Flexible Technical Education Pathways in a Building Automation Technology Program

该项目旨在通过开发建筑自动化技术项目来服务于国家利益，为密歇根中西部地区的高需求技术职业做好准备。将与工业和其他学术机构合作，设计课程并向技术教育学生提供与这些控制系统相关的智能暖通空调系统、能源储存、制造生产控制和网络安全方面的课程。课程课程将与行业认证保持一致，以使学生更好地为该地区雇主当前和未来的需求做好准备。其结果是，每年进入该项目区域劳动力的熟练建筑自动化技术人员的数量将会增加。最终，这一努力旨在填补定制培训计划的重大空白，以满足当今数据和自动化驱动的社会中行业的需求。该项目团队将与业界合作完成以下活动：1)为Industry 4.0暖通空调系统创建建筑自动化技术课程，包括智能系统和有效的数据存储；2)开发支持电动汽车的能源存储课程；3)为学生提供先进制造和暖通空调系统中的数据和生产控制方面的实践经验；4)创建与先进制造业和市政当局的控制相关的网络安全课程。课程课程将优先考虑动手实验活动和基于工作的学习体验，以此作为积极参与学生实际和有效技能发展的一种方式。将实施一种灵活的途径模式，包括多个进出坡道，产生证书、行业证书、学徒资格、学位和/或转移选项。将进行一次外部评价，以评估项目活动和成果，重点是促进培养熟练技术人员以支持先进制造业的知识体系。将实施一项有针对性的传播计划，通过向更广泛的技术教育界介绍，在全国范围内与其他密歇根州两年制学院分享项目成果。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，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。

This project aims to serve the national interest by developing a Building Automation Technology program to prepare students for high-demand technical careers in the west-central Michigan region. In collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, courses will be designed and offered to technical education students in SMART HVAC systems, energy storage, production controls in manufacturing, and cybersecurity related to these control systems. The course curriculum will be aligned with industry certifications to better prepare students for the current and future needs of employers in the region. The result will be an increase in the number of skilled building automation technicians that enter the regional workforce each year of the project. Ultimately, this effort aims to fill significant gaps in the availability of customized training programs that meet the needs of industry in today’s data and automation driven society. This project team will collaborate with industry to complete the following activities: 1) create Building Automation Technology courses for Industry 4.0 HVAC systems, including SMART systems and effective data storage, 2) develop energy storage curriculum to support electric vehicles, 3) provide students with practical experience in data and production controls in advanced manufacturing and HVAC systems, and 4) include the creation of cybersecurity curriculum related to controls for advanced manufacturing and municipalities. Course curriculum will prioritize hands-on lab activities and work-based learning experiences as a way to actively engage students in practical and effective skill development. A flexible pathway model with multiple on and off ramps that result in certificates, industry credentials, apprenticeships, degrees, and/or the option to transfer will be implemented. An external evaluation will be conducted to assess project activities and outcomes with a focus on contributing to the body of knowledge on preparing skilled technicians to support the advanced manufacturing industry. A targeted dissemination plan will be carried out that shares project results with other Michigan state two-year colleges and at the national level through presentations to the broader technical education community. This project is funded by the Advanced Technology 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.