Beginnings Track: Experiential Learning for the Mechatronics Workforce in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan

机电一体化是一个新兴的领域，专注于工业应用自动化的开发和实践。多元化的劳动力必须做好准备，以满足对机电公司员工日益增长的工作需求。然而，Mechatronics需要高度体验性的劳动力发展计划来提供专业和技术技能，这些技能很容易转移到行业中。缺乏这样的计划，因此现有的劳动力不能满足当前和未来的需求。该项目是密歇根理工大学、Gogebic社区学院、西岸社区学院、八个工业合作伙伴和三个非营利性组织之间的合作伙伴关系，旨在提供无障碍和全面的机电一体化体验式学习机会，促进多样化的劳动力随时加入美国劳动力大军。预计上半岛和密歇根州北部的工业区域经济将受益于该计划为其提供便利的熟练工人。该项目将为机电一体化的五大支柱：机器人、机械、电子、网络安全和人工智能准备一批不同的参与者。该项目的参与者将参与1)包含基础知识的在线机电一体化教育门户网站，2)将理论知识与实际实施联系起来的动手体验式机电一体化实践活动，以及3)机电一体化行业路径轮换，为参与者提供工业环境下机电一体化的职业前景。将开展专业发展活动，为参与者的职业生涯做好准备，并扩大他们与行业合作伙伴的网络。此外，该项目将通过专业指导和社区建设活动在群体中培养社区，以促进归属感。该课程的开发将与行业合作伙伴和区域组织协调进行，并在全国范围内传播其他教育项目。该项目与由NSF TIP和EDU董事支持的ExLENT计划的目标非常一致，因为它寻求支持来自不同专业和教育背景的个人的体验式学习机会，以增加他们对新兴技术领域的兴趣和获得职业道路的机会。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。

Mechatronics is an emerging field that focuses on the development and practice of automation for industrial applications. A diverse workforce must be prepared to meet the growing job demand for Mechatronics employees. However, Mechatronics requires highly experiential workforce development programs to provide the professional and technical skills that are readily transferrable to the industry. Such programs are lacking, and therefore the existing workforce cannot meet the current and future demand. Representing a collaborative partnership among Michigan Technological University, Gogebic Community College, West Shore Community College, eight industrial partners, and three nonprofit organizations, this project aims to provide accessible and comprehensive experiential learning opportunities in Mechatronics to promote a diverse workforce for readily participating in the US workforce. The industrial regional economy of the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan are expected to benefit from the skilled workers facilitated by this program. This project will prepare a diverse cohort of participants for the five pillars of Mechatronics: robotics, mechanics, electronics, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Participants in this project will partake in 1) an online Mechatronics Education Portal with foundational knowledge, 2) hands-on experiential Mechatronics Practice activities that link theoretical knowledge with practical implementation, and 3) a Mechatronics Industry Pathways rotation to provide participants with career outlooks in Mechatronics in industrial settings. Professional development activities will be conducted to prepare participants for their career and expand their network with industry collaborators. Furthermore, this project will foster a community among cohorts through professional mentoring and community-building activities to promote a sense of belonging. The development of this curriculum will be undertaken in coordination with industry collaborators and regional organizations with dissemination for other educational programs nationwide. This project aligns well with the goals of the ExLENT Program, supported by the NSF TIP and EDU Directorates, as it seeks to support experiential learning opportunities for individuals from diverse professional and educational backgrounds to increase their interest in, and their access to, career pathways in emerging technology fields.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.