Online Competency-Based Education of Technicians in Computer-aided Design and Cyber Security

在农村地区提供高质量的大学教育和职业机会仍然是一个全国性的挑战。为了帮助应对这一挑战，德克萨斯州立技术学院将开发和实施基于在线能力的计算机辅助设计和网络安全课程。该项目将专注于为生活在农村地区的非传统学生和个人提供服务，这些人获得技术教育课程的机会较少。项目活动将包括更新和扩展现有课程，以回应当前的行业需求；为教师提供专业发展；为学生提供持续的指导和支持服务；为教授课程的教师编写手册；开发可用于其他职业和技术领域以及其他机构的在线能力为基础的教育模式；以及为毕业生提供就业机会。该项目还将通过双重注册接触到高中生，因此，有可能增加德克萨斯州各地寻求计算机辅助设计和网络安全专业学术和职业机会的学生数量。除了创建和实施新课程外，该项目还旨在加强学生、教师、学院和行业之间的联系。这种联系有可能增强学生的教育体验，扩大教师了解行业需求和机会的能力，并增加高素质技术人员进入高需求领域的机会。项目评估活动将评估课程开发过程、新的行业咨询委员会的成功、学生的留校率和学习表现，以及毕业率和进入行业的就业率。项目成果将在学术和专业会议上公布，并提交出版。该项目由NSF高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Providing high-quality college education and professional opportunities in rural areas continue to be a national challenge. To help address this challenge, Texas State Technical College will develop and implement on-line competency-based programs in Computer Aided Design and in Cyber Security. The project will focus on serving non-traditional students and individuals living in rural areas, populations that have less access to technical education programs. Project activities will include updating and expanding existing curricula to respond to current industry demands; providing professional development for faculty; providing on-going mentoring and support services for students; developing handbooks for faculty who are teaching the courses; developing a model for on-line competency-based education that can be used in other career and technical fields and by other institutions; and supporting job placement opportunities for graduates. This project will also reach high school students through dual enrollment and, thus, has the potential to increase the number of students seeking academic and career opportunities in Computer Aided Design and Cyber Security across Texas. Beyond creating and implementing the new curricula, the project is designed to increase connections between students, faculty, the college, and industry. Such connections have the potential to enhance students' educational experiences, expand the capacity of faculty to understand industry needs and opportunities, and increase the placement of highly qualified technicians into high demand fields. Program evaluation activities will assess the curriculum development processes, the success of new industry advisory boards, the retention and academic performance of the students, and rates of graduation and placement into industry jobs. Project results will be presented at academic and professional conferences and submitted for publication. This project is funded by the NSF Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.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.