Enhancing the Independent Mechatronics Technical Curriculum and Creating a New Pathway from Rural High Schools into Mechatronics Careers

制造业在明尼苏达州和内布拉斯加州都是一个重要行业，对高技能机电一体化技术人员的需求很大。机电一体化是一个跨学科的领域，它集成了电气、机械、计算机和控制系统的原理，以设计、开发和维护自动化制造或工艺环境中的“智能设备”。明尼苏达州的南方中心学院和内布拉斯加州的中央社区学院都有机电一体化和过程仪表与控制课程。然而，对机电一体化技术人员的需求继续超过毕业生的供应，产生了扩大熟练技术人员渠道的迫切需求。在当前的新冠肺炎大流行之前，这些学院在为技师教育开发有效和高效的远程学习模式方面取得了进展。由此产生的限制和干扰放大了发展可通过远程学习支持的高质量技术人员教育的重要性。在这个项目中，两所学院将合作提高技术教育课程的可及性，并为高中生开发进入机电一体化技术职业生涯的新途径。该项目旨在通过加强和扩展高质量/低成本的远程教育模式，并与专门的农村高中合作，创建一条通往机电一体化课程的新途径，以增加机电一体化和过程仪器与控制技术人员的数量。该项目将以三个主要考虑为指导：劳动力技能差距阻碍了强劲的行业需求；对远程技术课程的需求；以及现有的方案能力可供建设。这两所大学将从现有的机电一体化项目中安排12个学分的课程进行远程授课，重点是招收和招收无法参加校园学习项目的学生。其具体目标是：1)开发一流的、低成本的、便携式的教学单位，称为独立远程体验自动化实验室(IREAL)，它将使实践学习成为可能，包括偏远地区的学生；2)建立一个工商领导团队，在课程设置、iREAL培训器设计和设备选择方面提供积极的领导；3)聘请来自食品加工、生物燃料、能源和制造的行业人员来指导学生；以及4)每年为12-18名农村中学教育工作者提供实质性的专业发展研讨会，使学校、商业导师和他们的合作学院之间建立伙伴关系。预期的项目成果包括：将为偏远地区的学生带来有意义的技术教育的新的远程学习教育模式；发展中学的机电一体化课程的双重招生能力；记录项目对高中和行业的影响；以及可在合作伙伴网站上以及通过相关的ATE中心和ATE中心免费获得的机电一体化教育资源。该项目由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。

Manufacturing is a significant industry in both Minnesota and Nebraska, creating a strong demand for highly skilled mechatronics technicians. Mechatronics is a cross-disciplinary field that integrates principles of electrical, mechanical, computer, and control systems to design, develop, and maintain “smart devices” in automated manufacturing or process environments. Both South Central College in Minnesota and Central Community College in Nebraska have Mechatronics and Process Instrumentation and Control programs. However, the demand for mechatronics technicians continues to exceed the supply of graduates, creating a pressing need to expand the pipeline of skilled technicians. Prior to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the colleges were making progress on developing effective and efficient distance learning models for technician education. The resulting restrictions and disruptions have amplified the importance of developing high-quality technician education that can be supported via distance learning. In this project, the two colleges will collaborate to enhance accessibility to technical education programs and develop new pathways into mechatronics technical careers for high school students.The project aims to increase the number of Mechatronics and Process Instrumentation and Control technicians by enhancing and expanding a high-quality/low-cost distance education model and creating a new pathway to Mechatronics programs in partnership with dedicated rural high schools. The project will be guided by three overarching considerations: strong industry demand hindered by a workforce skills gap; the need for distance technology coursework; and existing programmatic capacity upon which to build. The two colleges will align 12 credit hours of coursework from their existing Mechatronics programs for remote delivery, with a focus on recruitment and enrollment of students who cannot attend on-campus learning programs. The specific aims are to: 1) Develop state-of-the-art, low-cost, portable instructional units, known as Independent Remote Experiential Automation Labs (iREAL), which will enable hands-on learning, including for students in remote locations; 2) Establish a Business and Industry Leadership Team to provide active leadership related to the curriculum, iREAL trainer design, and equipment selection; 3) Engage industry personnel from food-processing, biofuels, energy, and manufacturing to mentor students; and 4) Provide substantive professional development workshops each year for 12-18 rural secondary educators that will lead to partnerships between the schools, a business mentor, and their partnering college. Expected project outcomes include: a new distance learning education model that will bring meaningful technical education to students at remote locations; development of dual enrollment capacity of secondary schools in mechatronics courses; documentation of project impact on high schools and industry; and mechatronics educational resources that are freely available on partner websites, and through relevant ATE Centers and ATE Central. This project is funded by the 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.