Flexible Technical Education Pathways in a Building Automation Technology Program

该项目旨在通过开发建筑自动化技术项目为国家利益服务，为密歇根中西部地区高需求的技术职业做好准备。与工业界和其他学术机构合作，将为技术教育学生设计和提供智能暖通空调系统，储能，制造业生产控制以及与这些控制系统相关的网络安全课程。该课程的课程设置将与行业认证保持一致，以使学生更好地为该地区雇主当前和未来的需求做好准备。其结果将是，每年进入该项目区域劳动力的熟练楼宇自动化技术人员的数量增加。最终，这项工作旨在填补定制培训计划可用性方面的重大空白，以满足当今数据和自动化驱动社会的行业需求。该项目团队将与业界合作完成以下活动：1)为工业4.0 HVAC系统创建楼宇自动化技术课程，包括智能系统和有效的数据存储；2)开发能源存储课程，以支持电动汽车；3)为学生提供先进制造和HVAC系统的数据和生产控制的实践经验；4)包括创建与先进制造和市政控制相关的网络安全课程。课程将优先考虑动手实验活动和以工作为基础的学习经验，作为积极吸引学生实践和有效技能发展的一种方式。将实施一个灵活的路径模式，有多个上下匝道，可以获得证书、行业证书、学徒资格、学位和/或转学选项。将进行外部评估，以评估项目活动和结果，重点是为支持先进制造业的熟练技术人员准备知识体系做出贡献。将实施一项有针对性的传播计划，通过向更广泛的技术教育界介绍，与密歇根州其他两年制学院分享项目成果，并在全国一级分享项目成果。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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 developing a Building Automation Technology program to prepare students for high-demand technical careers in the west-central Michigan region. In collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, courses will be designed and offered to technical education students in SMART HVAC systems, energy storage, production controls in manufacturing, and cybersecurity related to these control systems. The course curriculum will be aligned with industry certifications to better prepare students for the current and future needs of employers in the region. The result will be an increase in the number of skilled building automation technicians that enter the regional workforce each year of the project. Ultimately, this effort aims to fill significant gaps in the availability of customized training programs that meet the needs of industry in today’s data and automation driven society. This project team will collaborate with industry to complete the following activities: 1) create Building Automation Technology courses for Industry 4.0 HVAC systems, including SMART systems and effective data storage, 2) develop energy storage curriculum to support electric vehicles, 3) provide students with practical experience in data and production controls in advanced manufacturing and HVAC systems, and 4) include the creation of cybersecurity curriculum related to controls for advanced manufacturing and municipalities. Course curriculum will prioritize hands-on lab activities and work-based learning experiences as a way to actively engage students in practical and effective skill development. A flexible pathway model with multiple on and off ramps that result in certificates, industry credentials, apprenticeships, degrees, and/or the option to transfer will be implemented. An external evaluation will be conducted to assess project activities and outcomes with a focus on contributing to the body of knowledge on preparing skilled technicians to support the advanced manufacturing industry. A targeted dissemination plan will be carried out that shares project results with other Michigan state two-year colleges and at the national level through presentations to the broader technical education community. This project is funded by the Advanced Technology 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.