M.C.: Yingfah Thao
Welcome: Karl Ohrn and Michelle Kamenov
Welcome: Liz Williams
Welcome: Heidi Johnson
Keynote Introductions: Sue Selland-Miller

Join us for an interactive session about Elevate Teaching, a movement to inspire the next generation of teachers, and equip current educators and community partners with resources to help shift how we view, talk about and relate to the profession, ultimately, bringing reverence back to the profession, starting in MN. We will discuss how the CTE community can be champions in this movement, and ways you can leverage the communication resources available for you to use in your local context.

Looking for innovative ways to engage your students in STEM and engineering? This session is designed to show CTE educators how Chain Reaction Machines can be a powerful, cross-curricular tool for sparking student interest and creativity across all backgrounds and interests. Unlike many STEM-related projects that often appeal more to boys, Chain Reaction Machines provide an inclusive platform that captivates a diverse range of learners. Learn how to seamlessly integrate these projects into your curriculum to inspire students of all demographics to explore engineering and STEM career pathways. We’ll also introduce the Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC), an accessible, low-cost competition that brings real-world context into the classroom. Join us for a hands-on activity where you’ll build your own Chain Reaction Machine and walk away with practical strategies and resources to implement immediately in your classroom.

This session presents an innovative approach for CTE educators to integrate Chain Reaction Machines into their curriculum, fostering student engagement in engineering and STEM fields. Chain Reaction Machines, which consist of simple actions triggering subsequent steps, are a dynamic, low-cost way to teach engineering and technology principles while promoting critical thinking and teamwork.

Participants will learn how to implement these projects in their classrooms, connecting them to relevant career pathways. The session will also introduce the Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC), which provides students from all backgrounds and interests with a real-world platform to apply their skills in a low-cost, competitive setting.

Attendees will participate in a hands-on activity, using provided materials to build their own Chain Reaction Machine, mirroring the student experience. This practical exercise will equip educators with the tools and strategies to bring this engaging project to their students, inspiring interest in engineering and technical careers across all student demographics.

The session is designed to be practical and immediately applicable. It offers educators new methods to engage students in cross-curricular engineering design while preparing them for future success in STEM careers.

After this session, you will be able to:

1. Understand how to integrate Chain Reaction Machines into the CTE curriculum to engage students in cross-curricular engineering design.
2. Explore career pathways related to engineering and technical fields using Chain Reaction Machines.
3. Gain knowledge of the Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC) and its role in motivating students and applying classroom learning.
4. Participate in a hands-on activity to build a Chain Reaction Machine, developing practical skills for classroom implementation."

The Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence has partnered with Marvin (Warroad, MN) and Wells Technology (Bemidji, MN), to assist in the development of HS Internship programs, targeting Native American and rural Minnesota students. This session will review the important partnerships that have been forged between the Center, the employers, and the high schools, as well as a brief overview of the curriculum, and the credentialing the students may earn at the conclusion of the internship.

You'll learn how to: 

• Develop partnership engagement and walk away with best practices
• Identify skills and curriculum alignment to manufacturing needs
• Work with MSSC to become an MSSC testing center

K-12 educators were funded to engage in 30+ hours of industry-based work experiences with the goal to enhance an element of their curricula and apply trades skills in the classroom. Learning from their time in the field educators were challenged to build connections with local industries and new experiences for all students.

Rob Sleezer from Minnesota State University Mankato led the professional development in experiential learning and inclusive student education design. Each educator developed and created their own curricula to meet various standards.

Educators in this project are:
Margy Schipper
Jeff Ponto
Stephanie Salisbury

 After this session attendees will be able to:

• Understand the value of hands-on working experience for classroom educators
• Identify ideas for implementing trades skills in their own classrooms
• Motivate the development of local partnerships with local industry and careers

K-12 educators were funded to engage in 30+ hours of industry-based work experiences with the goal to enhance an element of their curricula and apply trades skills in the classroom. Learning from their time in the field educators were challenged to build connections with local industries and new experiences for all students.

Educators:
Tracy Bockbrader
Josten Coleman
Rachel Steil

After this session attendees will be able to:  

• Understand the value of hands-on working experience for classroom educators
• Identify ideas for implementing trades skills in their own classrooms
• Motivate the development of local partnerships with local industry and careers 

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask

As we continue to advance our efforts in education and workforce development, the intersection of STEM and CTE presents a unique opportunity to prepare students for the future. This session will bring together education thought leaders from both STEM and CTE to explore how they can work together to create a more robust learning experience. Through a moderated panel discussion, participants will gain insights into successful integration strategies and discover new opportunities for collaboration.

This session will bring together education thought leaders from both the STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) fields to explore the dynamic intersection of these two critical areas. As the demand for a skilled workforce in STEM-related fields continues to grow, CTE programs have become increasingly important. This panel discussion will delve into how together, STEM and CTE create more comprehensive and impactful educational experiences for students.

Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to enhance their programs and better prepare students for high-demand careers in STEM-related fields. This session will also serve as a platform for building stronger connections between the STEM and CTE communities, fostering a shared commitment to student success and innovation in education.

Session Objectives:

• Highlight Synergies: Examine the natural synergies between STEM and CTE and how they can be leveraged to enhance student learning and career readiness.
• Overcoming Challenges: Discuss the challenges of aligning STEM education with CTE pathways and explore solutions to overcome these barriers.
• Future Opportunities: Explore future opportunities for collaboration between STEM and CTE to better prepare students for the evolving workforce.

Target Audience:
Educators, administrators, policymakers, and industry professionals interested in the intersection of STEM and CTE, and those looking to innovate and strengthen their educational programs.

Panelists:
The panel will feature leading experts from both STEM and CTE fields, including:
[Tim Barrett, Trade & Industry Specialist, MDE] – CTE, curriculum design education and workforce development.
[Sarah Carter, STEM/Computer Science Integration Specialist]– STEM curriculum design and implementation.
[Aaron Sykes, Assistant Director, National Center for Autonomous Technologies] – Emerging technology, workforce development, with experience in STEM-CTE partnerships.
[Melissa Huppert, Ph.D., STEM Outreach Director, Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence] – STEM program design and STEM outreach.
[Vic Dreier, Sr. Director School Success, Project Lead the Way] – STEM and CTE program integration and outreach.

Moderator:
[Emily Saed, Director, MN STEM Ecosystem] – CTE and STEM collaboration facilitator, CTE-STEM network development and outreach.

Learning Outcomes for Participants:

• Enhance Student Career Readiness: Participants will learn how the integration of STEM and CTE can better prepare students for high-demand careers, ensuring they possess both technical skills and critical STEM competencies.
• Explore Opportunities for Collaboration: Educators and administrators will discover new opportunities for collaboration between STEM and CTE to create more robust and interconnected learning pathways.
• Incorporate Emerging Technologies and Trends: Attendees will gain insights into how emerging technologies and current STEM trends can be beneficial to CTE programs, keeping them relevant and forward-thinking.
• Design Cross-Disciplinary Projects: Educators will better understand how cross-disciplinary learning combining STEM and CTE can support problem-solving, creativity, and workforce readiness.
• Apply Insights to Curriculum Development: Attendees will be equipped with actionable ideas and resources to refine and develop their own curricula to meet the needs of today’s workforce.

These learning outcomes will help participants leave the session with practical knowledge and strategies they can apply to improve their programs and better prepare students for future careers.

Step into the shadows of the digital revolution and uncover the enigma that's silently reshaping the economic landscape. Is artificial intelligence the key to unlocking unprecedented prosperity, or merely smoke and mirrors in the world of ones and zeros?

In this thought-provoking talk, we'll peel back the curtain on AI's true impact:

• The Invisible Hand: From revolutionizing healthcare to optimizing agriculture and enhancing tech innovation, AI is the new technology on the block. But is it a helping hand or a hidden puppeteer?
• The Oracle's Prophecy: Decode the cryptic future of Minnesota's job market. Will AI be your ally or your replacement?
• The Alchemist's Secret: Learn the arcane art of thriving in an AI-enhanced world. Remember, it's not about outrunning the machine, but outsmarting it.

Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about the future of work. We’ll walk through what it means for workers with high and low exposure to AI in their jobs. AI might not take your job, but the person who masters its mysteries just might.

---

Northern Exposure: Measuring Artificial Intelligence in Minnesota's Economy                                    

                                

Join us as we conclude the 2024 Career and Technical Education Summit with a brief closing session that brings together the insights, inspiration, and connections from the Summit. This session will feature a reflection on key takeaways, a celebration of outstanding presenters, and a look ahead at the opportunities to amplify listening and leadership in Career and Technical Education.