Expanding Summer Youth Programs in Rail Through Virtual Learning and a National Campus Network - Phase III and Final Report

Details

• Creators:
  Lautala, Pasi Tapio ; Nelson, David ; Dick, C. Tyler ; Schlake, Bryan W. ; Ghoshani, Faeze
• Corporate Creators:
  Michigan Technological University
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Computer Online Services Education And Training Hybrid Education Online Education Outreach Railroad Engineering Students Transportation Careers Vocational Guidance Workforce Workforce Development

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FRA/ORD-26/16
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  08/2023-07/2024
• Contracting Officer:
  Wornoff, Jason
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
• Abstract:
  FRA supported Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech), in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University Altoona (Penn State Altoona) and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), to establish Tracks to the Future: Railroad Transportation and Engineering, a summer program for high school students. Phase I of this program was offered in the summer of 2022 at Michigan Tech, Penn State Altoona, and UIUC. In Phase II (2023), the program expanded to three additional universities: University of South Carolina, University of New Mexico and California State University, Cal State Fresno. In Phase III the program added four more universities: University of District Columbia, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, North Dakota State University and Oregon State University. All cohorts used a hybrid format where students first spent two days participating in live remote sessions via Zoom and completing hands-on activities mailed to them prior to program start. Students then traveled to one of the host campuses for two days of on-campus activities and field visits. FRA funded the course development, the program fees for the students (including meals and housing), and field visit expenses at the host site. Rail industry companies provided limited travel support for students in need to reach the host site. The program reached over 300 registered students from 26 states over the three years studied. Pre- and post-program assessments showed an increase in student knowledge of railway topics, and the engineering belongingness surveys also showed the positive impact created by the program. With proper support, Tracks to the Future can continue to provide important outreach and education for pre-college students interested in rail.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  Federal Railroad Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:767ec785c828b49bf18498a34ae463b2866d097de0a090410cab8d2fab1538531f58ddb0532cb7a293e7fd3d374a21f5695d83d0625f7b94b745dfcf44f10889
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93099/dot_93099_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 9.27 MB ]