Brian Simon (1981) argued that the English education system had failed to develop pedagogy because of social class division. This has been enhanced by the failure to address parity of esteem issues between the academic and the vocational curriculum, which makes the absence of a real pedagogy in Further Education (FE) and alternative provision (AP)…

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…

Curricula are not just lists of subjects to teach. Curricula guide and are central to the quality of teaching and learning. They are fundamental to improving human capital, motivating people to stay in education and training and to promoting lifelong learning. Pressure to modernize education and training to respond to the diverse needs of learners…

This paper reports on a collaborative project aimed at addressing the learning challenges faced by non-traditional students at the interface of TAFE and Higher Education. Our pedagogy is informed by engagement with a critique of competency-based education that espouses "bringing knowledge back into" the curriculum (Wheelahan, 2010a) and a critique…

This contribution aims at informing readers about a current education and training design approach which is based on theory building and practical experience. It is about the development of comprehensive competence-based education, which is different from earlier attempts to develop competence-based education. In many education development…

The inclusion of an Environmental Awareness Module (EAM) within Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Spain is considered a factor of overriding importance due to the current need to incorporate environmental awareness within society as a whole but also within particular occupations and professional practices involved both in jobs relating to…

Describes a project designed to create instructional materials in entrepreneurship for secondary vocational students. Steps discussed include selection of small businesses to be treated in modules, determination of module content, guidelines for presentation of module content, and results of field test and expert review. (CT)

Curriculum developers must work hard to avoid the "what errors" of curriculum development. They must avoid failing to teach what should be taught and teaching what is no longer relevant and needed. Curriculum "what errors" are likely to occur when teachers design courses so as to teach what they know best, what they were…

This publication contains 4 reports and 15 profiles which illustrate the role of computers in education with emphasis on vocational education. The reports are: (1) "Microcomputers in the Classroom--Dreams and Realities" (Henry Jay Becker); (2) "Microcomputers in the Classroom: Are There Unique Issues for Vocational Educators to Consider?" (Judith…

This booklet is designed to serve as a practical guide to assist teachers in using the Illinois Core Curriculum in Agriculture to develop courses of study for local vocational agriculture courses. Provided first is an overview of vocational agriculture programs on the secondary-school level in the state of Illinois. The next section is a guide for…

This curriculum was developed for Job Corps Centers to introduce the principles of information technology. The goal was to make it flexible but comprehensive, and a variety of teaching strategies related to real-life situations in different types of businesses that students might face in a work environment were incorporated. Each module consists…

Describes Florida's Approach to Competency-Based Individualized Teaching (FACIT), which is a learning system designed to provide vocational educators with the knowledge and the skills to implement and manage an individualized, competency-based instructional delivery system. (SK)

Describes a study examining approaches of community college faculty to curriculum planning and teaching and modifications they have made in curricula to meet societal changes. Indicates that vocational faculty were more outwardly directed than academic faculty and that the amount and depth of course revision slows with teacher experience. (17…

A study identified four principles, based on transfer of learning research and cognitive theory, for guiding curricular decisions, instructional development, and teaching practices in ways that support transferable learning. The principles were as follows: (1) emphasize intermediate-level knowledge in curricular decisions; (2) create in the…

This paper focuses on the need for continuous evaluation in community college curriculum. During the process of analyzing and updating instruction, curriculum objectives should be recognized, especially: (1) knowledge objectives, which include relevant facts, concepts, and generalizations; (2) skills objectives, such as critical and creative…