Collaborative Research: Enhancing Hands-on Interactive Learning in Process Technology Programs with New Low-Cost Miniature Industrial Equipment

根据阿拉斯加和全球石油工业的预计增长，过程技术员教育的步伐将需要加快，以满足雇主对高素质过程技术技术人员的需求。该项目的长期目标是建立一个可持续的计划，通过引入新的实践机会，通过使用重量轻、成本极低的微型工业设备(LCMIE)来加强社区大学过程技术教育，这些设备占地面积小，可以放在标准桌面上，或者可以带回家用于家庭作业。LCMIE技术方法正在NSF IUSE持续赠款(DUE-1023121)中开发，并将应用和扩展到技术人员教育。重点是简化这项新技术的整合，并通过过程技术计划评估其在社区大学的影响，最终目标是为使用机械、物理和化学过程的行业培养更灵活和更有知识的技术人员。其目标是：(1)通过开发学生和教师材料，开发和试点将现有的、低成本的实际操作设备轻松整合到课堂中的方法；(2)开发适合工艺技术员培训计划的新型注射器LCMIE；(3)在基奈半岛学院(KPC)现有的两年制工艺技术员课程中，对LCMIE的实施情况进行建模和评估；以及(4)在区域和全国范围内传播活动。LCMIE的实施战略预计将影响到对石油和天然气生产、化工制造、石油精炼、公用事业和发电、水处理和食品加工行业至关重要的为期两年的AAS过程技术人员计划和学员。结果将通过阿拉斯加过程工业职业联盟，一个州过程技术计划的顾问委员会，以及在全国范围内通过北美过程技术协会讲师技能研讨会和美国工程教育学会年度会议来传播。

Based on projected growth of the petroleum industry in Alaska and worldwide, the pace of process technician education will need to increase to meet employer demand for highly-qualified process technology technicians. The project's long-term goal is to build a sustainable program to enhance community college process technology education by introducing new hands-on opportunities through use of light-weight extremely low-cost miniature industrial equipment (LCMIE) with a small footprint that fits on a standard desktop or which can be taken home for use in homework assignments. The LCMIE technological approach is being developed in an ongoing NSF IUSE grant (DUE-1023121) and will be applied and expanded for technician education. The focus is on easing incorporation of this new technology and assessing its impact in community colleges with Process Technology programs with an end goal of educating a more flexible and knowledgeable technician for industries that use mechanical, physical, and chemical processes. The objectives are to: (1) develop and pilot the means to easily incorporate existing, lower-cost, hands-on equipment into the classroom by developing student and instructor materials, (2) develop a new injector LCMIE suited for process technician training programs, (3) model and assess LCMIE implementation within an existing 2-year process technician program at Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), and (4) disseminate activities regionally and nationwide. LCMIE implementation strategies are expected to impact 2-year AAS Process Technology technician programs and trainees, vital to oil and gas production, chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, utility and power generation, water treatment and food processing industries. Results will be disseminated through the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium, an advisory board to state process technology programs, and nationally through workshops at the North American Process Technology Association Instructor Skills, and American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conferences.