PathTech LISTEN: Mixed Methods Longitudinal Investigations of Students in Technician EducatioN

培养更多的高技术领域的中级技能人才对国家的繁荣至关重要。 为了促进先进技术教育取得更大的成功，本项目旨在研究社区大学出勤率与后来的教育和职业成果之间的关系。 来自南佛罗里达大学和希尔斯伯勒社区学院的佛罗里达技术教育中心的研究小组建议扩展他们目前对学校-工作-生活平衡的研究。 为了实现这一目标，他们将进行一项纵向研究，研究从参加社区大学课程到获得副学士和学士学位，再到实现职业目标，如更好的薪酬和工作晋升的过渡。 该项目将提高对追求先进技术证书和职业的学生在学校-工作-生活平衡方面所涉及的问题和挑战的理解。定性和定量混合方法的纵向研究将研究学生的生活经历和途径，从进入到完成学术课程进入劳动力市场。 这项研究将解决有关大学预科和大学技术人员和职业途径的信息短缺，以及获得证书和课程后成果的问题（例如，职业和就业）。 拟议的工作建立在PathTech Life研究的前两个阶段，重点是工程技术，先进制造和生物技术。 该项目团队将进行一项全国范围的纵向访谈研究，并结合全国调查的开发和管理，以回答四组研究问题，这些问题研究了学校，工作和其他生活责任之间的联系：1。来自不同生活阶段的不同背景的学生如何体验他们的先进技术课程？ 2. 学生的短期教育目标是什么（即，完成具体的课程，获得证书或学位），他们完成了吗？ 3. 先进技术教育项目的哪些方面可以帮助学生实现更广泛的教育和就业目标？ 4.大学采取什么计划和制度努力来增加招聘，保留和来自不同背景的学生的联系？ 这项研究的结果可以为先进技术教育的改进提供信息，以支持更多的保留，毕业和成功进入技术劳动力市场。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。

Producing more middle skills professionals in advanced technology fields is important for the nations' prosperity. To promote greater success in advanced technology education, this project aims to study the relationships between community college attendance and later educational and occupational outcomes. The research team from the University of South Florida and the Florida Technological Education Center at Hillsborough Community College propose extending their current research on school-work-life balance. To accomplish this goal, they will conduct a longitudinal research study that examines the transition from taking community college courses, to attaining associates and baccalaureate degrees, to reaching career goals, such as better pay and job promotion. The project will increase understanding of issues and challenges involved in the school-work-life balance for students pursuing credentials and careers in advanced technology. A qualitative and quantitative mixed method longitudinal study will examine student life experiences and pathways, from entry to completion of academic programs to entrance into the workforce. The study will address the shortage of information about pre-college and college technician and occupational pathways, and attainment of credentials and post-program outcomes (e.g., careers and employment). The proposed work builds on the first two phases of the PathTech Life study and focuses on Engineering Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Biotechnology. The project team will conduct a longitudinal interview study with national scope coupled with the development and administration of a national survey to answer four sets of research questions that examine the connections among school, work, and other life responsibilities: 1. How do students from diverse backgrounds at different life stages experience their advanced technological program? 2. What are students' short-term education goals (i.e., complete specific coursework, earn certificate or degree) and do they accomplish them? 3. What aspects of an advanced technology education programs prepare student to meet their broader educational and employment goals? 4. What program and institutional efforts do colleges employ to increase recruitment, retention, and connections with students from diverse backgrounds? Results of this research can inform improvements to advanced technological education that support greater retention, graduation, and successful entry into the technical 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.