This paper presents a project framework for the development of an adaptive learning environment to provide a wide range of students with the skills necessary to work in high value manufacturing (HVM) aimed at the energy industry. More specifically, it discusses a HVM certificate program being developed at Houston Community College (HCC) in collaboration with Texas A&M University (TAMU). The aim of the project is to create a sustainable certificate program in HVM that provides multiple pathways for community college students while meeting the critical workforce needs of a vital industry in Texas. The novelty of the certificate program includes innovative pedagogical methods, such as competency-based learning and skills need assessment and provision through online learning modules is presented; this allows students an adaptive and personalized education in this needed area. Upon completion of the certificate program, the community college students will have multiple pathways including: a) an A.S. at the Community College; b) transfer to four year institution; and c) return to industry to join the workforce. By incorporating a new co-educational paradigm between the community college and the university, as opposed to traditional articulation agreements, this project provides a novel pathway for community college students to transition to a four-year degree program. It also incorporates a new method for trying to ensure that community college students who matriculate to partner 4-year institutions receive reverse transfer credit for their associate degrees at their home community college. Furthermore, HVM modules are developed for high school students that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.
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NSF: Integrative Manufacturing and Production Engineering Education Leveraging Data Science Program (IMPEL)
IMPEL is a transformative workforce education and training program that addresses the current and projected skills gaps and requirements in data science in the US manufacturing sector. The mission of IMPEL is to facilitate lifelong learning for the production engineering STEM workforce through designing sustainable, pedagogically proven data science curricula via modular courses with interactive online learning labs and experiential project-based learning. The planned tasks for IMPEL include an online curriculum design and development targeting professionals, undergraduates and community college students interested in advancing their skills in data science in the context of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing. The project team has accomplished several main tasks towards the goals of the project in Year 1, to be detailed in this paper.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1935646
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10299103
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access,
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- https://peer.asee.org/37530
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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