Contributed by: Marcia A. Mardis, Florida State
University and David Bouvin, Chipola College
On
September 21, 2018, the Florida State University Information Institute, Chipola
College, and FLATE leadership were joined by Gulf Coast State College,
Northwest Florida State College, Pensacola State College, and Tallahassee
Community College for an advanced manufacturing (AM) Regional Academy to
examine evidence-based best practices for linking curriculum to employer
expectations.
The Regional Academy was sponsored by the team’s
National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
research project, Assessing Educational
Pathways for Manufacturing in Rural Communities: An Investigation of New and
Existing Programs in Northwest Florida (NSF 1700581). This three-year
research project, led by PI Marcia A. Mardis (FSU), Co-PI Charles R. McClure
(FSU), Co-PI Faye R. Jones (FSU) and Co-PI David Bouvin (Chipola) includes three
annual Regional Academies to share findings, recommendations, and lessons
learned from research conducted with participating institutions.
Dr. Marilyn Barger provided the keynote address for the
inaugural Regional Academy; the agenda also included presentations,
discussions, and hands-on syllabus analysis activities. Presentations centered
on the team’s learning pathway research that aims to assist with the
instruction, training, and job placement of students throughout the Panhandle
and in surrounding communities. The discussions were followed by training workshops
that assisted participants with examining how AM course syllabi can be mapped
to the team’s developing AM Body of Knowledge and aligned to employers’ needs. Check
out the videos of the days’ activities at https://youtu.be/vmeeR6vuXi4
In
Year 2, the Regional Academy will focus on the results of the team’s in-depth
analysis of syllabi from participants’ AM programs as well as gathering
employers’ perspectives through interviews, focus groups, and job posting
analyses. We will also include data related to our contacts with new
professionals who share their views of key AM professional competencies. Check
our website (https://www.ii.fsu.edu/) for upcoming Regional Academy information,
publications, presentations, and other project materials.
For more about the AM Pathways project
and the team’s related IT Pathways project, visit https://www.ii.fsu.edu/ or contact Marcia A. Mardis (mmardis@fsu.edu) or David Bouvin
(bouvind@chipola.edu). Tweet or follow us on Twitter @TechnicianPath1!
Information
Institute • Florida State University
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