The Associate of Applied Science in Dynamic Reality Technologies Program: Training Technicians to Use Extended Reality to Develop Workforce Training Simulations

这个项目解决了日益增长的需要，教育技术人员的新兴领域的模拟环境。动态现实工具的进步使模拟环境成为各行各业高效、经济的企业培训的宝贵工具。这些模拟学习环境为员工和公众创造了安全的学习体验，并提供了吸引和教育在职员工的新方法。模拟学习环境的激增已经产生了对技术人员的需求，这些技术人员在使用包括虚拟现实、增强现实和混合现实的延展实境工具方面受到培训，以开发模拟和基于行业的学习者体验。该项目将通过开发和实施动态现实技术计划中的应用科学副学士来满足这一需求。产业，教师，和一个美国-总部设在纽约的国际协会（纸浆和造纸工业技术协会）将合作开发课程。社区学院的专业发展讲习班将为教师在新课程中教学做好准备。动态现实技术课程的学生将通过参加行业实习来扩展他们的学习和发展工作经验。该项目的成果将有助于形成虚拟现实和增强现实教育的国家标准。该项目有可能为未来高级技术人员队伍的发展做出贡献，并改善工业培训。该项目的目的是开发一个响应行业需求的技术人员教育计划，该计划具有一致、全面的课程、原型培训模拟和基于行业的学生体验，以支持知识渊博、经验丰富的教师指导的教学。该项目计划让企业伙伴参与提供有关课程的投入，以及为学生提供实习和研究经验。该项目将开发、试点、实施和评估课程，并创建一个开放的教育资源系统，以传播课程和相关资源。具有虚拟、增强和混合现实培训能力的动态现实技术培训中心将为学生提供额外的教育机会。将组织专题讨论会，以促进社区学院教师采用该课程。在沿海亚拉巴马社区学院和行业之间的合作过程中获得的知识将为虚拟现实和增强现实课程的课程标准的制定提供信息。技术人员教育计划最初将集中在纸浆和造纸以及电梯行业，并在项目过程中扩展到其他行业。该奖项反映了NSF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。

This project addresses a growing need to educate technicians for the emerging field of simulated environments. Advances in dynamic reality tools have enabled simulated environments to become a valuable tool for efficient, cost-effective corporate training across all sectors of industry. These simulated learning environments create learning experiences that are safe for employees and the public, and that offer new ways to engage and educate incumbent employees. The proliferation of simulated learning environments has created a demand for technicians who are trained in using extended reality tools, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, to develop simulations and industry-based learner experiences. This project will address this need by developing and implementing an Associate of Applied Science in Dynamic Reality Technologies program. Industry, faculty, and a U.S.-based international association (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) will collaborate to develop the curriculum. Community college professional development workshops will prepare faculty to teach in the new curriculum. Students in the Dynamic Reality Technologies program will extend their learning and develop workplace experience by participating in industry internships. Results from the project will contribute to the formation of national standards for virtual reality and augmented reality education. This project has the potential to contribute to the development of the future advanced technician workforce, as well as improve industrial training.The aim of this project is to develop an industry-responsive technician education program with an aligned, comprehensive curriculum, prototype training simulations, and industry-based student experiences to support instruction directed by knowledgeable and experienced faculty. The project plans to engage corporate partners in providing input about the curriculum, as well as internship and research experiences for the students. The project will develop, pilot, implement, and evaluate the curriculum, and create an open educational resource system to disseminate curriculum and related resources. A Dynamic Reality Technologies Training Center with virtual-, augmented-, and mixed-reality training capabilities will provide students with additional educational opportunities. Symposia will be organized to promote adoption of the curriculum among community college faculty. The knowledge gained during this collaboration between Coastal Alabama Community College and industry will inform the development of curriculum standards for virtual reality and augmented reality curricula. The technician education program will initially focus on the pulp and paper and the elevator industries, and expand to other industries over the course of the project.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.