National
Science Foundation ATE Grant
ATE Leader Summer Externship Summary Report
ATE Leader: Gerald Gerard, Gateway Community College 
Externship: Intergrated Industrial Systems
ATE teacher leaders participating in summer externships as part
of the National Science Foundation ATE grant created work-based
projects as a result of their experience. The following information
summarizes what they gained from the externship and what their
students gained from the subsequent curriculum projects.
What was the most useful learning component of your externship?
There were several very useful learning component areas associated with my externship. I was given “free rein” to visit different departments and observe associated tasks which involved electrical engineering technology. One area of special importance was spending time in the final test department where a complete check of system and operational performance occurred. A second area of importance was participating in a field visit to a nearby steel rolling mill to see the complete set of processes associated with a steel rolling mill, with all equipment in actual operation, and to observe the maintenance and set-up and calibration procedures for maintaining the operation of the mill. A third area of importance was spending time on several occasions with a software/hardware engineer who carefully explained and demonstrated the use of LabView software for virtual instrumentation applications. Lastly, I was able to sit in on several meetings with electrical engineers who were engaged with various vendors to supply critical components for the operation of the equipment being manufactured. These meetings sharpened my understanding of the need for clear, cogent, complete and correct communications to prevent potential or future problems from occurring. All of these learning experiences were most useful.
What was the most challenging component of
your externship?
There were several challenges for me. One was learning the terminology and understanding the basic principles involved with steel rolling mills. A second challenge was to participate in the externship in a way which did not interfere with normal company operations. A third challenge was to “know what to touch and what not to touch” when it came to investigating the operation of sensors, programmable logic controllers and the set-up and operation of the LabView-based virtual instrumentation systems. Learning more about the LabView virtual instrumentation system was, and is, the most challenging component, but also the most rewarding, as it will be used in the Electrical Engineering Technology academic program at Gateway Community College.
Did the implementation of your curriculum plan meet your
expectations? Please elaborate.
I was very pleased with the support of the Information Technology Department to purchase a site-license for the LabView software for all the computers in the Engineering Technology Division, and for one of the major computer labs. This will allow LabView to be used by all engineering technology faculty and their students.There was a time delay to install the LabView software which reduced the full implementation of my curriculum plan. The plan will continue to be implemented in the Spring 2006 semester and continue in future semesters.
I was also pleased with the support of the engineering technology faculty in their interest and desire to implement my plan with their students in future semesters. I was able to demonstrate the curriculum plan to students during the Fall semester and there was great interest and enthusiasm, with expressions of commitment to take additional courses which include a virtual instrumentation component.
Did the externship host assist you with the implementation
of your curriculum plan?
My externship host has volunteered to come to the College to lecture and demonstrate the use of LabView virtual instrumentation software. It is planned to have these visits occur in the Spring and following semesters.
My externship host has also volunteered to serve on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Electrical Engineering Technology program, to help encourage the inclusion of virtual instrumentation in those courses where they would be most suited and helpful for the benefit of the students.
My externship host has also volunteered to serve as a resource person for students who are interested in learning more about virtual instrumentation and gaining employment with industrial companies who need employees with this important technical skill.
What impact did your work-based curriculum have on
your students’ learning
and motivation?
My students were very enthused to be exposed to virtual instrumentation and they have demonstrated a genuine eagerness to learn the LabView software program so they can experiment on their own and begin to use virtual instrumentation for their personal projects.
The ease at which virtual instrumentation can be developed and implemented for a variety of applications, and the related control functions for automatic operation and testing, was very impressive to the students.
What have you done to share your externship experience
and subsequent curriculum work with your peers?
The LabView software has been installed on the personal desktop computers for all engineering technology faculty. I have secured an application programs sample CD and have been and continue to demonstrate the usefulness of the LabView virtual instrumentation software.
There are current proposals to revise the current Computer Applications for Technology course to include an introduction to virtual instrumentation. Similarly, the basics of the LabView software will be added to the Electrical Graphics course.
I am preparing a demonstration experiment based on my curriculum plan, to be used on a regular basis for “Technology Nights” and high school recruitment visits, and associated endeavors, to encourage new student enrollment in the engineering technology programs at the College.
What are your specific plans for sustaining this kind of externship
activity in your school?
I continue to encourage my fellow faculty to participate in similar externships for their own personal career enrichment, and to bring new and fresh learning materials into their specific technology courses. I also frequently relate my externship experiences in my courses, as well as in faculty meetings. I have spoken to the Academic Dean to encourage his support for those faculty seeking similar externships, and he has given his enthusiastic approval to these endeavors.
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