Enhancing Uncrewed Aerial Systems Career Readiness in Biological Monitoring and Resource Management

无人驾驶飞机系统(UAS)行业在过去五年中的显著增长导致了对这一新兴领域熟练飞行员、技术人员和分析师的需求。哈珀学院这一项目的目标是为芝加哥大都市区和伊利诺伊州北部使用生物监测和资源管理劳动力领域的UAS技术的学生提供一个通往新兴就业机会的门户。将无人机技术整合到这些领域提供了一个新的机会，可以创建一支拥有无人机操作和遥感技能的科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)技术人员队伍。该项目将加强哈珀的能力，以满足更广泛的芝加哥大都市区和更远地区的UAS劳动力需求。该项目的成功将为在哈珀和周围使用UAS技术或遥感的高中和社区大学的STEM领域扩大UAS技术的注入打开大门。该项目的总体教育目标将通过集中于两个主要目标来实现，其中包括：(1)通过将无人机知识、技能和能力(KSA)纳入现有课程并通过与行业合作伙伴的体验式学习机会，增强无人机在生物监测和资源管理方面的职业准备，以及(2)通过暑期讲习班和促进跨学科合作和课程开发的实践社区模式，使教育工作者准备将无人机纳入STEM课程。该项目将作为其他有兴趣制定旨在解决高素质和熟练的无人机技术人员短缺问题的综合方案的学术机构的样板。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。

Significant growth in the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry in the last five years has led to the need for skilled pilots, technicians, and analysts in this emerging field. The goal of this project at Harper College is to provide a gateway to emerging employment opportunities for students in using UAS technologies in the biological monitoring and resource management workforce domains in the Chicago metropolitan area and northern Illinois. The integration of UAS technology into these fields presents a novel opportunity to create a pipeline of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) technicians with skills in drone operations and remote sensing. This project will strengthen Harper's capacity to serve the UAS workforce needs of the wider Chicago metropolitan area and beyond. The success of this project will open the door to expanding the infusion of UAS technology into STEM fields at Harper and surrounding high schools and community colleges that use UAS technology or remote sensing. The overall educational aim of the project will be met by focusing on two principal goals that include (1) Enhancing UAS career readiness in biological monitoring and resource management by incorporating UAS knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) into existing courses and through experiential learning opportunities with industry partners, and (2) Preparing educators to integrate UAS in STEM courses through summer workshops and a community of practice model that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and curriculum development. This project will serve as a model for other academic institutions interested in developing a comprehensive program aimed at addressing the shortage of well-qualified and skilled UAS technicians. 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.