Advancing Technology, Access, Diversity, and Inclusion Through Curriculum Redesign of the Power Plant Technology Program

在俄克拉荷马州，能源行业雇佣了大量员工，预计到2025年，该行业的就业岗位数量将至少增长15%。该项目旨在帮助满足特定能源行业对发电厂技术熟练技术人员的需求。为此，它将为大学现有的发电厂技术课程开发、实施和现场测试新的课程模块。这一新课程将利用捐赠的发电厂模拟器，该模拟器旨在向操作员传授工厂流程、监控、限制、稳定性和设备故障后的恢复。新课程将包括将学习模块整合到现有课程中，并创建包括面授和在线内容的混合形式的新课程。这些混合课程将为未来的完全在线课程奠定基础。这一更新的课程还将用于行业合作伙伴的专业发展和开发可堆叠的证书。除了改进课程，该项目还打算帮助提高能源部门和发电厂技术计划的多样性和包容性。为此，该项目将制定一项战略计划，向未来的能源部门员工传授导致多样化和包容性劳动力的核心价值观。此外，它还将帮助行业和教育工作者认识到自己在支持多元化、包容性工作场所方面的责任。预计多样性和包容性战略计划将为增加大学内部学生的多样性和包容性以及区域劳动力利益相关者的适应提供一个模式。该项目的总体目标是与行业和其他利益相关者合作，培养包容和多样化的发电厂技术劳动力。这一目标将通过以下方式实现：1)制定新的课程和重新设计课程设置；2)制定战略计划，建立更具包容性和多样化的劳动力队伍。外部评估员将与教师、行业利益相关者和学生进行面谈，以确定新课程是否有效地满足了行业需求。评估方法将侧重于确定课程材料和教学方法对不同学生群体的有效性。形成性评估将确保在课程开发、课程重新设计和战略计划制定方面取得进展。总结性评价将分析和记录项目在实现其目标和目的方面的成功程度，以及如何处理意想不到的挑战。项目传播计划包括在与STEM相关的展示、咨询委员会会议、HI-TEC会议以及ATE PI会议和ATE Central上的介绍。该项目由高级技术教育(ATE)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。

In Oklahoma, the energy sector employs a large number of people and the number of jobs in this sector is expected to grow at least 15% by 2025. This project intends to help fill the specific energy sector demand for skilled technicians in Power Plant Technology. To do so, it will develop, implement, and field test new curriculum modules for the University’s existing Power Plant Technology program. This new curriculum will take advantage of a donated power plant simulator that is designed to teach operators about plant processes, monitoring, limitations, stabilization, and recovery after equipment malfunctions. The new curriculum will include integration of learning modules into existing courses and creation of new courses for a hybrid format that includes in-person and online components. These hybrid courses will provide the basis for future, entirely online curriculum. This updated curriculum will also be used as professional development for industry partners and to develop stackable certificates. In addition to making curriculum improvements, the project also intends to help improve diversity and inclusion within the energy sector and the Power Plant Technology program. To this end, the project will develop a strategic plan to teach future energy sector employees the core values that lead to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In addition, it will help industry and educators recognize their own responsibilities in supporting a diverse, inclusive workplace. It is expected that the diversity and inclusion strategic plan will provide a model for increasing student diversity and inclusion within the University, as well as for adaptation by regional workforce stakeholders.The overarching goal of this project is to collaborate with industry and other stakeholders to educate an inclusive and diversified Power Plant Technology workforce. This goal will be achieved by: 1) developing a new curriculum and re-designing course offerings; and 2) developing a strategic plan to create a more inclusive and diversified workforce. An external evaluator will interview faculty, industry stakeholders, and students to determine whether the new curriculum effectively addresses industry needs. Evaluation methods will focus on determining the effectiveness of course materials and instructional methods for different student populations. Formative evaluation will ensure that progress is being made on the curriculum development, course redesign, and strategic plan development. Summative evaluation will analyze and document how well the project succeeded in meetings its goals and objectives and how unanticipated challenges were handled. Project dissemination plans include presentations at STEM-related showcases, advisory board meetings, HI-TEC Conference, and at the ATE PI Conference and ATE Central. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) 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.