Faculty Development for Technician Education in Welding, Materials Joining, and Non-Destructive Testing

在工业中，对认证的焊接、材料连接和无损检测技术人员的需求是有口可查且不断增长的。查塔努加州立社区学院与地区工业和ATE国家焊接教育和培训中心（Weld-Ed）合作，通过提供教师发展，为地区社区学院教师和高中焊接教师提供招聘策略和必要的知识和技能，为学生在关键需求领域获得国家认可的技能认证做好准备，从而应对这一挑战。该项目的一个关键目标是通过专业发展研讨会和后续活动来提高这些焊接指导员的知识，这些活动涉及先进材料连接原则和焊接标准以及焊接检验认证。虽然正在向教员提供专业发展讲习班，但培训的好处是深远的。大约有15个机构（高中，二年制和四年制大学，以及职业中心）在学院服务的区域内提供焊接教学。这些机构的学生在其教师参加讲习班的情况下，受益于编写并提供给所有参与者的教学材料。接触焊接检测的学生可以选择攻读工程技术应用科学副学士学位（AAS），主修无损检测技术。通过与田纳西大学查塔努加分校（UTC）的衔接协议，获得工程技术AAS学位的个人可以继续在UTC接受工程技术管理学士学位的教育。对于个人来说，无论他们是选择获得焊接或焊接检验证书，还是寻求获得大学学位，职业前景都在增强。学院设有21个工程技术专业，培养焊接工程技术和无损检测等先进技术领域的技术人员。学院的无损检测课程已获得ABET工程技术认证委员会的认可，该委员会被公认为在保证质量和促进应用科学、计算、工程和工程技术教育创新方面的全球领导者。该学院是美国第一个也是唯一一个获得这一荣誉的机构。该项目利用学院的专业知识，调整焊接教育课程资源，提供教师发展，更新和扩展焊接、材料连接和无损教育，并增加国家认证的技术人员的数量。参与者还将获得目标课程和项目的招生策略和资源。

There is a well-documented and growing need in industry for certified welding, materials joining, and nondestructive testing technicians. Chattanooga State Community College in collaboration with regional industry and the ATE National Center for Welding Education and Training (Weld-Ed) are addressing this challenge by providing faculty development to equip regional community college faculty and high school welding instructors with recruitment strategies and the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare students for nationally recognized skills certifications in critical need areas. A key goal of this project is to advance the knowledge of these welding instructors through a professional development workshop and follow-up activities that address the principles of advanced materials joining and the standards for welding and welding inspection certification. While the professional development workshop is being offered to instructors, the benefits of the training are far-reaching. Approximately 15 institutions (high schools, 2- and 4-year colleges, and vocational centers) provide welding instruction within the region served by the college. Students in these institutions, whose instructors participate in the workshop, are benefitting from the instructional materials developed and provided to all participants. Students who are introduced to welding inspection may choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Nondestructive Testing Technology. Through an articulation agreement with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), individuals who earn an AAS degree in Engineering Technology may continue their education at UTC in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree in Engineering Technology Management. Career prospects are being enhanced for individuals regardless of whether they choose to earn welding or welding inspection certifications or seek to obtain college degrees.The College offers 21 engineering technology programs that prepare technicians in advanced technology fields, including Welding Engineering Technology and Nondestructive Testing. The Nondestructive Testing program at the college has been accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET that is recognized as the worldwide leader in assuring quality and stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology education. The college is the first and only institution within the United States to earn this distinction. This project is leveraging expertise at the college by adapting Weld-Ed curriculum resources to provide faculty development that is updating and expanding welding, materials joining, and nondestructive education in the region and increasing the number of nationally certified technicians available to industry. Participants are also being equipped with strategies and resources for student recruitment for the targeted courses and programs.