EAGER: Understanding the Impact of Making on Veterans in Pursuing STEM Degrees

该项目将使用Maker教学法来开发研讨会，以测试其提高退伍军人STEM学科学习途径有效性的潜力。这些研讨会将提供工程主题的培训和教育意识，包括计算机辅助设计（CAD），快速原型制作，3D打印，生物启发机器人的基础知识和增材制造技术。该项目将解决国家对劳动力的需求，以学习最新和新兴的技能。 研讨会将在弗吉尼亚州东南部汉普顿路地区的旧自治领大学举行，该大学为广大妇女、代表性不足的少数民族和进入工程和技术劳动力市场的退伍军人提供服务。该研究团队将开发和提供两个创客研讨会，为退伍军人服务，以培养他们的STEM知识和职业生涯，并培养他们的兴趣，介绍先进制造业机会所需的技能。 该项目将进行形成性和总结性评价，以支持制定一种教育模式，该模式可在全国各地的退伍军人或成年学生学习人群的不同机构中实施。评估将侧重于经验丰富的讲习班参与者的态度，行为和技能，使用通过调查和工具收集的数据观察，以及教学相关活动。 项目成果和资源将通过各种退伍军人组织和美国工程教育学会举行的会议以及通过有关的教育和专业杂志传播。

This project will use Maker pedagogy to develop workshops to test its potential for improving the effectiveness of learning pathways in STEM disciplines for military veterans. The workshops will provide training and educational awareness in engineering topics and will include computer-aided design (CAD), rapid prototyping, 3D printing, fundamentals of bio-inspired robotics, and additive manufacturing technologies. The project will address the nation's need for workforce to learn the most current and emerging skill sets. The workshops will be held at Old Dominion University in the Hampton Roads area of Southeastern Virginia, which serves a wide population of women, underrepresented minorities, and veterans entering into the engineering and technology workforce. The research team will develop and deliver two Maker Workshops serving military veterans to foster their STEM knowledge and careers and to develop their interest and introduce the skills needed for opportunities in advanced manufacturing. The project will carry out formative and summative evaluation that will support the development of an educational model that can be implemented in different institutions across the country with veteran or adult student learner populations. Evaluation will focus on veteran workshop participants' attitudes, behaviors, and skills, using observations from data collected through surveys and instruments, and teaching related activities. Project results and resources will be disseminated through conferences held by a wide range of Veterans' organizations and the American Society of Engineering Education, as well through relevant educational and professional journals.