Creating Relevant, Effective, and Accessible Technical Education for Electrical Skilled Trades

俄亥俄州社区对240名受访者的需求评估显示，由于地区技能差距，俄亥俄州西北部21%的制造商有技术职位空缺。这一挑战突显了熟练的电气维护技术人员对俄亥俄州工业的重要性。该项目将与行业合作伙伴合作，调整可编程逻辑控制(PLC)证书的课程，以满足他们当前和未来的需求。这将促进和加快Terra州立社区学院学生的技能提升和就业。在该项目的三年时间里，110名学生将完成PLC证书，使他们对工业电力和这个高需求领域的就业有更深入的了解。商业和工业领导团队(BILT)将指导该项目定义、调整关键能力并将其嵌入证书中。与该项目相关的教师将从专业发展中受益，利用新的概念和技术来增强和实施基于能力的混合课堂模式。这一结构将利用移动设备访问在线学习模块、新的评估模式和基于能力的成果。这些概念中的每一个都将结合在一起，创造一个改善学生学习的环境。这一灵活的课程通过开放实验室访问提供在线学习，为努力平衡家庭和工作责任的学生提供了更多机会。在广泛的范围内，这个项目有可能通过为所有学生提供更多的机会来改善行业的多样性，包括服务不足的人群(例如，妇女、少数族裔和退伍军人)，因为他们在技术劳动力中追求高需求、家庭维持的职业。该项目的目标是更好地为学生进入STEM劳动力市场做好准备，拥有相关的课堂作业和行业经验。预计约有110名学生将在三年内完成这一证书。在暑期学习期间，将有四到六名教师接受能力本位教育(CBE)方面的培训。该项目将创建一系列关键技能评估，通过向学生提供必要的技术能力，确保入门课程取得成功。完成10门电气课程(和4门Gen Ed课程)的学生将有资格获得PLC证书，其中包括两个行业证书。工商领导团队将展示制造业中熟练的电气维护技术人员所必需的技能和知识。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。

An Ohio community needs assessment with 240 respondents showed 21% of manufacturers in Northwest Ohio have unfilled skilled positions, due to a regional skills gap. This challenge has highlighted the importance of skilled Electrical Maintenance Technicians to Ohio industries. This project will collaborate with industry partners, aligning the curriculum of a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) certificate to meet their current and future needs. This will facilitate and expedite both upskilling and employment for students at Terra State Community College. Over the three years of the project, 110 students will complete the PLC Certificate, providing them an advanced understanding of Industrial Electricity and employment in this high-demand field. A Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) will guide this project to define, align and embed key competencies into the certificate. Faculty associated with the project will benefit from professional development, capitalizing on new concepts and technologies to enhance and implement a competency-based hybrid classroom model. This structure will utilize mobile access to online learning modules, a new assessment model, and competency-based outcomes. Each of these concepts will combine, creating an environment where improved student learning occurs. This flexible curriculum provides greater opportunities for students struggling to balance family and work responsibilities by providing online learning with open lab access. On a broad scale, this project has the potential to improve the diversity of the industry by providing increased access for all students, including underserved populations (e.g., women, minorities, and veterans), as they pursue high-demand, family-sustaining occupations in the technical workforce.The goal of the project is to better prepare students to enter the STEM workforce with relevant classwork and industry experience. Approximately 110 students are expected to complete this certificate over three years. Between four to six faculty will be trained in Competency-Based Education (CBE) during summer learning experiences. The project will create a series of critical skills assessments to ensure success in the introductory courses, by providing students the requisite technical abilities. Students completing ten electrical courses (and four Gen Ed courses) will qualify for the PLC Certificate which includes two industry credentials. The Business and Industry Leadership Team will demonstrate the scope of skills and knowledge essential to skilled Electrical Maintenance Technicians in manufacturing. 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.