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发展和实践。多样化的劳动力队伍必须准备好满足对机电一体化员工日益增长的就业需求。然而，机电一体化需要高度经验的劳动力发展计划，以提供易于转移到行业的专业和技术技能。这样的课程是缺乏的，因此现有的劳动力不能满足当前和未来的需求。该项目代表了密歇根理工大学、Gogebic社区学院、西海岸社区学院、八家工业合作伙伴和三家非营利组织之间的合作伙伴关系，旨在提供机电一体化方面可访问和全面的体验式学习机会，以促进多样化的劳动力，随时参与美国的劳动力市场。预计上半岛和北密歇根的工业区域经济将受益于该计划所促进的技术工人。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培养多样化的参与者。该项目的参与者将参与1)在线机电一体化教育门户网站的基础知识，2)将理论知识与实际实施联系起来的动手体验机电一体化实践活动，以及3)机电一体化工业路径轮转，为参与者提供工业环境下机电一体化的职业前景。将举办专业发展活动，为参加者的职业生涯做好准备，并扩大他们与行业合作者的网络。此外，该项目将通过专业指导和社区建设活动，在同辈之间建立一个社区，以促进归属感。该课程的制定将与行业合作者和区域组织协调进行，并在全国范围内传播其他教育方案。该项目与由NSF TIP和EDU董事会支持的ExLENT计划的目标非常一致，因为它旨在为来自不同专业和教育背景的个人提供体验式学习机会，以增加他们对新兴技术领域职业道路的兴趣和机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.