Strengthening and Sharing a Holistic Technician Education Program Implemented at a Small, Rural, Private College

该项目旨在加强两个副学士学位课程：制造技术和农业：农场经营与管理。这些学位课程包括在多特学院的专业技术（Pro-Tech）教育计划。该项目旨在开发、建立、发展和评估新的科学副学士学位课程，以满足区域劳动力需求。这些学位代表了一种全面的技术教育方法，在跨背景技能（如沟通和领导能力）和性格特征（如强烈的职业道德和成长心态）的基础上建立强大的技术能力。总体目标是使这些课程的毕业生具备完善的技术能力，以及对各种工作场所文化的理解，并认识到有效应用技术技能所需的更广泛的能力。该项目有五个目标：(1)改编经过验证的、有效的教育材料，以加强AA在制造技术和农场运营与管理方面的课程：来自四个ate资助的项目和中心的材料和实践将被改编，以改进五门课程，并支持六项行业验证认证；(2)提高实习项目的价值：利用科技资助的农村实习模式项目的材料、实践和经验教训，提高Pro-Tech实习水平；(3)培养高技能、知识渊博的教师队伍：教师？实习？将讲师的知识运用到教学中，从而改进课程内容和活动；(4)提高领导能力和能力：由经验丰富的ATE项目pi指导将帮助Pro-Tec团队管理成长中的项目并培养行业网络。(5)促进Pro-Tech模式的采用：一系列研讨会和网络研讨会将向其他小型、私人和/或农村机构介绍Pro-Tech倡议。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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 aims to strengthen two associate degree programs, Manufacturing Technology, and Agriculture: Farm Operations and Management. These degree programs are included in Dordt College's Professional-Technical (Pro-Tech) Education initiative. This project seeks to develop, establish, grow, and evaluate new associate of science degree programs that can meet regional workforce demands. These degrees represent a holistic approach to technician education that builds strong technical abilities on a foundation of cross-contextual skills (such as communication and leadership) and character traits (such as a strong work ethic and growth mindset). The overall goal is to equip graduates of these programs with refined technical abilities, as well as an understanding of the cultures of various workplaces and a recognition of the broader set of abilities needed to effectively apply technical skills.The project has five objectives: (1) Adapt proven, effective educational materials to enhance the AA curricula in Manufacturing Technology, and Farm Operations and Management: Materials and practices from four ATE-funded projects and centers will be adapted to improve five courses and support six industry-validated certifications; (2) Increase value of internship program: Materials, practices, and lessons learned from an ATE-funded project that created an internship model for rural areas will be applied to improve Pro-Tech internships; (3) Develop highly skilled and knowledgeable faculty: Instructor ?externships? will be used to instructor knowledge, resulting in improved course content and activities; (4) Increase leadership capacity and capability: Mentorship by experienced ATE program PIs will help the Pro-Tec team manage growing programs and cultivate industry networks. (5) Foster adoption of the Pro-Tech model: A set of workshops and webinars will introduce other small, private, and/or rural institutions to the Pro-Tech initiative.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.