Integrating Interdisciplinary Design Thinking: Developing High Demand Workforce Skills at the Intersection of Art and Industry

该项目旨在通过扩大熟练的技术劳动力，特别是在建筑领域和工程设计领域，为国家利益服务。为了实现这一目标，该项目将创建一个集成设计技术证书。该证书将分为几个两年制学位，包括建筑技术应用科学副学士学位和计算机辅助设计学位。将为综合设计实验室开发课程和教育资源，以支持该证书。这个实验室将为学生提供一个跨学科的、动手的学习环境，让他们学习和实践设计思维。设计思维活动也将整合到以劳动力为导向的课程中，如CAD、建筑、2D/3D设计和艺术。这些补充将帮助学生发展在工程、平面设计和美术方面高需求的设计相关技能。该项目旨在为多样化的学生群体提供服务，包括在职工人和高中生，包括那些传统上服务不足的群体。通过这种方式，该项目旨在帮助满足对多样化和创造性STEM国家劳动力的需求。该项目的目标是为高中生、大学生和在职工人提供学习设计思维的途径，作为他们STEM教育的一部分。该项目有三个目标。首先，该项目旨在创建一个以市场为导向、以能力为基础的设计思维课程。其次，它将提供一个专注于设计思维的跨学科和体验式学习环境，并使学生和社区都能获得这种环境。第三，该项目将建立西北阿肯色社区学院，作为区域协调、规划和劳动力培训的技术和后勤中心，并培养合格的学生，以满足当地工业的劳动力需求。该计划的学生将开发专业档案，以帮助他们找到工作和发展职业。课程的一部分将是为现有工作人员设计的，并且是为了便于携带和转移。衔接协议将扩大与工业自动化和设计等地区四年制大学的大专合作伙伴关系。专门的设备将支持动手制造和生产功能产品。该项目建立在以前nsf资助的工作基础上，该工作探索了在工程学士和研究生课程中设计技能的形成中包含设计思维和制造资源。该项目将扩展这一研究，在副学士学位课程中纳入跨学科元素，利用设计美学和劳动力准备制造技能。该项目还将通过专门的劳动力培训和面向普通受众的讲习班使社区受益。该项目由美国国家科学基金会的先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动我国经济的高科技领域培养技术人员。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。

This project aims to serve the national interest by expanding the skilled technical workforce, especially in construction fields and engineering design. To accomplish this goal, the project will create a Technical Certificate in Integrated Design. This certificate will stack into several two-year degrees, including Associate of Applied Science degrees in Construction Technology and in Computer-aided Design. Curricula and educational resources for an Integrated Design Lab will be developed to support the certificate. This lab will provide students with an interdisciplinary, hands-on learning environment in which they can learn and practice design thinking. Design thinking activities will also be integrated into workforce-directed programs such as CAD, construction, 2D/3D design, and arts. These additions will help students develop the design-related skills that are in high demand in engineering, graphic design, and fine arts. The project aims to serve a diverse student population that includes incumbent workers and high school students, including those from groups that are traditionally under-served. In this way, the project aims to help meet the need for a diverse and creative STEM national workforce.The goal of the project is to develop pathways for high school students, college students, and incumbent workers to learn design thinking as part of their STEM education. The project has three objectives. First, the project seeks to create a market-driven and competency-based curriculum in design thinking. Second, it will provide an interdisciplinary and experiential learning environment focused on design thinking and make the environment available to students and the community. Third, the project will establish Northwest Arkansas Community College as a technical and logistical hub for regional coordination, planning, and workforce training and produce certified students to fill workforce needs in local industry. Students in the program will develop Professional Portfolios to help them get jobs and develop careers. A portion of the curriculum will be designed for the incumbent workforce, as well as for portability and transferabilty. Articulation agreements will extend post-secondary partnerships with regional four-year programs in industrial automation and design. Specialized equipment will support hands-on fabrication and production of functional products. The project builds upon previous NSF-funded work that explored the inclusion of design thinking and fabrication resources in the formation of design skills in baccalaureate engineering and graduate programs. This project will extend that research with the inclusion of interdisciplinary elements utilizing design aesthetic and workforce-ready fabrication skills in associate degree programs. The project will additionally benefit the community through specialized workforce training and workshops for a general audience. This project is funded by NSF's Advanced Technological Education program, which focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our 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.