In this position paper, NCVER's Managing Director, Dr Tom Karmel, argues that the submission of vocational education and training student data should be mandated as a condition of registration for all registered training organisations, including private providers. This will ensure a comprehensive data collection that gives a realistic view of…

On behalf of the states that participated in the 2009-10 State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) on Technical Skills Assessment, this paper addresses two significant issues facing the nation: ensuring that more students are both college and career ready and addressing the need for better and more quality data to evaluate…

This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher education officials, in December 2008. One of the topics of the meeting was around the issue of possible skills shortages emerging as a result of demographic trends, with the ageing of the population of developed countries. The paper argues that this…

This is a report of a hearing on December 10, 1981, before the Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, regarding reauthorization of the Vocational Education Act of 1963. It focuses on the vocational education data system known as VEDS. Testimony includes…

Hoachlander look at Perkins accountability requirements and suggests that they can lead to improved programs if they are used correctly. Rader and Quick discuss how to use spreadsheets to keep on top of student portfolios and program data. (JOW)

While the rationalistic approach traditionally employed in research and development efforts in the social sciences may be the best method of inquiry to use in the physical sciences, social scientists, and, more particularly, vocational education researchers, would do better to adopt a naturalistic method of research. The naturalist approach to…

The adoption of a more "open" national training market in vocational education and training (VET) in Australia has led to considerable changes in VET organizations and considerable challenges for VET managers. Recent research has established the critical role that 'strategy' plays in leading and managing these organizations and the…

This paper is a personal account of the use of the focused interview technique to collect data on the factors that facilitated and inhibited the research productivity of faculty members in vocational education. A brief literature review is followed by an explanation of how the researcher was urged to abandon her original intention of interviewing…

Physically and academically handicapped special needs students can often gain adequate keyboarding skills with only a few furniture and equipment modifications, performance adjustments, determination of the teacher to meet individual needs, and knowledge that anyone can master keyboarding. Includes strategies for working with various disabilities.…

Nine theme articles focus on the need for students to be conversationally literate about agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems. Discusses the definition of conversational literacy, the human and institutional resources needed, and exemplary models for promoting literacy. (JOW)

Two problems are addressed in relation to agricultural education research: (1) Is the Type I error rate affected when nonindependent multiple statistical tests are made? And (2) does statistical significance automatically mean that the results are of practical importance? (LRA)

The computer industry is growing at a phenomenal rate as technology advances and prices fall, stimulating unprecedented demand from business, government, and individuals. Higher levels of education will be the key to securing employment as organizations increasingly rely on sophisticated technology. (Author)

The 1990s have seen an increase in vocational education enrollment rates. Business partnerships, the need for skilled workers, school-to-work programs, new delivery systems, the technology boom, and modernized programs account for the increase. (JOW)

The article discusses the provisions and intent of Title II of the Education Amendments Act of 1976 relating to job placement and employer satisfaction. In evaluating the success of vocational education programs student and employer follow-up data will play an important part. (MF)

There currently are 32 states in the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network, each dedicated to developing and implementing a college and career readiness agenda. At the same time, all fifty states are implementing requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006. The Perkins Act and the American Diploma…