Microcredentialing for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Workforce

无人驾驶飞机系统，有时被称为无人机技术，正在成为一个主要的经济部门在国内和世界范围内。这一新兴行业需要一支高技能、多样化的劳动力队伍。为了满足这一需求，莫霍克谷社区学院将开发一种使用微证书的教育模式。这些微证书将记录与无人机系统行业相关的特定知识和技能的掌握，并“堆叠”以实现灵活的培训途径。这种策略有可能帮助学生培养最初的能力，同时激励他们坚持获得证书或学位。该项目将开发一学期微证书课程和两年制学位课程，并对这些材料进行调整，以支持技术领域的非学分教育。与当地无人机系统产业集群的密切合作将有助于确保课程满足行业需求。项目团队还将与行业合作伙伴共同开发动手实验和实地练习，并为学生提供实习机会。本项目编制的课程和材料将公开供其他机构改编或复制。该项目有潜力创造支持全国无人机系统劳动力教育的资源。该项目旨在为六种微证书编制课程；为两个新的副学士学位制定课程；完善现有的副学士学位，使其与微证书类别保持一致；并利用这些材料来支持无人机系统应用于应急服务、检查和农业的课程。课程将侧重于培养学生制造和维修无人机系统，以及分析任务中收集的数据。新的副学士学位将提供无人机系统制造和无人机系统电子。在新的课程结构中，微证书将在学位课程之间转换，学生累积四个微证书将足以获得相关的副学士学位。以项目为基础的学习将通过实践、与行业相关的学生顶点课程和其他项目进行整合。这些课程将被设计为当前工人获得微型证书或在无人机系统部门就业的途径。该项目将对代表性不足的人口进行广泛的外联和征聘，以增加这一技术领域的多样性。还将评估使用微证书解决特定劳动力技能和差距的有效性，以确定它是否能够迅速产生熟练和多样化的技术劳动力。该项目的成果将广泛传播，以协助其他学院在无人机系统部门以及其他高科技学术和劳动力部门复制和调整微型证书的使用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Unmanned aerial systems, sometimes referred to as drone technologies, are becoming a major economic sector nationally and worldwide. A highly-skilled, diverse workforce is needed to support this emerging sector. To meet this need, Mohawk Valley Community College will develop an educational model using microcredentials. These microcredentials will document mastery of specific knowledge and skills related to the unmanned aerial systems industry, and "stack" to enable flexible training pathways. This strategy has the potential to help students develop initial competencies, while motivating them to persist toward a certificate or degree. The project will develop curricula for one-semester microcredentials, two-year degrees, and adapt these materials to support noncredit education in technician fields. Close collaborations with the local unmanned aerial systems industry cluster will help ensure that the curriculum meets industry needs. The project team will also work with the industry partners to develop hands-on lab and field exercises, and to foster student internship opportunities. The curriculum and materials developed in this project will be openly available for adaptation or replication at other institutions. The project has the potential to create resources that support education of the unmanned aerial systems workforce across the nation.The project will aim to develop curriculum for six microcredentials; develop curriculum for two new associate degrees; refine the existing associate degree to align with categories of the microcredentials; and leverage these materials to support courses in unmanned aerial systems applications for emergency services, inspection, and agriculture. The curriculum will focus on preparing students to manufacture and repair unmanned aerial systems as well as analyze data collected on missions. The new associate degrees will be offered in Unmanned Aerial Systems Fabrication and in Unmanned Aerial Systems Electronics. In the new program structure, the microcredentials will be transferable between the degree tracks and accumulation of four microcredentials will be sufficient for students to earn the relevant associate degree. Project-based learning will be integrated through hands-on, industry-relevant student capstone and other projects. The courses will be designed to serve as pathways for current workers toward microcredentials or employment in the unmanned aerial systems sector. The project will conduct extensive outreach and recruitment of underrepresented populations to increase diversity in this technician field. The effectiveness of using microcredentials to address specific workforce skills and gaps will also be evaluated to determine if it can rapidly produce a skilled and diverse technical workforce. The results of the project will be broadly disseminated to assist other colleges in replicating and adapting the use of microcredentials for the unmanned aerial systems sector as well as other high-technology academic and workforce sectors.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.