Educating Career & Technical Education Teachers: Building a New Model. Symposium Proceedings (Washington, DC, June 13-14, 2000).

Overview & Synopsis

This proceedings was held to help states, universities, and local education agencies discuss and debate the current state of teacher education in the field of career and technical education (CTE). Section 1 presents these two opening addresses: "Educating CTE Teachers" (Patricia W. McNeil) and "Preparing Teachers for the Challenge of Education in the Next Century" (Bruce Alberts). Section 2 discusses and debates issues related to a 21st century vision of CTE: role of academics in CTE, structuring of teacher education programs, how best to connect instruction to the work world, and purpose of CTE. Section 3, on content and structure of CTE teacher education, focuses on what teachers should know and be able to do; improving initial preparation; providing support to new CTE teachers; and building the knowledge base of existing CTE teachers. Section 4 addresses how to improve recruitment of future CTE teachers. Section 5, on quality assurance in CTE teaching, describes two groups contributing to the teacher quality standards movement: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. A conclusion summarizes the major points that authors say the CTE leadership community agrees upon: what all students should know and be able to do when they graduate from high school and what learning experiences will get them there; what CTE teachers need to know and be able to do to make this happen; what academic teachers need to know and be able to do to work constructively with CTE teachers; and what changes in teacher education are needed to provoke the kind and quality of teaching America's students need. Appendixes include the symposium agenda and participants list. (YLB)