Planning Grant for the National Center of Excellence for Welding Education

ATE/NSF项目的合作伙伴正在制定一项计划，建立一个为两年制大学和其他教育机构服务的焊接教育卓越中心。该项目正在寻找方法，以满足这个价值341亿美元的行业的需求，该行业缺乏训练有素的焊接技术人员。该中心正在制定计划，以研究、准备和传播各级课程，为教员提供认证水平和标准的培训，并传播从基础到高级焊接应用的课程和培训。在之前相关的NSF资助项目的基础上，该项目正准备采用、调整和设计课程，以满足国家工业的一般和高度复杂的焊接需求。该项目主要服务于两年制副学士学位授予机构，同时也为中学和大专学士学位机构开发明确的课程，以提供学生从高中到社区学院再到大学的无缝流动，即2+2+2模式。该项目计划传播课程，并为课程的使用提供培训支助。该中心的规划及其管理结构、课程开发、培训和传播功能包括2年制和4年制焊接教育经验丰富的学院，以及广泛的教育网络和美国焊接协会的工业附属机构。智力价值：焊接领域不断发展和改进的教学方法和技术进步需要集中努力，以确保高影响的教育实践被理解和利用。结合Lorain County社区学院、Moraine Valley社区学院、俄亥俄州立大学和美国焊接协会（其大学附属机构和行业和政府联系网络）的知识、专业知识和资源，合作伙伴处于有利地位，可以进行规划、开发和实施活动。在提供必要的课程和教师培训，为国家的制造商提供熟练工人、训练有素的技术人员和焊接工程师的同时，规划团队也将劳动力需求和先进技术的相关研究转移到教育环境中。合作伙伴的定位是将他们的领导能力、技能和知识带到协调一致的努力中，以解决和改善焊接教育。更广泛的影响：与所有其他制造技术一样，焊接领域也在不断发展，需要从教育到工业、从工业到教育的信息流。在洁净室中，从基本的气焊到热敏性材料的连接，整个过程都是动态的。焊接技术人员的全国短缺，以及焊接领域的旧形象，在美国工业界引起了极大的关注，导致许多人从国外寻找工人或转移他们的业务。通过改进课程和训练有素的教师，可以做很多事情来吸引新的、多样化的学生。这项计划拨款的重点是通过加强教育、行业领导和传播高质量教育材料的协调计划来开展焊接教育。

Partners in this ATE/NSF project are developing a plan for a Center of Excellence for Welding Education to serve two-year colleges and other educational institutions. The project is building ways to support the needs of a $34.1B industry that reports shortages of competently trained welding technicians. Plans are being developed on how the center can research, prepare, and disseminate all levels of curriculum, provide faculty training to certified levels and standards, and disseminate both curriculum and training from basic through advanced welding applications. Building upon previous related NSF funded projects, the project is preparing to adopt, adapt, and devise curriculum to meet both the general and highly sophisticated welding needs of the nation's industry. Primarily serving two-year associate degree granting institutions, the project is also developing articulated curriculum for the secondary and postsecondary bachelor degree institutions to provide seamless movement of students from high school to community college to university known as 2+2+2 models. The project plans to disseminate curriculum and provide training support for its use. Planning for the Center and its management structure, curriculum development, training, and dissemination functions includes two and four-year colleges experienced in welding education and the extensive network of education and industrial affiliates of the American Welding Society.Intellectual Merit: Evolving and improved instructional methodology and technological advances in the field of welding require a focused effort to assure that high impact educational practices are understood and utilized. Combining the knowledge, expertise, and resources of Lorain County Community College, Moraine Valley Community College, The Ohio State University, and the American Welding Society (its network of college affiliates and contacts in industry and government), the partners are well-positioned to conduct the planning, development, and implementation activities. While making available curriculum and faculty training necessary to provide skilled workers, highly trained technicians, and welding engineers for the nation's manufacturers, the planning team is also moving relevant research in workforce needs and advanced technology to the education setting. The partners are positioned to bring their leadership, skills and knowledge to a coordinated effort to address and improve welding education.Broader Impacts: The field of welding is evolving as with all other manufacturing technologies and requires the flow of information from education to industry and from industry to education. From basic gas welding to the joining of heat sensitive materials in a clean room, the field is dynamic. The national shortage of welding technicians, and the old image of the field of welding, creates great concern within American industry, causing many to seek workers from outside the country or to move their operations. A great deal can be done to attract new and diverse students with improved curriculum and better-trained faculty. This planning grant focuses on welding education through a coordinated program of educational enhancements, industry leadership and the dissemination of high quality educational materials.