digitally archived publi- many of them have connections to a mother introduced her to Prospero cations is at Stanford University in STEM program. Lambertini (1675-1758). He was a California. There, she is described Universities also support STEM local leader with a connection to the as "one of the most important and programs and until 1732, all university STEM subjects were taught by men. That was the year the University of Bo- logna in Italy approved Laura a depiction Bassi to teach experimental of Bassi (in physics. The university made black dress) her the department head in at the 1732 1776—the first woman to ever public debate hold such a position in a technical field. Bassi was born in 1711 in Bologna, Italy, about 250 miles north of Rome. She was an only child and her father was a university. Bassi's knowledge so im- visible scientific women 18th-centu- moderately successful lawyer. Bassi pressed Lambertini that he arranged ry Europe." had a personal tutor who taught her a 1732 public debate between Bassi Bassi was a tireless experimenter classical subjects like literature and and four university professors. In- and a prolific writer who became the languages. Her father often invited dependent judges found that Bassi highest-paid faculty member at the friends and politicians to their home successfully defended 49 academic so Bassi could engage them in schol- points of view. The largest number Dennis Karwatka is professor emer- arly debates. was on physics. itus, Department of Applied Engineer- She was a child prodigy and de- She quickly gained fame through- ing and Technology, Morehead (KY) veloped an interest in the writings out Europe as the "Bolognese Miner- State University.

10 techdirections ◆ october 2019 American artificial heart pioneer Robert Jarvik (1946 - ).

References Frize, Monique. (2013). Laura Bassi and science in 18th-century Eu- rope. Springer Publications. Noyce, Pendred. (2015). Magnificent minds: 16 pioneering women in science and medicine. Tumble- home Learning.

a commemorative medallion shows Bassi (at left) and the roman goddes Minerva

University of Bologna. The univer- and no items remain. sity offered her an appointment in The University of Bologna, 1776 as Chair of Experimental Phys- established in 1088, is the ics. She became the first woman world's oldest university. in the world to head a university Many of its graduates are department in a scientific or techni- world-renowned individu- cal field. She died unexpectedly just als. The list includes Polish two years later. Her husband and astronomer Nicolaus Coperni- youngest son continued her innova- cus (1473-1543), Italian radio tive teaching program. The son sold inventor Guglielmo Mar- Collage of some surviving Bassi all the laboratory equipment in 1818 coni (1874-1937), and modern publications

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www.techdirections.com TECHNOLOGY’S PAST 11 Electronics, 3D Carving, and Molding and Casting at Fab Faculty Institutes

By Sallye Coyle [email protected]

HE first three months of 2019 saw a flurry of professional development in Fab Labs from Mississippi and teachers using Louisiana to California. The popsicle sticks, Tgoal for these professional develop- copper tape, lEd’s, ment workshops or FFI’s (Fab Faculty batteries, and clips Institutes) is to do some cross-platform to prototype circuits training that introduces faculty and lab managers to equipment and techniques that are often underutilized. While the Fab Labs have an agenda for each day, the most important aspect is for faculty and managers to have time to “mess about” with some guidance from the FFI leaders. Fab Labs have a full quiver of digital fabrication tools and a well-stocked electronics station.

Simple Electronics, Sewing, pCB blank with a thin layer and Embroidery of copper on the board, In Santa Clara, CA, middle school machined on the ShopBot and high school teachers expressed prtalpha with a 1/16" bit an interest in learning about Arduinos so that they could help their students in robotics competitions. Arduino is an “open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects.” In- stead of using actual physical components such as capacitors and resisters to control inputs and outputs, one can write code and load it onto the Arduino. Rather than leap to Arduino a functioning flashlight without understanding the basics of circuits and electricity, we started

Sallye Coyle leads ShopBot’s Com- munity Outreach programs. She is a proponent of digital fabrication working across multiple platforms—particularly in the realm of education.

12 techdirections ◆ october 2019 with some simple circuits using conductive thread or copper tape, LEDs, batteries, and switches. With help from FFI leaders, one teacher used VCarve Pro to create Hand sewing conductive a drawing for a circuit, machined a thread onto the fingertips copper blank using a 1/16" bit on the of gloves ShopBot CNC, and soldered the surface mount components to the PCB to make a flashlight. One project, several skills. In Jackson County, MS, managers from three Fab Labs joined together: Jackson County (Vancleave, MS), NOLA (New Orleans, LA), and the newest, Jackson (Jackson, MS). They were interested in learning about the sewing/embroidery machines that often sit idle because a) sewing is a skill that is with a simple pad of seldom taught in schools or at home, conductive thread, an b) the digitizing software is unfamiliar ordinary glove now to them and, c) they had never taken works with a smart the time to actually use the machines. phone screen Again, we started with the basics— hand sewing. In a room of adults, several had never even threaded a needle or tied a knot in thread. To make the project a bit more interesting, we used conductive thread to make ordinary gloves into “smart” gloves that could be used with smart phones. From there, we threaded the sewing machine and used utility stitches Using utility stitches with a to make a little bag, and the embroi- sewing machine dery stitches to personalize it. What does this have to do with ShopBot? The digitizing softwares for embroidery machines are CAD programs. Many of the terms and tools used in one software are the same as the CAD software used for the ShopBot CNC or a laser cutter. Who knows which machine will spark enough of an interest in a teacher or a student to get them over their fear of using a computer- controlled or digital fabrication tool? Success on one digital fabrication tool can open up worlds. this math teacher from Santa Clara didn’t know she 3d Carving, Molding, could have an interest in an and Casting embroidery machine. Check 3D printing was intended for rapid out that smile after digitizing pi, prototyping of designs and was not embroidering it onto fabric, and intended for production of multiple sewing up a pillow! copies of the same thing, like rubber duckies or Yoda heads. But its rise in popularity has contributed to the development of many CAD software applications, and even 3D scanners that can create 3D models on the com- www.techdirections.com ELECTRICITY/ELECTRONICS / CNC 13 Model 3d carved on the ShopBot (27 minutes), and mold Technology’s made from a two- Past part material from Posters Smooth-on

Below, carved model, mold, and paraffin and crayons cast in the mold puter. Many of the same files that can be used with a 3D printer can be 3D carved on a ShopBot, and the resulting model can be used to create molds to aid in the production of many copies. At Santa Clara, we imported an .stl file into VCarve Pro for machining on their ShopBot PRTalpha. After sizing onto a 2"× 6" from the local building supply store, we created a roughing pass to clear out the majority of the material. We then used a ¼" ball nose bit to finish the 3D carving. Time from start to finish for the roughing and finish passes was 27 minutes. Once we had the model, we added a bit of hot glue around the edge to give the mold a little more depth, then filled Dress up your classroom the model with a two-part flexible mold with the faces of American making material from Smooth-On. After it history! Stunning posters give cured, we pulled the mold from the model. your students a glimpse of For this experiment, we filled the mold the people and the inventions with melted paraffin and crayons. Think that changed our lives forever. soap, plaster, or, with food-grade mold The men and women whose material, chocolate! visions and strong will provided the groundwork for our The leaders of the FFI in Mississippi: modern-day comforts leap off Sallye Coyle and Chris Carter the pages of history and into The leaders of the FFI in Santa Clara: Sal- the lives of your students! lye Coyle, Andrea Fields and Chris Carter (www.TIESteach.org) 18 x 24 • $12.95 each right, another object SavE! Set of 12 cast in a two-part mold made from a 3d-printed only $109.95! model. Notice the “nob- bies” added to align the to view all 12 and to order, two sides of the mold, and sprues added to visit allow the material to be www.eddigest.com/ poured into the mold, posters and air to escape while tech Directions books/Media the material is poured in. 800-530-9673 x300

14 techdirections ◆ october 2019 Fall Product Guide

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18 techdirections ◆ october 2019 New PV Cells Benefit Energy Harvesting

By Steven Keeping for Mouser Electronics

ODAY, some 85% of in- the Internet of Things (IoT) roll-out absorbed by an electron bound to an stalled photovoltaic (PV) because it would enable wireless sen- atom in the n-type material, endow- cells are manufactured sors to operate reliably with little or ing the particle with sufficient energy from silicon, as it’s both no maintenance. to escape from its parent atom. The particularly suited to turn- This article explores how PV cells excess electrons on the n-type side Ting light into electricity and plentiful. work, the role of silicon, and the of the junction then diffuse across Too, PV cells can be produced in advantages and disadvantages of the junction to recombine with holes volume by adopting wafer manufac- silicon as the underlying semicon- on the p-type side, creating a poten- turing techniques pioneered by the ductor, as well as the potential of tial difference across the joint. The integrated circuit (IC) industry. How- new semiconductors, architectures, incorporation of a conducting return ever, silicon has some downsides, and assembly techniques. path between the two sides of the including a maximum efficiency of joint allows a Direct Current (DC) to around 33%, energy-intensive high photovoltaic process flow (Fig. 1). temperature processing, and fragility. Although a deep understanding of As a PV cell is made up of thou- Alternative PV technologies using the photovol- new materials, architectures, and as- taic (also called sembly techniques have been devel- photoelectric) oped to address silicon’s drawbacks. process re- New materials include the compound quires familiar- semiconductors gallium arsenide ity with quan- (GaAs) and gallium phosphide (GaP), tum mechanics, as well as the mineral perovskite the basic prin- (CaTiO). The new energy-focusing ciples of PV Concentrated PV (CPV) architecture cell operation and assembly techniques use multi- are relatively junction, thin-film, and large crystals straightfor- for high energy efficiency and dura- ward: PV cells Wikipedia nglish

bility. take advantage e

While silicon PV cells are likely of semiconduc- at

to dominate large-scale electricity tor p-n junc- yferz c generation due to mass produc- tions. In the tion and falling prices, alternative n-type mate- Fig. 1—Single-junction pv cell operation: photons of ap- technologies will find use in niche rial, electrons propriate energy liberate electrons, which cross the semi- applications. One such application is act as current conductor junction and generate a potential difference. wireless IoT sensors where efficient, carriers, with compact, durable, and inexpensive electron vacancies or “holes” doing sands of these p-n junctions, the PV technology could harvest solar the same job on the p side of the generated current is multiplied. In energy to charge device batteries. junction. the commercial products, these cells Such technology would be a boon for When a photon within a narrow are combined to form modules and band of wavelengths enters the ultimately create panels. The DC Reprinted with permission by Mous- semiconductor crystal matrix, there voltage can be turned into AC by an er Electronics, www.mouser.com. is some probability that it will be inverter to do useful work or send www.techdirections.com ELECTRICITY/ELECTRONICS / ENERGY 19 gap might liberate a single electron, but their excess energy will again just contribute to heating up the crystal rather than doing anything useful. In 1961, William Shockley and Hans-Joachim Queisser calculated the theoretical maximum PV efficiency for single-junction (cells made of just one semiconductor) PV cells across a range of band gaps (Fig. 3). The calculation revealed that the optimum band gap for a single-junction PV cell was 1.13 eV, which yielded a maximum efficiency of around 33%. It turns out that silicon’s band gap of 1.10 eV is close to the optimum figure.

Silicon drawbacks: Crystal Size, Energy, Efficiency, and Fragility Wikipedia Silicon as a material is not perfect Fig. 2—pv cells are combined into modules then into panels for PV cells, however. For example, to form end products. band gap is not the only determinant of efficiency; crystal size also has a power directly to the distribution for PV technology. First, its PV ef- major effect. If a material is made up grid (Fig. 2). ficiency is good. (Efficiency, in this of small crystals, electron mobility case, refers to the ratio of sunlight is reduced by the large number of First Generation pv Cells: received by a PV cell to the energy crystal interfaces. Reduced mobility Single-Junction Silicon it generates.) Averaged out over restricts current flow and, in turn, First-generation PV panels are the surface of the planet, the sun efficiency. largely fabricated from a crystalline delivers around 1,100 W/m2 form of silicon (“c-Si”). The key driv- when directly overhead. A PV ers for silicon’s large uptake is its panel measuring 1 m2 exposed PV performance and convenience of to this level of sunlight and supply. The bulk material is plentiful exhibiting 10% efficiency, for (making up 28% of the Earth’s crust), example, will output around and the techniques and facilities for 110 W. manufacture have been borrowed The key characteristic that from the chip industry. However, pro- limits a semiconductor’s maxi- cessing the large-scale silicon wafers mum efficiency is its band gap. for PV panels is energy intensive, The band gap is the amount of complex, and expensive. energy required to liberate an

Cost has been mitigated in part electron from an atom into the Wikipedia due to excess global manufactur- “conduction band” and is mea- ing capacity; the price of silicon PV sured in electron volts (eV); 1 Fig. 3—Shockley and Queisser’s calculation panels has declined by around 30% eV is approximately equal to of maximum efficiency against band gap in the last year alone. Government 1.602×10−19J. for single-junction pv cell semiconductors. subsidies designed to encourage the The energy of photons is Silicon has a band gap of 1.1 ev. uptake of silicon PV panels to reduce determined by their wave- reliance on fossil fuels for electricity length, with photons of a shorter Additionally, these drawbacks generation have also played their wavelength (higher frequency) further hinder silicon as an ideal part in encouraging adoption. None- being more energetic. Many sunlight semiconductor for PV cells: theless, the technology remains too photons entering a c-Si lattice will • Maximum theoretical efficiency costly for many niche applications. carry insufficient energy to liberate is just 33%. The best commercial an electron and will therefore do c-Si PV panels achieve around 24% Silicon advantages: Efficiency little more than heat up the materi- efficiency in practice, wasting over and Band Gap al. Photons with greater energy than three-quarters of the sun’s energy. Silicon offers several advantages that required to bridge the band • Fragility, requiring mechanical

20 techdirections ◆ october 2019 support from heavy glass less expensive material, are low in panels, adding weight and weight, and are suited to applications cost. such as semi-transparent PV glazing • Energy-intensive, material that can be laminated onto high-temperature, and windows (Fig. 4). complex processing. The downside of TFPV panels is • Inherently expensive, that the manufacturing, energy, cost, which could introduce and weight advantages are traded-off challenges if supply be- against efficiency. Some of the po- comes restricted and/or tential efficiency gains of bulk mate- subsidies are withdrawn. rial multi-junction PV panels is lost because the thin films comprise tiny crystals that affect electron mobility. New developments L

re Instead of c-Si, for example, which in pv technology N In the last several comprises comparatively huge crys- years, second-generation Fig. 4—Multi-junction tFpv cell tals, commercial TFPV panels use PV products have been internal structure either polycrystalline silicon (very commercialized, and third- small crystals) or amorphous silicon generation technology has entered Second-Generation (no crystals). TFPV panels promise the R&D labs. Second- and third- pv technology efficiencies of 20% although today’s generation technologies look to build Second-generation PV panels commercial products typically oper- on the success of mature silicon focus on nanometer to micrometer ate at 10% efficiency. technology, particularly the estab- thick layers of PV material mounted A second disadvantage of TFPV lished support infrastructure—such on a glass, plastic, or metal sub- panels is relatively rapid degradation as isolators, meters, controllers, and strate. These “thin-film” PV (TFPV) of the thin films reducing the panel inverters that are largely indepen- cells (also called “multi-junction” lifetime. Second-generation PV cells dent of the PV technology type— products because of the additional are unlikely to challenge silicon’s while addressing some of silicon’s active layers) are cheaper and less dominance for large-scale electricity drawbacks. energy intensive to manufacture, use generation but offer promise in ap-

www.techdirections.com ELECTRICITY/ELECTRONICS / ENERGY 21 plications where lower cost, weight, band gaps than silicon allow more cally be bettered by multilayer PV and durability can be traded-off of the energy of shorter wavelength panels. A two-layer cell, for example, against efficiency. photons to contribute to electricity with one layer featuring a band gap generation. Materials such as gallium of 1.64 and the other 0.94 eV, could third-Generation pv technologies arsenide (GaAs), which has a band reach a maximum efficiency of 44%. PV technology is continually be- gap of 1.43 eV, and gallium phosphide Similarly, a three-layer PV cell with ing developed to enhance first- and (GaP), which has a band gap of 2.25 band gaps of 1.83, 1.16, and 0.71 eV, second-generation technologies. And eV, have also been used with suc- would have a maximum theoretical research into new areas is uncover- cess. Several lines of research have efficiency of 48%. Commercial multi- ing technology that will form the foundation of a third generation of PV product. These developments and research generally fall into four sectors: Materials: Complementing silicon with semiconductors of different band gaps so that photons of lower energy can liberate electrons and so that those of a higher energy convert more of that energy to electricity. Structure: Introducing techniques that lower the energy intensity and complexity of first-generation PV panel production. Processing: Improving semiconductor processing techniques NA re to enhance the quality and size of I crystals such that electron mobility table 1—Efficiency of c-Si, tFpv, and Cpv technologies is raised. Mechanical: Amplifying the num- resulted in further compounding of layer products comprise two, three, ber of photons that fall on a unit area these materials—for example, indium or four layers. of substrate by focusing incident gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and in- light with mirrors or lenses. dium gallium phosphide (InGaP)—to processing developments further optimize the PV effect. Researchers are investigating new Material developments groups of materials for third-genera- Converting more of the incident Structural developments tion PV panels that combine the high photon energy into electricity is pos- Alternative band gap semicon- efficiencies of the first generation sible by introducing materials with ductors have a lower maximum effi- with the simpler and cheaper manu- lower and higher band gaps than ciency than silicon alone, so there is facturing of the second. silicon. Silicon’s band gap of 1.1 eV is no benefit in employing them singly. One group of materials that has the best of any single semiconductor Instead, one or more semiconduc- caused much excitement is derived for harvesting energy from visible tors are used together in a multi- from the mineral perovskite (CaTiO). light. However, much of the energy layer structure. Materials with the The group of materials has band from the sun is carried by photons largest band gap—requiring short gaps ranging from 1.4 to 2.5 e V. The with energy below this band gap. For wavelength (high energy) photons to theoretical maximum efficiency of example, while a blue-light photon dislodge electrons—are positioned at the perovskite group can’t match can carry three times as much en- the top, allowing low energy photons silicon, but recent rapid efficiency ergy as a red one, two-thirds of that to pass through without interaction gains from around 4-20% have raised energy is wasted even if the photon to then be absorbed by lower band hope that commercial products will is absorbed by a silicon electron. gap materials in the following layers. eventually be more efficient than Semiconductors with band gaps Transparent conductors are required TFPV panels. lower than silicon enable photons at each layer to carry the generated The key advantage of the that would otherwise be useless to current yet let photons pass through perovskite group over silicon is contribute to the PV effect. Indium to the lower layers. This technology the comparative ease and low pro- arsenide (InAs), for example, has a has been deployed with success in cessing temperatures with which band gap of 0.36 eV and has been TFPV panels and remains the focus millimeter-sized perfect crystals can used successfully to complement of a key area of research. be grown. This is a huge size for a silicon. Silicon has a maximum efficiency perfect crystal lattice, and it dra- Semiconductors with higher of 33%, but this figure can theoreti- matically increases electron mobility

22 techdirections ◆ october 2019 and hence efficiency while slashing grid. But third-generation technolo- Energy-Harvesting technology manufacturing costs. Current lines of gies—which promise less expensive, Energy harvesting technology for research are aimed at growing even more durable, and smaller PV pan- small-capacity, Li-ion cell charging is larger perfect crystals; for example, els—promise to introduce energy- a proven technology. For example, researchers at MIT in the U.S. have harvesting niche applications. Mikroe’s energy-harvesting module is recently discovered how to “heal” a silicon PV cell capable of producing crystal defects in a perovskite-based wireless iot Sensors up to 0.4 W at 4 V. PV cell by exposing the cell to in- Designers of IoT wireless sen- The voltage and current from a tense light. sors have long been keen to take PV cell varies considerably. As such, Elsewhere, researchers at Univer- advantage of energy harvesting. It is the voltage/current output must be sity of California, Berkeley have dis- envisaged that the IoT will comprise regulated for Li-ion battery charging, covered that different facets of the billions of sensors with many posi- as Li-ion batteries require careful cur- perovskite crystals have markedly tioned remotely and therefore iso- rent/voltage management during the different efficiencies. The scientists lated from main power and difficult charging cycle. Purpose-designed, are now focusing their research on to access for maintenance such as highly-integrated power management ways of processing the bulk mate- battery changes. chips are available for the job. rial such that only the most efficient Many of the products will employ For example, Maxim’s MAX17710 facets interface with the PV cell low-power wireless technologies such power management IC can manage electrodes as a method of boosting as Bluetooth low energy and zigbee, poorly-regulated sources such as overall efficiency. which have been designed from the PV cells with output levels ranging As with TFPV materials, a key challenge currently limiting the commercial deployment of perovskite- based PV cells is the speed at which the material degrades.

Mechanical development Another development objective for third-generation PV panels is Concentrated PV (CPV) technology. CPV is designed to focus sunlight using lenses and mirrors such that a dramatically higher number of photons fall on a unit area of PV panel. The technique typically employs high-efficiency, multi-junction PV cells constructed, as shown in Fig. 4. Focusing the light increases efficiency, enabling dramatic reductions

in panel size, lowering the cost and Instruments exas t weight of the product, and increasing the number of locations where it can Fig. 5—application circuit for energy-harvested battery charging be installed. using ti power management iC. “Low” CPV focuses the equivalent of 2 to 100× sunlight onto the panel, ground up to run from modest power from 1 µW to 100 mW. The device while “high” CPV can multiply the resources. Many applications are also includes a boost regulator light to the equivalent of 1,000× sun- powered from compact primary cells circuit for charging the battery light. CPV systems often use solar with capacities around 220 mAh. In from a source as low as 0.75 V. An trackers and sometimes a cooling low-duty cycle operation, the aver- internal regulator protects the cell system to increase efficiency. Table 1 age current draw from a low-power from overcharging. 3.3, 2.3, or 1.8 V summarizes the efficiency of current wireless System-on-Chip (SoC) is in outputs are supplied to the wireless PV cell technology. the microampere range, extending IoT sensor via a Low-Dropout (LDO) battery life to thousands of hours linear regulator. Case Study: (several months) of operation. Texas Instruments also offers a Energy-Harvesting However, extending battery life power management IC, the bq25504. wireless iot Sensors by replacing a primary battery with The device is specifically designed to The key application for PV tech- a secondary battery and recharging efficiently acquire and manage power nology is for renewable-energy gener- via a PV cell extends self-contained generated from PV cells. The chip ating capacity to feed the electricity operation to several years. integrates a DC-DC boost converter/ www.techdirections.com ELECTRICITY/ELECTRONICS / ENERGY 23 charger that requires only micro- would take several days of full sunlight into electricity. Second- and watts of power and a voltage as low shine, note that the Li-ion battery third-generation PV technologies are 330 mV to commence energy harvest- will only discharge at a rate of a addressing silicon’s downsides that ing (Fig. 5). perhaps a few mAh per day under include a maximum efficiency of only typical low power wireless sensor about 33%, energy-intensive high third-Generation pv technology operation, requiring the PV cell to temperature processing, and fragility. applied only top-up the battery (rather that Second-generation PV panels While current PV cell energy-har- fully charge) ensuring it can easily focus “thin-film” PV cells that are vesting solutions work satisfactorily, cope with the energy demand even mounted on a glass, plastic, or metal they do have some downsides. For on days without full sunshine. substrate. These are cheaper and example, Mikroe’s energy-harvesting Compact third-generation PV cells less energy intensive to manufac- module measures 7 × 6.5 × 0.3 cm are yet to be commercialized. And ture, use less expensive material, (a surface area of 45.5 cm2), and is when mass production does com- are low in weight, and are suited relatively heavy and fragile. However, mence, prices are likely to initially be to applications such as semi-trans- silicon PV cells like this product are too high for wireless IoT sensor ap- parent, PV glazing material that can currently the only practical choice plications. However, as the technol- be laminated onto windows. These because of their efficiency compared ogy matures and demand increases, are unlikely to challenge silicon’s with alternatives. TFPV cells will become much cheap- dominance for large-scale electricity Third-generation cells incorpo- er and a practical proposition for this generation but offer promise in ap- rate technology to boost efficiency niche application. plications where lower cost, weight, beyond the current 10% enjoyed by Simultaneously, the efficiency of and durability can be traded-off commercial products. Technologies TFPV PV cells will continue to in- against efficiency. currently in the lab are projected to crease, bringing greater advantages Third-generation PV cells promise double efficiency in the next several to energy-harvesting wireless sensor even more by matching the efficiency years; that would introduce silicon designs including: of silicon while building on the ad- PV cell-type performance to TFPV • Energy harvesting from artificial vantages of second-generation prod- cells combined with advantages of light for indoor sensors. ucts. This will make the cells a good lower cost, light weight, and greater • Reduction in panel size for given option for remote, low-maintenance robustness. power output for highly space-con- IoT sensor applications using re- A third-generation TFPV cell mea- strained designs. chargeable Li-ion batteries continu- suring just 4 cm2 in direct sunlight, • More power available to run ally replenished by the sun’s energy. for example, would receive around complex software algorithms on These PV technologies use new 0.22 W incident power. At 20% ef- advanced wireless SoCs. materials, structure, processing, and ficiency, the TFPV cell would output • Increased wireless sensor range mechanical techniques to address around 44 mW. While charging at an and throughput. silicon’s drawbacks. New materials average of 3.5 V (voltage varies dur- • Multiple sensors powered from include the compound semiconduc- ing a Li-ion battery charging cycle), a single PV panel. tors gallium arsenide (GaAs) and the current supplied from the power gallium phosphide (GaP), as well as management chip would be around Conclusion the mineral perovskite (CaTiO); the 12 mA, sufficient to fully recharge a An estimated 85% photovoltaic new energy-focusing Concentrated 300 mAh Li-ion battery in around 25 (PV) cells currently installed are PV (CPV) architecture and assembly hours. manufactured from silicon, as it’s techniques use multi-junction, thin- While such a charging regime both plentiful and suited to turning film, and large crystals for high energy efficiency and durability. Niche applications like energy-har- • Silicon is the market-leading material for general-purpose PV panel ap- vesting wireless IoT sensors, which plications because the raw material is plentiful, manufacturing infrastruc- require efficient, compact, durable, ture is established, and it offers high efficiency. and inexpensive PV technology, • Silicon PV cells have some notable downsides: They are heavy, fragile, stand to benefit from third-genera- energy intensive to produce, and expensive. tion PV cells. Such technology would enable wireless sensors to operate • This makes silicon impractical for energy harvesting applications for reliably with little or no maintenance. compact wireless IoT sensors. As third-generation PV technologies • New materials and PV cell construction techniques address silicon’s evolve, we can expect to see addi- drawbacks, but lower efficiency limits usefulness for wireless IoT sensors. tional wireless sensor designs, such • Third-generation cells’ improved efficiency will make the technology as harvesting energy from indoor suitable for wireless IoT sensors, and promises to increase computational lighting and other applications that power, wireless range, and throughput at an affordable cost. require compact, efficient, powerful, and robust designs.

24 techdirections ◆ october 2019 Anaheim Visit courtesy Photos

Convention preview Get Inspired at CareerTech Vision

HE Association for Career ships with CTE professionals from at the general session. She is an and Technical Education around the globe acclaimed educational consultant, (ACTE) will hold its an- The annual convention draws having taught more than 500,000 nual convention Decem- career and technical educators and administrators, teachers, parents, ber 4-7 in Anaheim, CA. administrators from across the Unit- and business and community leaders TAs always, this year's CareerTech ed States and around the world. throughout the world. During her 30- VISION promises much of value to year career with the DeKalb County CTE educators. Here's what ACTE General Sessions School System in Decatur, Georgia, promises to those who attend: On Thursday, Dec.5, Garrett Reis- she has been a classroom teacher, • Renowned keynote speakers man gets things started as speaker reading specialist, language arts exploring new directions in CTE at the Opening General Session. As coordinator, and staff development • 300+ concurrent sessions cover- a NASA veteran, Dr. Garrett Reisman executive director. She received the ing every aspect of secondary and empowers educators with the same 2001 Distinguished Staff Developer postsecondary CTE innovation, determination, and vi- Award for the State of Georgia and is • CareerTech Expo and interactive sion required for living and working the author of eight bestsellers. exhibitor workshops in space. During his experience as an Expanded Secondary and post- • Career Pavilion providing essen- astronaut, including a 95-day mission secondary CtE programming—VI- tial resources on several CTE career on the International Space Station, SION provides the postsecondary pathways Dr. Reisman performed three space- community with a venue for explor- • Wednesday workshops and walks, operated the Space Station ing multiple pathways to college and tours offering insights into focused Robot Arm, and was a flight engineer career readiness, networking with topics and CTE programming aboard the Space Shuttle. While at postsecondary CTE professionals • Awards Banquet, a heartwarm- NASA, Dr. Reisman was also an aqua- and leveraging business and industry ing and inspirational gathering of naut serving as a crewmember on partnerships to enhance your CTE dedicated and passionate CTE pro- NEEMO V, living on the bottom of the programs. Fifty sessions on the most fessionals and supporters sea in the Aquarius deep underwater current issues in postsecondary CTE • STEM is CTE Symposium ad- habitat for two weeks. Dr. Reisman will cover: dressing access to STEM-related will share insights on the future of • Business, industry, and educa- career paths through CTE program- human spaceflight, high-demand tion partnerships and needs ming for all students and especially career fields in space and on Earth, • Designing successful CTE teach- for young women and a whole new golden age of explo- er education programs • Opportunities to connect, col- ration. • Effective teaching strategies for laborate, and build lasting friend- Saturday, Marcia L. Tate will speak adult learners F www.techdirections.com CONVENTION PREVIEW 25 • Protocols to dent engagement with the tasks use right away to required in specific career fields. Join build (or strength- this interactive session to explore en) the partner- the criteria of quality work-based ship learning and leave with useful next • Action plan steps to taking your program to the to establish next next level. steps. • How to Finally Move the • Access to Needle on women in CtE— In this additional tools via fast-paced workshop, you’ll find out Ford NGL U why most strategies to increase fe- • data driven male enrollment in traditionally male Career and tech- CTE programs don’t work and what nical Education: colleges that have been successful anaheim Convention Center How labor Mar- do differently. Discover how Milwau- ket information kee Area Technical College went from • Re-skilling the middle-aged Can Guide investment and Strat- zero to nine women in welding in workforce egy—Career and technical education only four weeks and City College of • Promoting and attracting CTE (CTE) programs are facing increased San Francisco enrolled 50% female student diversity pressure to use data to make deci- students in a new Makerspace course • College and career readiness sions and guide strategy. Perkins V in seven weeks. Learn the top secrets models calls for states and districts to use for recruiting and retaining female • Teacher recruitment and reten- data to shape programs, set per- students in CTE and walk away with tion formance targets and assess local a mini-action plan. Designed for both Career Clusters—ACTE and needs. The volume and complexity secondary and postsecondary CTE Advance CTE are pleased to offer of labor market data can be over- professionals, this workshop is facili- sessions focused on career clusters whelming for workforce development tated by Donna Milgram, Executive and programs of study, a comprehen- professionals. This interactive pre- Director of the Institute for Women in sive framework for organizing high- conference workshop will provide an Trades, Technology & Science. quality CTE programs, and cultivat- overview of labor market informa- • StEM is CtE Symposium— ing collaboration between secondary tion, a hands-on demonstration of Back by popular demand, this event and postsecondary CTE. accessing, downloading, and analyz- addresses crucial diversity, equity, ing labor market data, and answer and access issues to STEM fields pre-Convention workshops questions such as: via CTE programs, which encourage ACTE has scheduled several in- • What kind of jobs in my region students and especially women to formative workshops for Wednesday, require less than a bachelor’s de- explore high-paying, high-demand December 4. They include: gree? STEM careers. CTE classrooms offer • Create powerful Student • What are the hardest jobs to fill? hands-on learning environments that learning Experiences by Creat- • What jobs are going to grow the bring science, technology, engineering powerful partnerships—The most over the next decade? ing, and mathematics (STEM) to life, challenges of the job market and • What is the labor shed for my apply core academics to real-world the premium employers put on real- region? situations, and provide creative world knowledge and skills make • Where do the workers in the problem-solving skills to address our meaningful work experience critical region live? nation’s most pressing issues. To- to the success of our young people. • How have wages and employ- gether, STEM and CTE expand oppor- This workshop, geared for teach- ment changed in major industries? tunities for youth to engage in some ers, administrators, and academy This will be a bring-your-own- of the most exciting realms of discov- coaches, will offer practical strate- technology course where partici- ery and technological innovation. gies, tools, and resources to support pants can use laptops and tablets to the opportunities to strengthen the follow-along during the course. tours connection between schools and • High-Quality Work-Based Tours organized for this year's business partnerships using the Ford learning—This workshop will focus CareerTech VISION include: NGL Powerful Partnership Process. on high-quality work-based learning, • Cyberpatriot Competi- Key topics to be addressed follow: as defined in ACTE’s Quality Program tions: what Goes on Behind the • What does quality partnership of Study Framework. We will explore Scenes?— Come and join us for an between schools and business look how you transform a work-based exciting opportunity to see a cyber- like learning program from a required to competition in progress. Coastline • Self-assessment tool to gauge a desired experience for students, Community College, a designated your strengths and opportunities and ensure in-depth, firsthand stu- CyberPatriot Center of Excellence

26 techdirections ◆ october 2019 (CCOE), is the second largest CCOE • Academy of Media Arts class- educators and students. in the country and a designated Cen- room • Samueli Engineering acad- ter of Academic Excellence in Cyber • Academy of Computer Science emy—Take a unique tour of the Defense by the National Security classroom Samueli Academy, a charter school Agency. This three-hour pre-confer- • Construction lab classroom that provides engineering and design ence tour/workshop will allow you • Foundations of Technology & pathways for all students delivered to observe a practice competition in Engineering lab classroom in an integrated, holistic environ- action with live students while giving Both tours are sponsored by Pax- ment. Samueli Academy's mission you a chance to sit down and experi- ton/Patterson is to serve foster and underserved ence first-hand the tasks students are • Knott's Berry Farm—See first- youth in a technology-rich envi- asked to do in a competition setting. hand a successful education-business ronment, featuring project-based Coastline staff and faculty will also collaboration through Knott's Berry learning with a STEAM focus and a share best practices and practical Farm’s model partnership with the commitment to college and career information for setting up, running North Orange County Regional Oc- success for all its students. In only and participating in CyberPatriot and cupational Program (NOCROP). You six years Samueli Academy has main- other cyber competitions. will also take a behind the scenes tour tained a 99% high school graduation • disney—Spark creativity and of Knotts’ food and beverage division rate, 96% college attendance rate and unlock the potential within your and operations area, showcasing their a college persistence rate at more students! Disney Youth Programs are work with the NOCROP culinary/ than twice the national average for valuable learning experiences that hospitality program and other educa- its student demographic. harness the power of Disney story- tional programs and opportunities. telling and the magic of Disney parks. • roadtrip Nation—Take a tour • tustin t-tech/atEp—Explore Take a peek behind the curtain by of Roadtrip Nation’s HQ with special Tustin High School’s 6-12 CTE pro- experiencing an interactive showcase stops at the production department grams, featuring the award-winning of some of the most popular Disney where events, web design and more T-Tech Engineering Academy and Youth Programs, including: • Disney Culinary Arts • Careers in Costuming • Properties of Motion • Creating a Leadership Legacy Along the way explore the career pathways of Disney Cast Members who work in these fields and bring the magic to life every day. • increasing Completers in High School CtE Courses by Creating robust Middle School College and Career readiness Courses: orange Unified School district labs—Join us for three unique site visits in Orange Unified School District, Orange, CA, to learn about CTE programs in middle and Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park high school programs. 1st stop: Yorba Middle School, motivate students to pursue careers the School of Integrated Design, touring a unique lab classroom based on their passions. You will Engineering, and Automation (IDEA) setup: have the opportunity to: at Irvine Valley College’s Advanced • College and career ready labs • See the original motorhome Technology and Education Park. feeding pathways across all 15 Indus- (aptly named “The Legend”) that Learn how Tustin’s program success- try sectors in CA (Career Clusters in started it all. fully combines academic instruction other states). • Tour the RVs that take our with cutting edge project-based 2nd stop: Orange High School, “roadtrippers” around the country learning and is recognized as one of touring: exploring careers. the best CTE programs in the state. • Public Service Academy class- • Talk with the education team Participants then visit Irvine Valley room about our approach to career ex- College’s new School of IDEA, which • Health Science Careers lab class- ploration inside and outside of the serves as a catalyst for the college’s room classroom. CTE programs, offering innovative 3rd stop: El Modena High School, • Take a tour of Roadtrip Nation’s and effective technical education in a touring: resources, content and tools for state-of-the-art environment. www.techdirections.com CONVENTION PREVIEW 27 opinion Three Reasons That Career and Technical Education Doesn’t Preclude College

Confronting some misconceptions about future learners

By Kimberly Green and Kate Kreamer

NUMBER of recent ar- and technical college are both “col- but it’s also true that there is grow- ticles have highlighted lege,” as are most institutions that ing value in associate degrees, the value of career and award postsecondary credentials or industry-recognized credentials, technical education degrees. and long-term postsecondary cer- (CTE) at the individual Even the line between appren- tificates. Aand system levels. It is truly won- ticeships and college is being At the same time, our over- derful to see these programs finally blurred, with apprentices increas- reliance on bachelor’s degrees as a celebrated for all that they can ingly earning postsecondary credits proxy for workforce readiness has do for students and communities. However, it’s hard not to notice that many of these stories choose to wes McEntee emphasize a disconnect between works on a career and technical education and manufacturing “college,” positioning the former as machine a pathway for students not bound at vermont for college. As advocates of these technical programs, we believe it’s important College. to address this misconception head on. First things first: College, while often synonymous with a four-year oliver Parini for the institution, encompasses much Hechinger report more than that. Community college and community/technical colleges some serious consequences, with Kimberly Green is the executive serving as education providers for $1.4 trillion in national student debt, director of Advance CTE, a national industry partners. And let’s not for- half of U.S. adults regretting the nonprofit representing state CTE lead- get about the 3.7 million students degrees they earned, the institutions ers. Kate Kreamer is the deputy execu- in federally supported postsecond- they attended and/or their fields of tive director of Advance CTE. This ar- ary career and technical education study, and about 6 million jobs at ticle was produced by The Hechinger programs. risk for so-called degree inflation by Report and originally published on Second, college is still incred- employers. The Hechinger Report website, www. ibly important, as are bachelor’s Third, career and technical hechingerreport.org. The Hechinger degrees. According to Georgetown’s education students do go to col- Report is a nonprofit, independent Center on Education and the Work- lege! About three-quarters of these news website focused on inequality force, a bachelor’s degree is still students enroll directly in two- and and innovation in education. the best bet for lifetime earnings, four-year institutions, and research

28 techdirections ◆ october 2019 shows that these students are now students take a college- and career- our advocacy, and our understand- as likely to go onto postsecondary ready program of study, including ing of what college is. From a mes- education after graduation as their rigorous academics and career and saging and recruitment perspective, peers. technical education. States and com- it’s inaccurate and harmful to frame So what’s the way forward? It’s munities must find a balance among career and technical education as a time that we flipped the script and academic, technical, and profession- pathway for students not headed to focused less on ensuring “all kids al knowledge and skills so that all college. go to college” and more on “all kids students are prepared for a lifetime At the end of the day, career and should choose a post-high school of success. technical education is about prepar- Finally, and perhaps most impor- ing learners for the careers of their tantly, we—policymakers, parents, choice and supporting them on students, advocates, members of whatever paths they may take to get “at the end of the day, the media, and all other stakehold- there. Our language shouldn’t get in career and technical ers—must broaden our language, the way of that goal. education is about preparing learners for More than Fun Answers the careers of their Cross Math choice and supporting them on whatever 6 + 5 – 9 = 2 paths they may take to monthly get there. our language × – + shouldn’t get in the way marketplace of that goal.” ( 4 – 3 ) ÷ 1 = 1 ÷ + – path that aligns with their career ( 8 – 7 ) × 2 = 2 goals.” For this to happen, we must = 3 = 9 = 8 invest as a country in more career exploration and experiences, partic- what Next! ularly through more career advising The word is PACKET and career and technical education 1 2 4 6 10 12 16 pathways. Students need more expo- (one less than the prime numbers) sure, more support, and more direc- 169 121 81 49 25 9 1 tion, starting as early as elementary (odd squares, descending) school. 36 28 21 15 10 6 3 Electronics Software We also must ensure that all (subtract 8, then 7, then 6,...) For Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 10 F 14 15 13 16 12 17 11 Topics from Ohm’s law to Op Amps (add 1, subtract 2, add 3, subtract F Works with any textbook 4,...) or curriculum 44 51 17 24 8 15 5 F Teaches digital meter use (add 7, divide by 3, add 7, divide by F Scores are printed or stored 3,...) Free Trials at Website! 2 5 8 11 14 17 20 ETCAI Products (repeatedly add 3) 901-861-0232 www.etcai.com [email protected] you’re How old? Bob is 21 years old now. Let x = Bob’s age now Then x + 15 = 3 (x - 9) x + 15 = 3x - 27 2x = 42, x = 21

Entertainment inventors 1. d 4. i 7. E 10. J “No, I did not say to bring me 2. H 5. B 8. a Phillip’s screwdriver.” 3. F 6. C 9. G www.techdirections.com CTE / MARKETPLACE 29 J more than fun

Cross Math Place each digit from 1 through 9 in the empty squares of the grid so that the three rows across and the three rows What Next! down form correct arithmetic statements. All calculations Determine the next logical number in each (which involve only positive integers) should be performed sequence. When you’ve finished, convert using the correct order of operations. Parentheses have each of the six final numbers to a letter (1 = been provided where needed. A, 2 = B, etc.) to form a six-letter word reading down. What is this word? + – = 2 1 2 4 6 10 12 _____ × – + 169 121 81 49 25 9 _____ 36 28 21 15 10 6 _____ ( – ) ÷ = 1 14 15 13 16 12 17 _____ 44 51 17 24 8 15 _____ ÷ + – 2 5 8 11 14 17 _____

Puzzle devised by David Pleacher, (–) × = 2 www.pleacher.com/mp/mpframe.html

= 3 = 9 = 8

Puzzle devised by David Pleacher, www.pleacher.com/mp/mpframe.html

Entertainment Inventors Each of the inventors listed below made our lives more entertaining You’re How Old? in one way or another. See if you can match the inventors with their Bob makes the following state- inventions. ment: “In 15 years, I will be three times 1. Guglielmo Marconi A. Invented one of the first telescopes as old as I was 9 years ago.” B. An expert in the properties of steel, he 2. Alexander Cartwright How old is Bob now? designed an amusement park ride Puzzle devised by David Pleacher, www.pleacher.com/mp/mpframe.html 3. George Eastman C. Invented the electronic television system

4. George Pullman D. Developed a practical wireless telegra- phy system commonly known as the See answers on page 29. 5. George Ferris radio E. Invented the telephone 6. Vladimir Zworykin we pay $25 for brainteasers and F. Introduced the first mass-produced puzzles and $20 for cartoons used 7. Alexander Graham Bell camera intended for use by the public on this page. preferable theme for all H. Invented the game of baseball submissions is career-technical and 8. Galileo Galilei StEM education. Send contributions I. Designed the train sleeping car to [email protected] or 9. Thomas Edison J. Created the multiplane camera mail to “More than Fun,” po Box 8623, ann arbor, Mi 48107-8623. 10. Walt Disney G. Invented the phonograph

30 techdirections ◆ october 2019 Projects for Less than 90¢ Each! Complete Collection CD Over 200 On-Demand Classroom Projects Only $195!

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to order, visit www.techdirections.com/ projcollect FaX 734-975-2787 or email vanessa@ techdirections.com

if you have questions, email [email protected] Celebrate Black History Month!

Inspire your students with posters of African Americans who have had a major impact on the course of American history, from the research lab to the battlefield to the courtroom. These posters will help educate your students as well as perk up dull classroom walls. Each poster provides brief biographical information and a timeline of key life events—all designed around a stunning image of these notable black Americans.

18” × 24" glossy poster stock $12.95 each!

Black Technologists posters—set of 3 Only $24.95! Save $13.90! Black History Pioneers posters—set of 14 Only $119.95! Save $61.35!

February is Black History Month

Black Technologists from the Technology’s Past series: George Washington Carver Lewis Latimer Garrett Morgan

Black History Pioneers series: W.E.B. DuBois Frederick Douglass Martin Luther King, Jr. (Portraits) Martin Luther King, Jr. (March) Thurgood Marshall Rosa Parks Sojourner Truth Harriet Tubman Booker T. Washington Malcolm X The Buffalo Soldiers (Plains) The Buffalo Soldiers (Uniform) Montgomery Bus Boycott The Tuskegee Airmen

To view all posters and order, visit: https://bit.ly/2SIv0Et ● FAX: 734.975.2787 Phone: 800.530.9673 ext. 300 ● Mail: Tech Directions Books & Media, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107