In the growing shipbuilding industry along the Gulf Coast, not only is it difficult to find skilled workers to fill open positions, but the problem is also compounded because various shipyards have different definitions of what a welder or shipfitter does. To combat the issue, the Alabama Technology Network (ATN)--the state's Manufacturing…

The purpose of this investigation is to tell the story of how six states are developing Programs of Study (POS) as mandated by the Perkins IV federal legislation. The authors' effort focuses on how states' technical assistance systems evolved and what successes and challenges existed for states developing POS. There was no intent to compare one…

Three approaches to validating competencies of vocational education programs in technical and professional schools are examined. Competencies are defined as behavior-oriented and relatively simple, observable behaviors which can be identified and measured by the frequency of occurrence. The three models, which have elements in common, are expert…

This first of a two-part report describes a project designed to develop instruments and procedures for evaluating and assessing the status of vocational education facilities in Indiana. Chapter 1 of this report presents the goals of an Indiana project as follow: to develop, collect, and organize acceptable facility and fixed equipment criteria for…

A project was conducted which focused on the development of viable, competency-based materials, including a user's guide, for the inservice training and improvement of local level vocational education administrators. The project objectives were accomplished in four phases: the development of a needs assessment instrument which revealed (1) task…

Knowing that many vocational facilities differing in outward appearance have equally successful results, the Indiana State Advisory Council on Vocational Education conducted a study to assess the essential elements of a vocational facility and to determine if a cost formula could be developed that would be useful for vocational administrators and…

Focusing primarily on program modification and termination, this document is one of two handbooks developed by a California consortium of vocational educators to provide guidelines for developing and evaluating occupational programs. (The accompanying handbook, CE 017 928, focuses on program initiation.) A flow chart illustrating the different…

Project PAVE was implemented in Travis High School, Austin, Texas, to extend and coordinate services for certain high school special education students. Four components were crucial to the Project PAVE model: parental involvement, academic achievement, vocational programing, and extracurricular opportunities. The project evaluation, conducted in…

A project was undertaken to implement the employability, reading, and math skills of disadvantaged students in vocational education. Included in the project were the following activities: (1) field tests, evaluation, and dissemination of a mathematics skills curriculum guide for disadvantaged learners; (2) field tests and revision of guidelines…

With greater demands being placed on postsecondary education as employers report that graduates have inadequate skills, interest has been generated in assessing student academic achievement in reliable and valid ways. A descriptive case study was used to outline the process that has been developed to identify and implement program outcomes for 55…

Intended for use by educators and the public, this report interprets the findings of two research studies on competency-based vocational education (CBVE) in Kentucky secondary schools: "The Development of an Instrument to Measure Student Attitudes toward Competency-Based Individualized Instructional Modules," by John C. Thomas, and…

This document is a compilation of manuscripts describing seven programs which received the 1976 American College Testing Program and the National University Extension Association Innovative Awards in Continuing Education for making innovative contributions to the improvement of continuing education. Entry manuscripts for each of the following…