Virtual Laboratory for Training Machine-tool Building and Maintenance Technicians

该项目正在通过互联网开发和测试一个虚拟实验室，以加强对机床制造和维护技术的跨学科性质的理解，通过最大限度地提高课程的适应性来降低成本，以多媒体和多智能方法提高学习效率（Gardner，1993年），并在尽量减少环境危害的情况下提高实验室安全。一个由两年制学院、四年制大学、社区技术中心、专业协会以及多媒体软件和机床行业的合作伙伴组成的联盟正在共同致力于该项目。预期成果是三个模拟模块，每个模块都针对机床制造和维护技术的特定方面，这些模块将补充和补充美国两年制副学士学位课程中现有的机械技术课程。在通过互联网和光盘向全国两年制大学、高中和其他社区培训中心传播之前，正在进行全面和独立的评估。教育署现正进行事前及事后测试，以评估建议的多媒体单元对学生的态度及学习的影响。包括妇女和少数民族在内的各种两年制大学生作为对照组和测试组参加实地测试。目前正在举办一个全国讲习班，以帮助教员学习如何使用这些单元，并为他们自己开发“定制”单元。

This project is developing and testing a virtual laboratory via the Internet to enhance the comprehension of the interdisciplinary nature of machine tool building and maintenance technology, to reduce costs by maximizing the adaptiveness of the curriculum, to enhance learning efficiency in a multimedia and multi-intelligence approach (Gardner,1993), and to improve laboratory safety with minimized environmental hazards. A coalition of a two-year college, a four-year university, a community-based technology center, professional associations, and partners from the multimedia software and machine tool industry are working together on the project. The expected outcomes are three simulation modules, each targeting a particular aspect of machine tool building and maintenance technologies that will supplement and complement the existing machine technology curriculum in the nation's two-year associate degree programs. A comprehensive and independent evaluation is being conducted prior to national dissemination via both the Internet and CD-ROM to two-year colleges, high schools and other community based training centers throughout the nation. Pre- and post-tests are being used to evaluate the effect of the proposed multimedia modules on students' attitudes and learning. A diverse cohort of two-year college students, including women and minorities, are participating in the field tests as control and test groups. A national workshop is being developed to help faculty members learn how to use the modules and to develop "customized" modules for themselves.