Advancing Technology, Access, Diversity, and Inclusion Through Curriculum Redesign of the Power Plant Technology Program

通过电厂技术项目的课程重新设计来推进技术、可及性、多样性和包容性

• 批准号: 1955896
• 负责人: Robert Pope
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: Oklahoma State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-07-01 至 2023-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1955896&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Advancing; Technology; Access; Diversity; Inclusion

In Oklahoma, the energy sector employs a large number of people and the number of jobs in this sector is expected to grow at least 15% by 2025. This project intends to help fill the specific energy sector demand for skilled technicians in Power Plant Technology. To do so, it will develop, implement, and field test new curriculum modules for the University’s existing Power Plant Technology program. This new curriculum will take advantage of a donated power plant simulator that is designed to teach operators about plant processes, monitoring, limitations, stabilization, and recovery after equipment malfunctions. The new curriculum will include integration of learning modules into existing courses and creation of new courses for a hybrid format that includes in-person and online components. These hybrid courses will provide the basis for future, entirely online curriculum. This updated curriculum will also be used as professional development for industry partners and to develop stackable certificates. In addition to making curriculum improvements, the project also intends to help improve diversity and inclusion within the energy sector and the Power Plant Technology program. To this end, the project will develop a strategic plan to teach future energy sector employees the core values that lead to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In addition, it will help industry and educators recognize their own responsibilities in supporting a diverse, inclusive workplace. It is expected that the diversity and inclusion strategic plan will provide a model for increasing student diversity and inclusion within the University, as well as for adaptation by regional workforce stakeholders.The overarching goal of this project is to collaborate with industry and other stakeholders to educate an inclusive and diversified Power Plant Technology workforce. This goal will be achieved by: 1) developing a new curriculum and re-designing course offerings; and 2) developing a strategic plan to create a more inclusive and diversified workforce. An external evaluator will interview faculty, industry stakeholders, and students to determine whether the new curriculum effectively addresses industry needs. Evaluation methods will focus on determining the effectiveness of course materials and instructional methods for different student populations. Formative evaluation will ensure that progress is being made on the curriculum development, course redesign, and strategic plan development. Summative evaluation will analyze and document how well the project succeeded in meetings its goals and objectives and how unanticipated challenges were handled. Project dissemination plans include presentations at STEM-related showcases, advisory board meetings, HI-TEC Conference, and at the ATE PI Conference and ATE Central. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) 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.

在俄克拉荷马州，能源部门雇用了大量人员，预计到2025年，该部门的就业人数将至少增长15%。 该项目旨在帮助满足特定能源部门对发电厂技术熟练技术人员的需求。 要做到这一点，它将开发，实施和现场测试新的课程模块为大学现有的电厂技术计划。这一新课程将利用捐赠的发电厂模拟器，该模拟器旨在向操作员传授设备故障后的工厂流程、监控、限制、稳定和恢复。 新课程将包括将学习模块纳入现有课程，并为包括面对面和在线组件的混合格式创建新课程。 这些混合课程将为未来的完全在线课程奠定基础。更新后的课程也将用于行业合作伙伴的专业发展，并开发可堆叠的证书。除了改进课程外，该项目还旨在帮助提高能源部门和发电厂技术计划的多样性和包容性。为此，该项目将制定一项战略计划，向未来的能源部门员工传授核心价值观，从而形成多元化和包容性的员工队伍。 此外，它还将帮助行业和教育工作者认识到自己在支持多元化，包容性工作场所方面的责任。 预计多样性和包容性战略计划将为大学内增加学生多样性和包容性以及区域劳动力利益相关者的适应提供一个模型。该项目的总体目标是与行业和其他利益相关者合作，教育包容性和多元化的电厂技术劳动力。 这一目标将通过以下方式实现：1）制定新的课程和重新设计课程; 2）制定战略计划，以创建更具包容性和多样化的劳动力。外部评估人员将采访教师，行业利益相关者和学生，以确定新课程是否有效地满足行业需求。评估方法将侧重于确定课程材料和教学方法对不同学生群体的有效性。形成性评价将确保在课程编制、课程重新设计和战略计划制定方面取得进展。总结性评估将分析和记录项目如何成功地满足其目标和目的，以及如何处理意外的挑战。项目传播计划包括在STEM相关展示、咨询委员会会议、HI-TEC会议以及ATE PI会议和ATE Central上的演示。该项目由先进技术教育（ATE）计划资助，该计划专注于推动国家经济的先进技术领域的技术人员的教育。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而被认为值得支持。