Rosen, Rudolph A.

English

Digital Commons @ Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Texas A&M University-San Antonio Digital Commons @ Texas A&M University-San Antonio Water Resources Science and Technology Conference Papers and Abstracts Water Resources Science and Technology Presentations, Seminars, Videos, Lectures, and Other Materials 2019 Border Areas Water Security: An Education Pathway for the Next Generation Water Workforce Rudolph A. Rosen Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/water_conferences  Part of the Environmental Education Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Water Security for Texas:An Education Pathway for the Next Generation of the Water WorkforcebyRudolph RosenDirector and Visiting ProfessorInstitute for Water Resources Science and TechnologyTexas A&M University, San Antonio, TXEXPERTS EXPRESS ALARM - Nationwide“We are facing difficulty recruiting, training, and retaining employees, especially for small systems.”• American Water Works Association’s annual State of the Water Industry Report:• 2014 to 2017: only 1% of respondents indicated the industry is fully prepared to address workforce losses and recruitment needs in the next 5 years. • Retirement eligibility may be as high as 50% of the entire workforce within 10 years• Additional 45% increase in recruitment of water workers is needed.JANUARY 20181. United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on water workforce readiness2. Senate bill 2346 introduced• To establish a water infrastructure workforce development programGAO REPORTSENATE BILL 2346• There is industry-wide concern about filling jobs. • Management of water utilities and to ensure safe drinking water and long-term sustainability.• Compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act• Median age of water sector workers is 48 years…..6 years older than the national median age of all workers. • Unprecedented workforce replacement needs:• 37% of water and 31 % of wastewater workers will retire over the next 10 years.TEXAS EXPERTS EXPRESS ALARMTexas water experts met in a series of planning forums in 2015 and 2016. They identified concern about the water workforce. • A coming wave of retirements and attrition.• Inadequate recruitment.• A general failure of post-secondary educational institutions to supply workforce ready graduates for Texas’ urban and rural water sectors. • Participants listed ideas for solutionWATER WORKFORCE EDUCATIONRecommendations included:• Mentoring• Internships• Increased access to industry training programs• Create more effective, flexible, and job-relevant pathways to higher education:• Increase recognition and attractiveness of water jobs• Job-relevant workforce-ready training• Degree programs that will enable long-term professional growth for water workersAttracting the Next Generation of Water WorkersCreate a pathway for water education from middle through high school:• Teacher training• Student instructional materials• Experiential educationIntroduce students to jobs in waterSTART AT THE BEGINNINGEffective Pathway for Water CurriculaTexas Aquatic Science•Texas’ first comprehensive curricula in water for middle and high schools students•Meeting all state standards for education (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills – TEKS)–Water standards in Aquatic Science and Environmental Systems•#1 Internet ranked curriculum for aquatic scienceFoundation for InstructionTexas Aquatic Science Online•texasaquaticscience.org• Textbook 100% and FREE• Chapters• Videos• Career Promotions• Science stories• How to help• TEKS AlignedTexas Aquatic ScienceSpanish – Glossary & Chapt. VideosTexas Aquatic ScienceTeacher Guide• Science investigations, games, cooperative learning activities, Internet projects, readings, videos, science journals, field based student research projects, tests and assessments.Texas Aquatic Science Online Lessons225 videos – Closed CaptionedInterconnectedCurriculumInterconnectedCurriculumWorkshops for Teachers• Instruction for teachers on how to use Texas Aquatic Science:– Teachers Guide– Exercises– Integrating new mobile technology into outdoor and classroom educationTexas Aquatic ScienceCertified Field Sites• Connect students to aquatic science with experiential learning outdoors• 65 sites (so far)Effectiveness Research• 2015-16 School Year• 160 Teachers Trained for Pilot• 4,500 Students in Pilot Study• 39 SchoolsEffectiveness Research  - Results• Teachers heavily rely on materials for instruction…– strong preference for using combination of printed and online– high percentage indicated effective curriculum– effective in enhancing student learning about waterTeacher Survey on Experiential Water Education Outdoors• Students’ understanding of water increased• Teachers’ understanding of teaching about water and awareness about water increased• 4 out of 5 teachers say they will seek opportunities to engage students in issues related to water and the environment using technology after experiencing outdoors learningResearch – Ph.D. DissertationConclusions–Experiential water education can be enhanced by:• interactive technology• direct contact with water• linking a water experience in one location to other water locationsPOST-SECONDARY TRAINING• Water workforce training and education need to be responsive to industry requirements and place-based realities for workers.• Ensure local access and a flexible pathway to a water degree.• Differently-sized communities:• Different kinds and scale of facilities• Different needs for water workers• Different training requirementsPOST-SECONDARY TRAINING• Origins:• Texas water roadmap planning forums.• Development of B.S/B.A.A.S./M.S. degree programs at Texas A&M University in San Antonio and cooperative training discussions with TEEX (A&M’s extension service), Northwest Vista College and BlinnCollege• Experiences developing curricula and degree programs.B.S. / B.A.A.S. DEGREES• Ensure local access and a flexible pathway to a water degree:• Distance education• Extension & industry delivered education• Mobile laboratories• Community colleges• Regional universitiesAN EDUCATION MODEL TO A UNIVERSITY DEGREETexas Core Curriculum provided by the Virtual College of Texas, supported by the Texas Association of Community Colleges.Two-year degree in Water Science and Technology at participating community colleges.Work-study at industry locations and water systems facilities.Training from trade industry sources or extension education (e.g., TEEX).Mobile training facilities for campuses not having labs and for training throughout rural Texas.Credit for previous experience and training courses taken.WATER EDUCATION FOR TEXAS’ FUTURE1. Starts early and meets Texas standards2. Adaptable to changing and emerging needs in water industries in rural and urban systems.3. Addresses industry liability issues and regulatory requirements.4. Meets emerging educational requirements for long-term employment and upward mobility of graduates.LEARNTexas Aquatic Science on the Webhttps://Texasaquaticscience.orgTexas Water Journal (2018)https://TWJ.mediaWater security for Texas: a post-secondary education pathway for water workforce readiness byRudolph Rosen, Luis Cifuentes, James Fischer, Howard Marquise, John C. TracyWater Security for Texas:An Education Pathway for the Next Generation of the Water WorkforcebyRudolph RosenDirector and Visiting ProfessorInstitute for Water Resources Science and TechnologyTexas A&M University, San Antonio, TX

Border Areas Water Security: An Education Pathway for the Next Generation Water Workforce

https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=water_conferences

Border Areas Water Security: An Education Pathway for the Next Generation Water Workforce

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