Innovation Valley Nanotechnology Education Planning Grant

该项目支持建立一个理工学院纳米技术劳动力教育区域中心的规划。项目团队包括K-12学校系统、两年制和四年制大学，以及田纳西创新谷纳米联盟的商业领袖。为了支持田纳西创新谷的发展，教育机构和当地产业正在开发高质量的项目，以培养熟练的、多才多艺的纳米技术技术人员。智力优势：项目团队正在使用协作计划过程，该过程正在影响中等和高等教育水平的科学、数学和技术教育。规划过程包括：确定可以对区域经济产生最大积极影响的纳米技术教育的适当领域；确定行业和学术技能标准；确定该地区课程和教学的最佳做法；加强各组织之间的伙伴关系；确定专业发展需要；确定招收学生的需要和障碍，并制定解决这些问题的策略；并为实施区域中心活动制定一个操作结构。更广泛的影响：该项目增加了地区教育机构、商业和工业以及科学研究组织之间的合作，并支持从中学到大学课程的学生进入工作场所。该项目还在制定战略，扩大代表性不足和服务不足群体的机会和参与。田纳西州的大力支持有助于确保在该州产生广泛影响。

This project supports planning for an ATE Regional Center for nanotechnology workforce education. The project team includes K-12 school systems, two-year and four-year colleges, and business leaders of the Tennessee Innovation Valley Nano Alliance. In order to support the growth of Tennessee's Innovation Valley, educational institutions and local industries are developing high-quality programs to educate skilled, versatile nanotechnology technicians.Intellectual merit: The project team is using a collaborative planning process that is influencing science, math, and technology education at the secondary and postsecondary levels. The planning process includes: identifiying appropriate fields of nanotechnology education that can have the greatest positive impact on the regional economy; identifying industry and academic skill standards; identifying best practices in curriculum and instructional delivery in the region; strengthening partnerships among the various organizations; identifying professional development needs; identifying needs and barriers to recruitment of students and developing strategies to address them; and developing an operational structure for implementation of regional center activities. Broader impacts: This project is increasing collaboration among regional educational institutions, business and industry, and scientific research organizations, and supporting students from middle school through college programs and into the workplace. The project is also developing strategies for extending access and broadening participation of underrepresented and underserved groups. There is strong support from the state of Tennessee that helps ensure wide impact within the state.