Southwest Center for Microsystems Education - Model for Workforce Educational Development

摘要

Rapid growth in Microsystems or Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices has caused many Universities to institute graduate-level MEMS research programs as well as some introductory undergraduate education classes. However, the Technologist, or traditionally termed "technician" level of education, generally a 2 year degree program, has a critical need for a standardized and readily available Microsystems curriculum. This standardization will facilitate rapid dissemination of highly skilled individuals as the demand for such workers continues to increase. In an effort to lay the foundation for a standardized curriculum, on August 1, 2004, the National Science Foundation announced funding to create the Southwest Center for Microsystems Education (SCME) under its Advanced Technological Education program (DUE Grant No. 0402651). This regional center is located at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (TVI), a community college located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America. This paper will review the history of TVI's MEMS program and outline the future of Microsystems Technologist education as currently envisioned by the SCME. A preliminary roadmap including determination of required multi-disciplinary competencies, curriculum development based on backward design and material dissemination to provide sufficient coverage will be reviewed. How core competencies are being catalogued through job shadowing of existing MEMS technologists and via a focused Microsystems industry survey will be shared. Standardized curriculum will be modeled after "Understanding bv Design" principles (see reference #2) to ensure students learn these core competencies. Proposed dissemination of materials to Post Secondary educators will also be discussed as well as professional development and re-tooling opportunities for technologists currently in the workforce. To provide a pool of new technologists, outreach methodologies will also be outlined including the successful High School Academy model currently used in New Mexico for Manufacturing and Photonics which is being extended to MEMS. This paper is meant to provide a catalyst and a proposed mechanism that supports MANCEF's concept which "Globally enables the creation, exchange, and dissemination of knowledge vital to people, organizations, and governments interested in the commercialization of miniaturization technologies."