Should We Cheat the Rural Vocational Education Student? Model Programs for Rural Vocational Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This project was conducted to determine how best to serve the needs of rural vocational education students in Arizona. The study examined the literature on delivering instruction in such a manner that graduates of all vocational programs have equal opportunity, equal access, and equal competitiveness in the marketplace. Problems in supplying vocational education in rural areas were identified. Twelve methods of ensuring quality in instruction to rural education were explored (mobile units, consolidation, interactive television, one-way televised instruction, microcomputer-mainframe network, satellite computer-based instruction, full network, audio teleconferencing, videotaped lessons, interactive video, regional vocational training centers, and resource sharing), with advantages and disadvantages determined for each method. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of distance education were discussed. The project concluded with recommendations for rural vocational programs in Arizona to use as many types of media as possible to provide education--considering it cheaper to transport information than people--and to provide model programs for the areas being served. (KC)