MTI

Materials Aspects of Manufacturing Technology
An NSFAdvanced Technology Education (ATE) Program
NSF Grant DUE ATE 9602360

The Materials Aspects of Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI) is aimed at developing a set of instructors with sufficient background and understanding of manufacturing technology who will serve as leaders in the effort of enhancing technology education in the U.S. It is also aimed at providing a model interactive program involving high school and community college instructors and students to assist in program articulation and to assist in the transition for technology students across the high school-community college boundary

The Institute began in July 1997 with a 15 day institute for 18 participants. Activities in the institute included lectures and discussions on the subject of materials technology, practical laboratories and participant sharing of activities for use in the classroom, individual and group projects and field trips.

Participants included teams of high school and community college teachers from the same areas to allow the development of team projects in which students from grades 9-14 can work together on materials technology projects. Each of the 6 teams developed preliminary plans for such interactive projects which will be carried out over the next academic year. Projects also included plans for involving industry and nearby academic institutions, as appropriate.

• Olympia School District
• Highline Community College
• Bethel School District
• Pierce College
• Shoreline School District
• Edmonds Community College

Those from out-of-state were from:

• Ocean Lakes High, Virginia Beach, VA
• Tallwood High, Virginia Beach, VA
• Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach, VA
• Chillicothe Hight, Chillicothe, MO
• Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City, MO
• Central High, Wartburg, TN
• Pillissippi St. Tech. Community College, Knoxville, TN
• Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, OR

 The focus of the lecture/discussion sessions related to the fundamentals of materials technology and how best to present this material as a motivational tool for students. The study of materials technology is a highly motivational to students since students have in most cases already experienced materials properties and materials failures in their personal lives. Thus the study of fatigue and fracture, optical properties, structure/property relationships, microstructure control and materials processing provides students with real life experiences which are actually applications of the principles of engineering and science. This is especially true when the whole spectrum of materials are presented, as in this institute, including polymers, ceramics, glass, metals, composites and biomaterials.

 Laboratory experiences paralleled the lecture/discussion activities. These were supplemented by a variety of available curriculum and activity modules available from as many sources as could be found. These activities and sources of information then led to the development of classroom modules which will be tested over the coming months. Field trips were used to solidify the connections between the academic setting and real manufacturing practice, with trips to the following companies: Fluke Manufacturing: Electronic materials component manufacturing Primex Corporation: Materials processing for rocket applications Boeing Co.: Component and final assembly for 737 and 757 aircraft K2 Ski Co.: Composite ski materials and manufacture

 Also achieved was the planning for several follow-up programs of different sorts, and the connection of this institute program with other workshops and conferences. At present, the following follow-up programs are planned: 

• October, 1997 - Two-day follow-up workshop in Olympia WA for participants and other experienced materials technology teachers to exchange information on classroom activities.

•  December, 1997 - One day program in Seattle for new teachers interested in future development of materials technology as part of their classroom activities.

 In addition, the institute has connected with the following programs, to which participants have been invited: National Educators Workshop in materials science and materials technology education, with emphasis on hands-on activities. This is being held this year in November at the Boeing Co. in Seattle. One day of this program is specific for high school teachers, while the whole program in relevant for community college instructors.

 Symposium on Materials Education, December 1997, part of the Materials Research Society Fall meeting in Boston MA. This program features programs related to high school and community college materials technology, materials science and engineering activities.

 Participants are expected to attend at least one of these follow-up programs. Additional information sharing will take place continually using the institute web site.

For further information about the MTI Institute contract Professor Thomas Stoebe (stoebe@u.washington.edu)