Enhancing the Instrumentation and Control Technician Program: Instrumentation Acquisition

仪器仪表和控制技术人员在国家先进制造业中非常重要。这些技术人员对生产线的部件进行故障排除和维修，以保持制造流程的顺利运行。目前，佛罗里达东北部的工业面临着熟练的仪器仪表和控制技术人员的短缺。预计在今后五年内，由于退休，大约三分之一的制造业劳动力将更替，这一问题将更加严重。先进制造业定期重新设计和简化生产线，包括增加自动化流程的使用。因此，仪器仪表和控制技术人员需要不断扩展他们的工作技能。为了满足这一需求，杰克逊维尔（佛罗里达）的佛罗里达州立学院将为其现有的工程技术理学学士学位开发一个新的仪器仪表和控制集中。项目小组将与行业伙伴密切合作，修改课程;获得用于实验室练习的行业标准设备;并为学生提供基于问题的实践学习经验。该项目将检查和有助于什么是已知的动手仪器培训，支持招聘代表性不足的学生到仪表和控制领域的有效策略，并帮助填补这些技术人员在东北佛罗里达的关键需求。该项目将开发和修改五门课程，以创建一个集中在仪表和控制现有的副学士学位课程。这些课程将包括动手模拟实验室活动，让学生参与他们在工作中遇到的过程类型。这些活动将使学生获得新技术，并增加实践，以掌握基本的工业仪表技能。认证评估和处理传感器和仪器的适当程序将是课程修改的核心组成部分。实验室任务将强调管理，操作，校准和故障排除设备所需的技能的发展。这些任务还将侧重于提高与实验，质量和安全程序相关的知识。该项目将使用包括嵌入式和堆叠式证书的发展课程来促进技术人员技能培训。学生的自我效能感，归属感，和先进制造业相关的职业意识将被测量。结果将用于记录课程和实验室活动对学生学习和劳动力准备的影响。将与地区高中开展外联活动，以提高对仪表和控制技术的认识和职业兴趣。该项目将强调来自代表性不足和服务不足人群的学生的参与，以鼓励劳动力的多样性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Instrumentation and controls technicians are important in the nation's advanced manufacturing industry. These technicians troubleshoot and repair components of production lines that keep manufacturing processes running smoothly. Currently, industries in Northeast Florida face a shortage of skilled instrumentation and controls technicians. This problem is exacerbated by the predicted turnover of approximately one third of the manufacturing workforce over the next five years because of retirements. Advanced manufacturing industries regularly redesign and streamline production lines, including increasing the use of automated processes. As a result, there is an ongoing expansion of the skills that instrumentation and control technicians need to do their jobs. To address this need, Florida State College at Jacksonville (Florida) will develop a new Instrumentation and Controls concentration for its existing Associate of Science degree in Engineering Technology. The project team will work closely with industry partners to: modify the curriculum; obtain industry-standard equipment for laboratory exercises; and provide problem-based, hands-on learning experiences for students. The project will examine and contribute to what is known about hands-on instrumentation training, support effective strategies for recruiting underrepresented students to the instrumentation and controls field, and help fill the critical need for these technicians in Northeast Florida.This project will develop and modify five courses to create a concentration in Instrumentation and Controls for the existing associate degree program. The courses will include hands-on simulation laboratory activities that engage students in the types of processes they will encounter on the job. The activities will give students access to new technologies, and increased practice to master essential industrial instrumentation skills. Authentication assessments and proper procedures for handling sensors and instrumentation will be central components of the curricular modifications. Laboratory tasks will emphasize the development of skills required to manage, operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot equipment. These tasks will also focus on enhancing knowledge associated with experimental, quality, and safety procedures. The project will foster technician skills training using a developmental curriculum that includes embedded and stacked credentials. Students' self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and career awareness related to advanced manufacturing will be measured. The result will be used to document the impact of the courses and lab activities on student learning and preparation for the workforce. Outreach activities will be conducted with area high schools to promote awareness of and career interest in instrumentation and controls technology. The project will emphasize involvement of students from underrepresented and underserved populations, to encourage diversity of the workforce.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.