Improving Tech Prep and Vocational Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This document contains five essays designed to help teachers and administrators improve tech prep and vocational education programs. The first essay, "Application of Psychology of Learning to Tech Prep Education and Instruction," posits that technical education instructors need to be cognizant of the following: meaningful learning; sequential experiences; student success; purposeful activities; provision for individual differences; knowledge, skills, and attitudinal goals; and quality evaluation techniques. The second essay, "Reading in Tech Prep Education," proposes that high-level reading skills are needed by technical education students and that teachers should assess students' reading skills and help improve them. The third essay, "Curriculum Design in Technical Education," raises three questions: Who should choose objectives of instruction? How should learning opportunities be sequenced? and Which procedures should be used to appraise learner progress? "Improving Vocational Education," the fourth essay, suggests three improvement methods: setting instructional goals for vocational education, encouraging faculty members to attend classes and workshops to upgrade their skills, and sharing ideas at faculty meetings. Specific ideas for teacher training are offered. The final essay, "Analyzing Trends in the Curriculum," discusses relevant trends in today's curriculum, such as cooperative learning, the interdisciplinary curriculum, team teaching, constructivism in teaching, full inclusion, learning styles of pupils, and the block of time. (KC)