A summary of curricular innovations (career education, experiential education, competency-based education, interdisciplinary courses, independent study, calendar change) with discussion of reasons for resistance (poor quality, intellectual work involved, lack of concept of "curriculum"). (JT)

It is argued that three misconceptions about language learning have limited the utility of performance objectives in individualized second language instruction. These misconceptions--confusion between competence and performance, inadequate identification of linguistic elements, and assumption that linguistic elements correspond to learning…

Four curricular models are contrasted: the performance model (which is exemplified by most college curricula), closed and open contrast models, and the "experimenting community" in which learning experiences emerge from a process of interaction. This latter approach is elaborated upon in terms of its emphasis on nurturing improvisational learning,…

The article describes the systems approach which is employed by the Canadian armed forces in its technical training programs. Based on a Skinnerian approach to learning, training objectives are highly related to operational needs and stated in terms of trainee performance. (AJ)

A promising way of improving school-industry communication about requisite job skills is to use competency models to relay employers' needs to educators and by which educators can transmit clear descriptions of their products back to employers. The DACUM Chart described in the article also serves for organizing and conducting training. (Author/AJ)

This guide is intended to assist vocational and technical education teachers in implementing competency-based vocational education programs. The first section discusses what competency-based education (CBE) is and is not, the varying degrees to which a course or program can be competency based, and several different approaches to implementing CBE…

An open-entry/open-exit competency-based nursing career ladder model was developed to demonstrate the articulation process from high school through licensed vocational nursing (LVN), associate degree nursing (ADN), and baccalaureate degree-level nursing (BSN) programs. The model was based on data obtained from a review of the literature on (1)…

This document is one of a series of modules in the Missouri Auto Mechanics Curriculum Guide, which is based on 144 basic auto mechanics competencies identified on the Missouri Auto Mechanics Competency Profile. The instructor's materials in this document are for a 13-unit secondary education course. The following units are included: (1)…

This guide contains instructor's materials for a nine-unit secondary school course on fundamentals of electronics. The units are conductors, insulators, semiconductors, and atomic structure; basic concepts and sources of electrical quantities; Ohm's Law; units and conversions; use of multimeters; circuits; electromagnetics and electrostatics;…

This document contains teachers' materials for a 10-module, 1-semester technology education course in product design offered in grades 11 and 12 in North Carolina. The document begins with a rationale for the development of the course; an explanation of the elements in an instructional system; a rationale for the course; a description of the…

The materials contained in this document are for a five-lesson course intended to introduce Missouri secondary vocational education students to many of the specialty animal enterprises available in the field of agriculture. The lessons are on speciality animal production possibilities, profitability of specialty animal enterprises, comparative…

A project provided vocational teachers with inservice field-based clinical experience with handicapped students to develop pedagogical competencies. It also implemented a delivery system for providing assistance to vocational teachers who have handicapped learners mainstreamed into their classrooms. After the types of handicapped students were…

A project was conducted to develop a valid, competency-referenced test on the core competencies identified for the Missouri Fundamentals of Marketing curriculum. During the project: (1) multiple-choice test items based on the core competencies in the Fundamentals of Marketing curriculum were developed; (2) instructions for onsite administration of…

This paper provides guidelines in a question-and-answer format for developing systems of performance standards and accountability for vocational education. The seven questions answered in the guide are the following: What are performance measures and standards? What types of performance measures and standards should be developed? How many measures…

These materials for a five-unit course were developed to introduce secondary and postsecondary students to the use of electronic equipment in marketing. The units cover the following topics: electronic marketing as a valid marketing approach; telemarketing; radio electronic media marketing; television electronic media marketing; and cable TV…