MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF change: INTRODUCING A redesigned Industrial Technology curriculum
Unlike large universities where change is fostered and grant money follows cutting-edge research, community colleges have historically been charged with the task of providing traditional vocational training. The need for change in the curriculum, however, has been building. | This Fall, after careful planning and study, Amarillo College is introducing a redesigned Industrial Technology curriculum. The Pace of Change In the world of technology, change is a constant. The “useful life” of our smart devices barely lasts a year before new versions are introduced. Software is revised, patched and uploaded automatically, often several times a day. Manufacturing technology is undergoing a similar accelerated rate of change. After waiting years for depreciation to run its course, plant managers install new capital equipment and then watch in dismay as newer technology rolls out months later.
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Similarly, machine interface software is developed so fast that it creates a domino effect, making it tough and expensive for companies to keep up with the changes. Education has to change, too When technology changes, technical education must change with it. To secure employment and to advance in their careers, our students need to graduate with the most current and relevant skills required in today’s high-tech, industrial workplace. At Amarillo College, it’s our job to teach those skills.
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