The purpose of this project is to expand an existing mechatronics program to include emerging technologies (e.g. sustainable energy/green technology) by partnering with the state of Oregon, middle and secondary schools, academia, and key industry partners. Educational opportunities are delivered to middle, high school and community college level participants from rural communities through a blend of distance education, technology weekends, and career academies to ensure future graduates have the right skill-sets to meet regional, state and national demands. Embedded in the program design are curricular improvements, professional development for teachers and college faculty, and the articulation of career pathways leading from two-and four year colleges to industry. Specifically, the project provides opportunities for middle and high school students to engage in inquiry based learning projects about renewable energy production. Faculty work directly with industry to integrate emerging technologies into the mechatronics curriculum and to develop applied capstone projects that integrate the principles of sustainable energy manufacturing. By partnering with nine Oregon community colleges, the project develops and initiates a one year Oregon Green Certificate program through blended instruction in renewable energy generation, energy conservation, and practical physics.

Project Report

Program Enhancement: Mechatronics faculty reviewed and revised all Mechatronics courses and outcomes adding to and increasing the importance of "improving energy efficiency and sustainability". The percentage of time allotted to "green content" now averages about 30% for 27 of our 28 individual program courses. These materials are available upon request for use by other programs or institutions. (greend@linnbenton.edu). Expanding the scope of the program to include alternative energy options and energy efficiency assists with student placement which is currently 85% with minimum starting wages over $12 per hour. This work required extensive revisions of teaching plans, modifications of almost all Mechatronics courses, development of new lab activities, and the development of a new course entitled Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, a general science course open to all students in the college. Significant faculty learning was required by these activities. Oregon Green Technician Certificate Support: the Mechatronics program supplied syllabi, course descriptions and outlines, learning objectives, and teaching materials for 12 of the 15 GT courses in the 45 credit program. Throughout the duration of the GT grant the TOF PI and Co-PI were active in advising, teaching, developing and managing courses. The majority of the courses were taught in the Mechatronics facility and equipment was stored there. The GT grant operated from 2010 until 2013. The sustainability of the GT program when it completed was uncertain so the Mechatronics program created a one-year certificate which was approved by the state of Oregon in 2012 and was modified in 2013. This certificate is being used by Mechatronics students and by two local industries that have 21 workers completing the certificate on a part-time basis. The certificate and several pathway certificate descriptions follow: Purchase and design/building of energy efficiency trainers: TOF served as a catalyst for $190,000 of private donations. $30,000 from the TOF was used to "top off" the purchase of a state-of-the-art flexible manufacturing system. The TOF funds were used to build in energy efficiency protocols into the system. TOF funds were used to design and build six multiple use, mechanical systems trainers to serve classes of 24 for three separate Mechatronics courses. Six refrigeration systems trainers were refitted and several older HVAC and alternative energy trainers were upgraded to support classes of 24 for four separate Mechatronics courses. This increased program capabilities and saved many thousands of dollars from our initial, stand-alone trainer budget. Presenting: ATE National Principal Investigators Conference, Washington, DC Breakfast Roundtable, Thursday, October 24, 2013 Blended Tech Learning Denis F. H. Green, Department Chair, Mechatronics, Linn Benton Community College. ATE National Principal Investigators Conference, Washington, DC Breakfast Roundtable, Thursday October 25, 2012 Capstone Projects for Technical Education Denis F.H. Green, Department Chair, Mechatronics, Linn Benton Community College Oegon Association for Career and Technical Education," The common technical Manufacturing core: Skills and Delivery Methods (Industrial and Engineering Systems)", Sun River, Oregon, April, 2014 Oregon Association for Career and Technical Education," A Proposal for Radical Reformation of Industrial – Vocational Education in Oregon: Creation of a High Performance Mechatronics Pathway from High School through Community College and onto an Applied Baccalaureate Degree", Sun River, Oregon, April, 2013 Oregon Association for Career and Technical Education, Sun River, Oregon, "Blended-Tech for Trades Training", April, 2012 Outreach: Activities consisted of: Mechatronics facility tours for 252 high school students High School Career Fairs 2000 people annually Open Career Fairs 400 (adults) people annually Central Western Oregon Science Expo, a science project competition for multiple counties in Oregon, 240 High School students and 220 Middle school students during the duration of the TOF grant In 2011 the program was visited by U. S. Congressman Peter Defazio During the TOF the program was visited by Oregon State Senator Betsy Close (2012), Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, and Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown (2013) During the TOF the program hosted 17 formal visits by local and regional businesses and community groups Nine feature newspaper articles were placed and Mechatronics faculty participated in community events like Earth Day and spoke to several community organizations. The Mechatronics PI is currently working with Blue Mountain Community College in north central Oregon to help start a Mechatronics program. The Mechatronics PI worked with Lake Washington Technical Institute during the revision of their Industrial Maintenance program. The program seeded three Principles of Technology courses in local high schools, and distributed over 150 flash drives with program information and curriculum materials to agencies and colleges during the course of the grant. During the TOF grant the PI and Co-PI formulated plans for a region-wide Mechatronics program. Mechatronics faculty are now working on creating this pathway.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Application #
1003879
Program Officer
Yvette Weatherton
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2010-08-15
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$792,534
Indirect Cost
Name
Linn Benton Community College
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Albany
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97321