An Automation Robotics Program for Nontraditional Students

第四次工业革命，或称工业4.0，指的是制造业使用人工智能和先进机器人等技术，这些技术允许机器相互通信，共同分析和诊断问题，而传统的人类干预需要越来越少。然而，国家对准备在现代技术工业环境中以新方式和新技能工作的技术人员的需求越来越大。这个项目的目标是创建一个学术项目，为学生提供在自动化行业工作的同时攻读AAS学位的途径。由此产生的计划将被设计为适应非传统学生和女性学生的需求。该项目将有助于保持国家在制造业中的竞争力，制造业正变得日益自动化和与智能技术相结合。该项目的目标包括开发新的课程和可堆叠的证书途径，通过使用移动培训设备增加自动化机器人工程技术(ARET)/机电一体化教育和培训的可用性，以及增加包括学徒机会在内的外联和支持。课程修改将与行业协商完成，以确保该计划的教育和培训反映技术进步和现代劳动力需求。该项目的评估计划将审查学徒参与对学生保留和完成的影响，解决社区大学生基于工作的学习经历结果的知识差距。该项目将促进对培训技术人员以达到行业4.0标准所需能力的了解和理解，以及使课程与行业4.0标准保持一致所需的程序。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 Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, refers to the manufacturing industry’s use of technologies, such as artificial intelligence and advanced robotics, that allow machines to communicate with each other and work together to analyze and diagnose issues with increasingly minimal need for traditional human intervention. However, there is a growing national need for technicians who are prepared to work in new ways and with new skills in this modern technological industrial environment. The goal of this project is to create an academic program that will provide students with pathways to pursue AAS degrees while working in the automation industry. The resulting program will be designed to accommodate the needs of nontraditional and female students. The project will help to sustain the Nation’s competitiveness in a manufacturing industry that is becoming increasingly automated and integrated with smart technology.The goals of the project include developing new courses and stackable certificate pathways, increasing the availability of Automation Robotics Engineering Technology (ARET)/Mechatronics education and training by using mobile training equipment, and increasing outreach and supports including apprenticeship opportunities. Curriculum modification will be completed in consultation with industry to ensure the program’s education and training reflect advances in technology and modern workforce needs. The project’s evaluation plan will examine the impact apprenticeship participation has on student retention and completion, addressing a knowledge gap around the outcomes of community college students’ work-based learning experiences. The project will advance the knowledge and understanding of the competencies required to prepare technicians to meet Industry 4.0 standards and the processes necessary to align curriculum to Industry 4.0 standards. 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.