Bridging the Instruction-Industry Divide: Multidisciplinary Approaches to 3D Technology Education and the Future of 3D Technology Certification

在过去的十年中，3D技术取得了快速的进步，包括3D打印、3D扫描和3D图形编程。因此，劳动力越来越需要具有3D技术技能的技术人员，这些技术人员的教育对于保持国家熟练的技术劳动力越来越重要。然而，与3D技术相关的课堂教学与行业目前所需的技能之间往往存在差距。为了帮助缩小这一差距，德克萨斯州的山景学院将与业界密切合作，开发一门课程，在当前的3D技术领域提供相关指导。项目合作伙伴将设计与该领域专家重视的知识和技能相一致的课程。为此，有关3D技术的教学将被整合到该机构跨技术人员学科的课程中。山景学院是一所为拉美裔服务的机构，在促进贫困学生群体的教育方面有着悠久的历史。因此，该项目不仅有可能提高入门级劳动力的技能，以满足地区和国家的就业需求，而且还有可能扩大对熟练技术劳动力的参与。该项目的总体目标是提供教育经验，使学生能够在离开大学时拥有高市场和有价值的3D技术技能，准备进入技术人员大军。为了实现这一目标，该项目将：1)进行差距分析，以发现课程内容与行业需求之间的不匹配；2)开发针对3D打印、扫描和建模主题的跨学科模块，以解决已确定的差距，并在跨多个学科的课程中实施这些模块；3)开发和实施关于3D技术及其应用的顶峰课程；4)组织和主办一年两次的教师专业发展研讨会和3D技术会议，以分享项目成果；以及5)使用这些活动的结果和最佳实践，设计并建议该机构新的行业认可的3D技术证书计划。项目团队将与当地和地区的行业专业人士合作，确定在现有课程中最佳实施3D技术内容和实践学习的领域。新的Capstone课程将提供具有凝聚力的、逐渐复杂的3D技术学习和实践体验，最终形成以3D技术为特色的学生Capstone项目。这一方法可能会加强整个地区高等教育、研究和行业之间的合作，并为其他两年制院校扩大和加强3D技术教学铺平道路。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Over the past decade, rapid advances have been made in 3D technologies, including 3D printing, 3D scanning, and 3D graphics programming. As a result, the workforce increasingly needs technicians with skills in 3D technologies and the education of these technicians is increasingly important for maintaining the Nation's skilled technical workforce. However, a gap often exists between classroom instruction related to 3D technologies and the current skills required in industry. To help narrow this gap, Mountain View College in Texas will work closely with industry to develop a curriculum that provides relevant instruction in current 3D technology areas. The project partners will design courses that align with the knowledge and skills valued by experts in the field. To this end, instruction about 3D technologies will be integrated into courses across technician disciplines at the institution. Mountain View College is a Hispanic-serving institution with a long history of advancing the education of underserved student groups. As a result, this project has the potential to not only improve the skills of the entry-level workforce to meet regional and national employment needs, but also to broaden participation in the skilled technical workforce.The overarching goal of the project is to provide educational experiences that enable students to leave college with highly-marketable and valuable skills in 3D technologies, ready to enter the technician workforce. To achieve this goal, the project will: 1) perform a gap analysis to uncover mismatches between course content and industry needs; 2) develop interdisciplinary modules on topics in 3D printing, scanning, and modeling that address identified gaps, and implement the modules within courses across multiple disciplines; 3) develop and implement a capstone course on 3D technologies and their application; 4) organize and host bi-annual workshops for faculty professional development and a 3D Technology Conference to share project findings; and 5) use results and best practices from these activities to design and propose a new industry-endorsed 3D technology certificate program at the institution. The project team will collaborate with local and regional industry professionals to identify areas for optimal implementation of content and hands-on learning with 3D technologies into existing coursework. The new capstone course will provide cohesive, progressively complex learning and hands-on experiences with 3D technologies, culminating in student capstone projects that feature 3D technology. The approach may augment partnerships between higher education, research, and industry across the region and pave the way for other two-year institutions to expand and enhance their instruction on 3D technologies. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.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.