Problem-Based Learning in Advanced Photonics Manufacturing Education

美国东北地区的许多制造业已经将光子技术添加到制造过程中。最近对该地区公司的一项研究表明，对更多光学和光子学技术人员的需求非常迫切。对这些技术人员的需求正在迅速增长，每年都超过了该技术领域的毕业生总数。激励、吸引和培养更多的学生成为先进光子制造技术人员是至关重要的。一个行之有效的招聘方法是为学生提供有意义的学习经历，让他们对技术人员在工作中遇到的各种技术问题和挑战感兴趣。基于问题的学习（PBL）是一种激励学生的有力方法，同时也能培养学生解决问题和批判性思维的能力，这是工作场所所需要的。斯普林菲尔德技术社区学院是目前新英格兰唯一一所提供光学和光子学技术课程的两年制大学。这些课程结合了基于项目和基于问题的活动，以及对最先进设备的广泛实践经验。在这个项目中，学院将与地区先进光子制造行业和组织合作，扩大其项目中可用的PBL活动库。此外，还将为东北地区的高中和社区大学教师提供关于在先进光子制造教育中使用PBL的讲习班。该项目将有助于满足国家劳动力对熟练的光子学技术人员的需求。该项目的总体目标是增加具备维持和发展美国东北地区先进光子学制造业所需知识和技能的光子学技术人员的数量。建议的努力将建立在研究者先前的工作基础上，以促进PBL方法在培养学生解决问题、批判性思维和团队合作技能方面的应用。该项目将：1)根据新英格兰和纽约的行业合作伙伴的意见，创建八个新的多媒体PBL模块，以解决现实问题；2)为高中和大学教育工作者提供有关光子技术和使用PBL教学法策略的专业发展；3)制定全面的招聘策略，以增加追求光子职业道路的高中和社区大学学生的数量；4)研究PBL方法在提高先进光子制造技术人才培养中的效果。项目中开发的材料将在项目网站上免费提供，结果将广泛传播。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。

Many manufacturing industries in the Northeast region of the United States have added photonics technologies into their manufacturing processes. A recent study of companies in the region revealed a critical need for more optics and photonics technicians. The demand for these technicians is growing rapidly and surpasses the total number of graduates each year in this technical field. It is essential to motivate, engage, and prepare more students for careers as technicians in advanced photonics manufacturing. A proven method for recruitment is to provide students with meaningful learning experiences that captivate their interest with the kinds of technical problems and challenges technicians encounter on the job. Problem-based learning (PBL) is a powerful method for motivating students, and simultaneously developing the problem solving and critical thinking skills required for the workplace. Springfield Technical Community College is currently the only two-year institution in New England that offers programs in optics and photonics technology. These programs combine project-based and problem-based activities with extensive hands-on experience on state-of-the-art equipment. In this project, the college will work with regional industries and organizations in advanced photonics manufacturing to expand the available library of PBL activities in its programs. Workshops on using PBL in advanced photonics manufacturing education will also be provided to high school and community college instructors across the Northeast. The project will contribute to meeting the demand for well-skilled photonics technicians in the nation's workforce.The overarching goal of this project is to increase the number of photonics technicians prepared with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain and grow the advanced photonics manufacturing industry in the Northeast region of the United States. The proposed effort will build on previous work by the investigators to promote use of the PBL approach in developing problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills among students. The project will: 1) create eight new multimedia PBL modules featuring real-world problems developed with input from industry partners across New England and New York; 2) provide professional development for high school and college-level educators on photonics technologies and strategies for using the PBL pedagogy; 3) develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy for increasing the number of high school and community college students who pursue career pathways in photonics; and 4) research the efficacy of the PBL approach on improving technician education in advanced photonics manufacturing. Materials developed in the project will be freely available on the project website, and results will be widely disseminated.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.