Dimensional Metrology Certification Project

通过这个项目，美国印第安学生通过应用先进的计量技术，使用数据采集设备来提高制造质量，从而获得知识和经验。学生们正在学习设备操作和维护技能，以及如何分析和解决复杂的计量问题。学生直接将技术应用于有意义的相关项目，从而提高能力，舒适度和自信心，成功地作为高科技制造学科的技术人员工作。NTU正在通过研讨会和演示向大多数美国印第安学生的中学教师和学生介绍计量技术，以培养STEM管道。调查人员正在传达技术如何用于工程、制造、建筑和地理信息系统领域，并为高中生提供学习机会。通过与高科技组织建立联系，并在尖端STEM技术领域教育纳瓦霍学生，该项目旨在传播STEM领域的新教育和就业潜力，纳瓦霍技术大学（NTU）的研究人员说，这对生活在保留地上的纳瓦霍人来说，以前被认为是无法实现的。尺寸计量认证项目将正式培训纳入各种STEM课程，以提供行业标准认证，先进的测量技术，特别是激光扫描仪，激光跟踪仪和便携式坐标测量机。NTU正在与行业合作开发教育材料和标准，主要在尺寸计量数据采集和相关技术硬件和软件操作领域进行认证和培训。NTU学生通过文化相关的计量技术教育材料，基于问题的学习方法，实习和同行指导来学习这些技术。该项目的评估工作将采取混合方法（定量和定性分析），以评估和发展的教师和学生的学习发生什么变化的理解，作为项目活动的结果和与这些变化相关的背景情况。在这样做的过程中，调查小组将增加这类项目如何有助于改善部落学院技术人员教育的知识库，从而为其他类似机构提供一个模式。

Through this project American Indian students are gaining knowledge and experience by applying cutting-edge metrology techniques using data capturing equipment to improve manufacturing quality. Students are learning equipment operation and maintenance skills and how to analyze and solve complex metrology problems. Students are directly applying the technology in meaningful and relevant projects, thereby growing in competence, comfort, and self-confidence to work successfully as technicians in the high tech manufacturing disciplines. NTU is introducing metrology technology to teachers and students at secondary schools with majority American Indian student populations through workshops and demonstrations to cultivate the STEM pipeline. Investigators are conveying how technologies are used in engineering, manufacturing, architecture and geographic information systems fields and providing learning opportunities for high school students. By developing ties with high tech organizations and educating Navajo students in cutting-edge STEM technology fields, this project is aiming to communicate new education and employment potentials in STEM, which for Navajos living on the reservation was previously considered unattainable.Navajo Technical University's (NTU) Dimensional Metrology Certification Project is incorporating formal training within various STEM curricula to provide industry standard certifications in advanced metrology technologies, specifically Laser Scanner, Laser Tracker, and Portable Coordinate Measuring Machine. NTU is partnering with industry to develop educational materials and standards leading to certifications and training primarily in the area of Dimensional Metrology data capture and related technical hardware and software operations. NTU students are learning these technologies through culturally relevant metrology technology education materials, problem-based learning methodologies, internships and peer mentoring. The project's evaluation effort will take a mixed-method approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis) to assess and to develop an understanding of what changes in faculty and student learning take place as a result of project activities and the contextual circumstances associated with these changes. In so doing the investigating team will add to the knowledge base of how projects of this type contribute to the improvement of technician education in tribal colleges, thereby offering a model for other similar institutions.