Enhancing Preparation of Students for Technical Careers in Cloud Computing Technologies

云计算正在改变信息技术(IT)行业的性质。许多企业没有购买和维护私有计算基础设施，而是转向基于云的计算基础设施。基于云的解决方案使企业能够高效且经济地扩展计算服务，以满足其需求及其用户的需求。因此，基于云计算正在帮助企业在计算基础设施成本和维护方面节省数千美元。目前对具备云计算能力的IT技术人员的需求远远超过了目前进入劳动力大军的云计算技能毕业生的数量。该项目的目标是创建一个最新的云基础设施培训计划，为更多的学生做好在云计算技术高需求领域工作的准备。该项目将通过回归行业的外部培训为教育工作者提供专业发展，旨在使至少八名社区大学教师能够通过学习最先进的云基础设施技术来提升他们的技能。维克技术社区学院现有的云基础设施计划将通过教师外部奖学金、咨询委员会合作伙伴和国家融合技术中心的资源来增强和验证15门课程和相关教育材料。现有计划的效果将通过学生访谈和行业反馈等定量和定性指标进行评估。将试行一项学生实习计划，目的是为学生提供在工作场所发展商业和创业技能的机会。总结性评估将解决项目实现其目标的情况，包括交付成果的产生(例如，教师专业发展)、行业参与度的提高以及项目的可复制性和可持续性。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。

Cloud computing is changing the nature of the information technology (IT) industry. Instead of purchasing and maintaining a private computing infrastructure, many businesses are moving to cloud-based computing infrastructures. Cloud-based solutions allow businesses to efficiently and economically scale computing services to fit their needs and the needs of their users. Thus, cloud-based computing is helping businesses save thousands of dollars on computing infrastructure costs and maintenance. The current demand for cloud-capable IT technicians is far outpacing the number of graduates currently entering the workforce with cloud computing skills. The goal of this project is to create an up-to-date cloud infrastructure training program that will prepare more students to work in the high-demand area of cloud computing technology. This project will deliver professional development for educators via back-to-industry externships intended to enable at least eight community college faculty to upgrade their skills by learning state-of-the-art Cloud Infrastructure technologies. The existing Cloud Infrastructure program at Wake Technical Community College will be improved by enhancing and validating 15 courses and related educational materials through faculty externships, advisory board partners, and resources from the National Convergence Technology Center. The efficacy of the existing program will be assessed using quantitative and qualitative measures such as student interviews and industry feedback. A student internship program will be piloted, with the goal of providing students with opportunities to develop business and entrepreneurial skills in the workplace. A summative evaluation will address how well the project achieved its goals, including production of deliverables (e.g., faculty professional development), increased industry engagement, and project replicability and sustainability. 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.