Collaborative Research: Enhancing Hands-on Interactive Learning in Process Technology Programs with New Low-Cost Miniature Industrial Equipment

根据阿拉斯加和全球石油工业的预计增长，工艺技术人员的教育步伐将需要加快，以满足雇主对高素质工艺技术人员的需求。该项目的长期目标是建立一个可持续发展的项目，通过使用轻量极低成本的微型工业设备（LCMIE）引入新的实践机会，提高社区大学的工艺技术教育，该设备占地面积小，适合标准桌面或可以带回家用于家庭作业。LCMIE技术方法正在NSF IUSE拨款（DUE-1023121）中开发，并将应用和扩展到技术人员教育。重点是简化这项新技术的整合，并通过工艺技术项目评估其对社区大学的影响，最终目标是为使用机械、物理和化学工艺的行业培养更灵活、知识更渊博的技术人员。其目标是：(1)通过开发学生和教师材料，开发和试点将现有的低成本动手设备轻松纳入课堂的方法；(2)开发适合工艺技术人员培训计划的新型注射器LCMIE；(3)在基奈半岛学院（KPC）现有的2年工艺技术人员计划中模拟和评估LCMIE的实施；(4)在区域和全国范围内传播活动。LCMIE实施策略预计将影响2年的AAS过程技术技术人员计划和学员，这对石油和天然气生产、化学制造、石油炼制、公用事业和发电、水处理和食品加工行业至关重要。结果将通过阿拉斯加过程工业职业联盟（一个国家过程技术计划的咨询委员会）和北美过程技术协会讲师技能研讨会以及美国工程教育学会年度会议在全国范围内传播。

Based on projected growth of the petroleum industry in Alaska and worldwide, the pace of process technician education will need to increase to meet employer demand for highly-qualified process technology technicians. The project's long-term goal is to build a sustainable program to enhance community college process technology education by introducing new hands-on opportunities through use of light-weight extremely low-cost miniature industrial equipment (LCMIE) with a small footprint that fits on a standard desktop or which can be taken home for use in homework assignments. The LCMIE technological approach is being developed in an ongoing NSF IUSE grant (DUE-1023121) and will be applied and expanded for technician education. The focus is on easing incorporation of this new technology and assessing its impact in community colleges with Process Technology programs with an end goal of educating a more flexible and knowledgeable technician for industries that use mechanical, physical, and chemical processes. The objectives are to: (1) develop and pilot the means to easily incorporate existing, lower-cost, hands-on equipment into the classroom by developing student and instructor materials, (2) develop a new injector LCMIE suited for process technician training programs, (3) model and assess LCMIE implementation within an existing 2-year process technician program at Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), and (4) disseminate activities regionally and nationwide. LCMIE implementation strategies are expected to impact 2-year AAS Process Technology technician programs and trainees, vital to oil and gas production, chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, utility and power generation, water treatment and food processing industries. Results will be disseminated through the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium, an advisory board to state process technology programs, and nationally through workshops at the North American Process Technology Association Instructor Skills, and American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conferences.