Expanding Advanced Renewable Energy Technician Education in a Technical College

威斯康星州正在通过增加风能和太阳能发电来实现能源组合的多元化，同时一些化石燃料工厂已经退役。湖滨技术学院(LTC)是该州唯一一所提供风能教育的技术学院，该项目将通过创新和可获得性的学习来改变个人，以加强他们的社区。通过高级可再生能源技术员教育项目，LTC将解决威斯康星州对可再生能源技术员的技能差距和未得到满足的需求。他们将与商业和工业领导团队(BILT)合作，寻找机会实施太阳能和/或能源储存方面的培训，以加强现有的风能项目。在暖通空调等其他依赖能源的培训中加入额外证书的战略，将增加准备与不断增长和不断发展的可再生能源部门互动的学生数量。该计划的目标是(1)建立可再生能源BILT，以解决LTC可以解决的入门级就业技能和劳动力缺口，(2)开发太阳能教学实验室，并为教师提供专业发展，以支持增强的可再生能源产品，以及(3)开发以学习者为中心且符合文化要求的课程，以吸引和培养代表LTC服务领域多样性的可再生能源技术人员。BILT将与LTC合作，进行差距分析，确定太阳能和能源储存技术人员所需的知识、技能和能力。当做出改变时，外部评估员将评估行业满意度和学生在可再生能源教育产品中的学习情况。教师的专业发展将通过各种培训进行，这些培训将使教师准备好将新的实验室设备整合到他们的课程中。为了提高注册人数和对修订后的计划的认识，LTC将提供教师培训讲习班，为高中教师教授可再生能源做好准备，并为学生转入LTC计划做好准备。外部评估员将衡量实现其目标的进展情况。LTC将与ATE Create Energy Center合作，通过区域和国家会议传播他们的发现。ATE Create Energy Center包括全国900多名教职员工。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。

The state of Wisconsin is diversifying its energy portfolio with the addition of wind and solar power generation, while some fossil fuel plants are retired. Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) is the only technical college provider of wind energy education in the state, and this project will transform individuals to strengthen their communities through innovative and accessible learning. Through the Advanced Renewable Energy Technician Education project, LTC will address the skills gaps and unmet demand for renewable energy technicians in Wisconsin. Working with a Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) they will identify opportunities to implement training in solar and/or energy storage that would augment an existing wind energy program. The strategy of including additional credentials in other energy dependent trainings, such as HVAC, will increase the number of students that are prepared to interact with the growing and evolving renewable energy sector. The goals of the program are to (1) establish a renewable energy BILT to address entry level employment skills and workforce gaps that can be addressed by LTC, (2) develop solar energy instructional labs and provide professional development for faculty to support enhanced renewable energy offerings, and (3) develop learner-focused and culturally responsive curriculum to attract and produce renewable energy technicians that are representative of the diversity of LTC’s service area.The BILT will work with LTC to conduct a gap analysis and determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for solar and energy storage technicians. When changes are made, an external evaluator will assess industry satisfaction and student learning within the renewable energy educational offerings. Faculty professional development will take place through various trainings that will prepare instructors to integrate new laboratory equipment into their courses. To increase enrollment and awareness of the revised program, LTC will offer teacher training workshops to prepare high school faculty to teach renewable energy and prepare students to transfer into LTC’s program. An external evaluator will measure the progress towards their goals. LTC will disseminate their findings through regional and national meetings, in collaboration with the ATE CREATE Energy Center which includes more than 900 faculty nationwide. 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.