Adapting Nanoscience Curriculum to a Collaborative Delivery System

该项目建立在学院最近成立的纳米科学技术副学士学位课程的基础上。该计划是根据之前在宾夕法尼亚州立大学、达科他县技术学院和明尼苏达大学的NSF资助项目开发的。学生目前需要在明尼苏达大学的最后一个学期注册。 为了更好地满足威斯康星州西部学生和行业的需求，该项目汇集了三个机构，以开发当地的顶点学期。通过利用地理上的邻近性，并专注于每个机构做得最好的，CVTC，威斯康星州-欧克莱尔大学，和威斯康星州-斯托特大学已经开发了一个不寻常的，协作交付系统。学生在最后一个学期在所有三个校区上课。课程的设计得到了区域工业的大量投入。行业代表还可以获得当地的再培训和继续教育机会。此外，该计划通过消除不方便和昂贵的搬迁需要，更好地为代表性不足的群体的个人服务。该项目包括以下主要活动：o明尼苏达大学课程的适应，以更好地满足当前和预计的区域劳动力的需求o通过三个中学后机构的合作，在纳米科学技术副学士学位课程的顶峰学期的交付o高中外展活动，以确保对纳米技术职业的持续兴趣该项目的智力价值是多方面的。通过NSF支持的先前工作，这三个机构正在推进两年制纳米科学教育的最新课程开发。此外，该项目正在作出新的贡献，在面对多机构协作的后勤挑战。该项目的更广泛的影响是由于纳米技术在威斯康星州西部的新兴性质。这项计划只是三间专上院校合作的其中一环。其他努力包括制定新的衔接协议，计划购买设备以避免重复，以及创建双学分课程。此外，CVTC目前正在开发NanoRite创新中心，这是一个利用纳米技术和其他先进制造的新兴公司的孵化中心。预计威斯康星州西部将在这些行业的发展中发挥重要作用。 这三所专上院校如能携手合作，便能为这方面的增长提供最佳支援。

This project builds on the College's recently-established Nanoscience Technology Associate Degree program. The program was developed based on prior NSF-funded projects at Pennsylvania State University, Dakota County Technical College, and University of Minnesota. Students presently need to enroll in a final capstone semester at University of Minnesota. To serve the needs of students and industry in western Wisconsin better, this project brings together three institutions to develop a local capstone semester. By capitalizing on geographic proximity and focusing on what each institution does best, CVTC, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and University of Wisconsin - Stout have developed an unusual, collaborative delivery system. Students attend classes at all three campuses in their final semester. Curriculum is being designed with significant input from regional industry. Industry representatives also benefit by access to local re-training and continuing education opportunities. In addition, the plan better serves individuals of underrepresented groups, by eliminating the need for an inconvenient and expensive relocation. This project includes the following key activities:o Adaptation of University of Minnesota curriculum to better address needs of the current and projected regional workforceo Delivery of the capstone semester in the Nanoscience Technology Associate Degree program via collaboration of three post-secondary institutionso High school outreach activities to ensure continued interest in nanotechnology careersIntellectual merit of the project is multi-faceted. Well-informed by prior work supported through NSF, the three institutions are advancing recent curriculum development for two-year nanoscience education. In addition, the project is making a new contribution in confronting logistical challenges of multi-institution collaboration.The broader impacts of the project are due to the emerging nature of nanotechnology in western Wisconsin. This project represents just one facet of collaboration across the three post-secondary institutions. Other efforts include development of new articulation agreements, planned equipment purchases to avoid duplication, and creation of dual credit courses. In addition, CVTC is currently developing the NanoRite Center for Innovation, an incubation center for emerging companies utilizing nanotechnology and other advanced manufacturing. Western Wisconsin is expected to play a major role in the development of these industries. The three post-secondary institutions can best support this growth by working together.