The Virtual Industrial Process Simulator Laboratory Project

在当今世界，企业和工业越来越多地使用计算机应用程序和模拟来分析工业过程和组件，以提高过程效率和安全性并降低运营成本。佐治亚州奥古斯塔技术学院的这个虚拟工业过程模拟器实验室项目旨在利用3D虚拟仿真加强工程技术专业学生的教育和指导，使该项目的毕业生能够在受聘后立即履行技术职能并承担更大的责任。利用这一新兴技术在虚拟教学环境中对工业过程进行建模是技术教育的独特之处。因此，学生将拥有技术知识和技能，成为工业和制造业的高素质和更好的工程技术人员，因为基于计算机的虚拟仿真技术帮助学生学习如何快速适应工业过程和设备的变化，以满足工业的需要。在奥古斯塔技术学院的工程技术课程中加入虚拟模拟教学将吸引新学生进入技术课程，并将用于当地与高中科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)课程的推广工作，以增加招生人数。该学院长期以来一直致力于提高工程技术项目的多样性，并将在该项目中继续并扩大这种影响。目前正在开展一项全面评价，以研究和评价该项目及其交付成果的成功情况以及分享最佳做法的情况。该项目的四个目标是：(1)通过三维虚拟仿真教学方法，增加和深化工程技术专业学生的技术知识和技能水平；(2)开发有效利用三维仿真的课程；(3)为工程技术教师提供专业发展，使他们能够将虚拟仿真纳入他们的课程；(4)增加更多为技术职责做好准备并在行业中担任工程技术人员的毕业生。该项目将被纳入该学院的机械工程技术和电气和计算机工程技术课程，这些课程得到了ABET工程技术认证委员会的认可。通过与行业合作伙伴的合作，工程技术项目已经获得了仿真软件、3D建模和技术计算机支持，这使得该机构能够实施虚拟仿真试点实验室(VSPL)。尽管许多供应商已经开发了工业设备的3D虚拟仿真设备模型，但没有一家供应商将这些模型同步到单个计算机辅助设计(CAD)程序中，该程序的格式可以复制工业流程及其组件；因此，毕业生必须熟悉一系列CAD技术，以使他们能够快速运行并根据需要进行调整。该项目还将提供全面的教师专业发展，为教师使用其他副学士课程中找不到的教学方法做好准备。与当地行业和软件供应商的合作将带来长期的技术支持、教师培训，并提供软件方面的最新技术进步，以促进将3D建模和模拟引入课堂的手段。该学院是佐治亚州仅有的四所参与NSF科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)股权管道项目的学院之一，该项目旨在增加STEM劳动力的多样性，该学院还得到了教育部以黑人为主的机构(PBI)计划的支持，以改善非裔美国男性学生的教育结果。该项目建立在这些举措的基础上，旨在为不同的毕业生群体提供更多获得技术职位的高级STEM机会。

In the world of today, business and industry are increasingly using computer applications and simulations to analyze industrial processes and components that improve process efficiency and safety and reduce operating cost. This Virtual Industrial Process Simulator Lab project at Augusta Technical College in Georgia is designed to enhance the education and instruction of engineering technology students utilizing 3D Virtual Simulation so that graduates of the programs can perform technical functions and assume greater responsibilities immediately upon hire. Utilizing this emerging technology to model industrial processes in a virtual instructional environment is unique to technical education. Students will thus have the technical knowledge and skills to be highly qualified and better prepared engineering technicians for industry and manufacturing as the computer based virtual simulation technology helps students to learn to adapt quickly to industrial process and equipment changes that meet the needs of industry. The inclusion of virtual simulation instruction in the engineering technology programs at Augusta Technical College will attract new students into technical programs and will be utilized in local outreach efforts with high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs to increase enrollment. The college has a long history of increasing diversity in engineering technology programs and will continue and expand that impact in this project. A comprehensive evaluation is being developed to research and evaluate the success of the project and its deliverables, as well as the sharing of best practices. Project results will be disseminated widely so that other engineering technology programs around the country can build on these efforts to graduate technicians with the skills required in the jobs of today and tomorrow.The four objectives of the project are: (1) increasing and deepening the technical knowledge and skill level of engineering technology students through 3D Virtual Simulation instructional methods; (2) developing curriculum to utilize 3D simulations effectively; (3) providing professional development for engineering technology faculty so that they can incorporate Virtual Simulation into their courses; and (4) increasing the number of graduates who are better prepared for technical responsibilities and functioning as engineering technicians in industry. The project will be incorporated into the Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology programs at the college that are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Through collaborative efforts with industry partners, the engineering technology programs have obtained simulation software, 3D modeling, and technical computer support which has allowed the institution to implement a Virtual Simulation Pilot Lab (VSPL). Although many suppliers have developed 3D virtual simulation equipment models of industrial equipment, no single supplier has synchronized these models into a single Computer Aided Design (CAD) program formatted to replicate industrial processes and their components; so graduates must be familiar with a range of CAD technologies to allow them to function quickly and adapt as needed. The project will also provide comprehensive faculty professional development to prepare faculty to use instructional methods not found in other associate degree curriculums. Collaborative efforts with local industries and software suppliers will result in long term technical support, faculty training, and the provision for the latest technical advancements in software to facilitate the means to bring 3D modeling and simulation to the classroom. The college is one of only four colleges in Georgia to be a part of the NSF Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Equity Pipeline Project to increase diversity in the STEM workforce and has also been supported through Predominately Black Institutions (PBI) Program at the Department of Education to improve the educational outcomes of African American male students. This project builds on those initiatives to increase advanced STEM opportunities for a diverse group of graduates for technical positions.