Targeted Research to Identify Mathematics Competencies and Align Mathematics Education for Skilled Technicians in Advanced Manufacturing

该项目旨在通过将技术方案中教授的数学与工作场所先进制造技术人员的需求相结合来服务于国家利益。为了做到这一点，研究团队将进行一个为期三年的研究和开发项目，该项目以2018年由NSF支持的Need Math会议的建议为基础。该项目将在美国两年制大学数学协会与制造业教育工作者和实业家之间建立联系。该项目旨在利用这种合作：(1)开发和验证技术人员在几个制造部门遇到的情况；(2)确定技术人员在这些情况下所需的数学能力；以及(3)加强行业领导者和社区学院技术人员之间的沟通，以确定和协调制造业中熟练技术人员所需的数学知识。预计该项目将改善技术课程中的数学教育。此外，该项目可能会为学术界、产业界和其他利益相关者建立合作伙伴关系，使课程改革能够满足当前和未来的行业需求提供一个模式。为了实现其目标，该项目将在全国各地举行一系列合作工作组会议，以建立和维持为追求先进制造业职业证书和学位的学生而进行的数学教学改革。参与该项目的机构和组织包括霍夫斯特拉大学、纽约城市大学、霍利奥克社区学院、罗兹州立大学、美国两年制学院数学协会、数学及其应用联盟、佛罗里达高级技术教育中心、弗吉尼亚中部社区学院、微系统教育支持中心、加兹登州立大学、奥隆学院和供应链自动化中心。该项目旨在开发为数学教学提供信息的资源，并辅之以混合方法的研究调查。在Simon和Go的工作基础上，一个验证小组将使用专家小组的验证标准来审查工作场所的场景。定性(扎根理论)和定量(描述性、线性回归、方差分析、聚类分析)研究设计将整合数据收集和分析，这些数据收集和分析以一组四个研究问题为指导，这些问题侧重于：(1)技术工作场所的数学能力与技术课程教授的数学之间的一致性；以及(2)协作工作组作为改变熟练制造技术人员中学后数学教育的机制的有效性。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。

This project aims to serve the national interest by aligning the mathematics taught in technical programs with the needs of advanced manufacturing technicians in the workplace. To do so, the research team will conduct a three-year research and development project that builds upon recommendations of the NSF-supported Needed Math Conference held in 2018. The project will establish connections between the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges and manufacturing educators and industrialists. The project intends to use this collaboration to: (1) develop and validate situations encountered by technicians in several manufacturing sectors; (2) identify the mathematics competencies technicians need in those situations; and (3) enhance communication between industry leaders and community college technical faculty to identify and align the mathematics needed by skilled technicians in manufacturing. It is expected that the project will improve mathematics education in technical programs. In addition, the project may provide a model for how partnerships involving academia, industry, and other stakeholders can enable curriculum reform to meet present and future industry needs.To accomplish its goals, the project will hold a series of Collaborative Working Group meetings across the country to establish and sustain changes in mathematics instruction for students pursuing certificates and degrees for careers in advanced manufacturing. Institutions and organizations involved in this project are Hofstra University, City University of New York, Holyoke Community College, Rhodes State College, American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center, Central Virginia Community College, Support Center for Microsystems Education, Gadsden State College, Ohlone College, and the Center for Supply Chain Automation. The project is designed to develop resources that inform the teaching of mathematics, coupled with a mixed methods research investigation. Drawing on work by Simon and Goes, a validation panel will review workplace scenarios using the Validation Rubric for Expert Panels. The qualitative (grounded theory) and quantitative (descriptive, linear regression, ANOVA, cluster analysis) research design will integrate data collection and analyses that are guided by a set of four research questions that focus on: (1) the alignment between mathematics competencies for the technical workplace and the mathematics taught in technical programs; and (2) the effectiveness of collaborative working groups as mechanisms for change in the post-secondary mathematics education of skilled manufacturing technicians. 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.