Skillbuilding for Technicians and Engineers Through Experiential Learning Communities

This project aims to serve the national interest by strengthening the advanced manufacturing workforce through integrated experiential learning that prepares technicians and engineers with both technical expertise and collaborative professional skills essential for modern industry. This Level III Engaged Student Learning project intends to address the growing impacts of advanced manufacturing skills on U.S. competitiveness and economic growth while leveraging partnerships with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the broader Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program (AiM UP) network. The project includes activities to foster and investigate essential student assets including technical proficiency in cutting-edge technologies, cross-cohort collaboration skills, professional competencies, student STEM identity, and career confidence, particularly for learners from two-year and four-year institutions. The project engages participants in hands-on training with state-of-the-art equipment while generating evidence-based practices that enhance workforce readiness outcomes through skill acquisition in key advanced manufacturing technologies such as collaborative robotics, autonomous mobile robots, laser marking systems, and additive manufacturing. Project goals include developing and rigorously evaluating experiential learning conditions under which integrated learning communities improve outcomes compared to single-population training. By employing mixed-methods assessment of technical knowledge, practical skills, professional development, and career outcomes, the project advances understanding of peer-learning mechanisms, cross-cohort mentoring, and scalable integration strategies in technical education. Comprehensive evaluation is incorporated through pre/post measures, focus groups, and longitudinal tracking, with dissemination of project findings through peer-reviewed publications, professional conferences, and sharing with the AiM UP network for implementation and scaling. The NSF IUSE: EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools. 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.