Earlier this week, we teamed up with Wytheville Community College Workforce Development to host a hands-on Mechatronics Workshop for local K-12 and community college educators. Here are some photos from the training:
One thing that continually came up in discussion was defining the objectives of a high school mechatronics program versus community college program.
High School Mechatronics
In recent years the state of Virginia has put forth a focused effort on steering students toward careers in mechatronics to help meet local demand for highly trained manufacturing professionals.
In 2012, the Burton Center for Arts and Technology in Roanoke County made the transition from a machining curriculum to a mechatronics and robotics focus and several other technical high schools have since followed suit.
At the high school level, students need an understanding of the fundamentals of mechatronics. This begins with an understanding of how a manufacturing process previously carried out manually is automated, learning about the parts (sensors, actuators) and processes (material flow, energy flow, signal flow) involved in automated processes.
Key to preparing students for continuing their education at the post-secondary level is to go beyond the theoretical and offer hands-on training with electrical engineering, electronics, pneumatics, robotics and PLCs. For example, a student can demonstrate their understanding of pneumatics by drawing symbols and circuit diagrams or setting up connect circuits in a video simulation.
Community College Mechatronics Programs
The goal of a community college mechatronics program is to release workforce-ready candidates into the job market.
Educators can build on students’ fundamental knowledge learned in high school with a course structure that brings knowledge and hands-on training to the next level. Virginia Western Community College is a great example of a school that covers everything to give students the most robust mechatronics education.
Part of preparing students for the workforce involves offering the certification students need to compete in the marketplace. In order to earn certification, a school needs to meet a certification program, like Festo’s Modular Product System 204 (MPS 204) or Advanced Mechatronics Systems (AMS) certification programs. These programs essentially mean that students become Level 1 – Siemens Certified Mechatronic Systems Assistants.
Another goal of a community college mechatronics program may be to help students continue their education at the university level to receive a bachelor’s degree. Tidewater Community College in the Hampton Roads area has developed a highly successful mechatronics program and partnered with Old Dominion University nearby to do exactly that.
What how do you see the objectives of your mechatronics program aligning with what we discussed in our workshop?
