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An essay on vocational education
Importance of career and technical education
Importance of career and technical education
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History Career and technical education is a term applied to schools, institutions, and educational programs that specialize in the skilled trades, applied sciences, modern technologies, and career preparation. It was formerly (and is still commonly) called vocational education; however, the term has fallen out of favor with most educators because the field is not just limited to vocational trades but broaden to careers that utilize modern day technology and skills.
United States Law Teachers are assessed for several purposes, to measure the effectiveness of each teacher, identify strengths and weaknesses, move them from good to great and improve teaching strategies. Teachers are assessed using a state mandated assessment tool or a district
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It’s important to empower all students to be successful citizens, workers, and leaders in a global economy. Here at Mississippi State University’s Research and Curriculum Unit, we strive to create academic course content that combines academic rigor with real-world relevance. Our nationally recognized, experienced, and highly qualified team of experts write the CTE curricula utilized by high school programs throughout the state. The curricula provide content for numerous career fields. A major goal is to increase students' interests and abilities. Adding relevance to students' high school experiences motivates them to further explore future career and educational …show more content…
Six vocational areas in both the Secondary and Postsecondary levels are available as well as curricula for the Tech Prep Courses. In Mississippi, CTE courses are widely available. At more than 500 schools and 15 community and junior colleges, CTE instruction is offered in 49 distinct occupational areas. Students may enroll in CTE programs in secondary, postsecondary or short-term adult sessions, as well as through industry training or business and industry partnerships. CTE courses in Mississippi are aligned to 16 career clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework. These clusters encompass grouping of similar occupations and industries, and each career cluster may contain multiple career pathways. CTE programs offer traditional graduation options, as well as opportunities to earn duel credit and/or national certifications. Students are exposed to career options within each career cluster that can be achieved with varying levels of academic credentials, from a high school diploma to a post secondary degree and beyond. On average one third of Mississippi K-12 students took at least one CTE
Subsequently what is done is that selected high schools develop a curriculum that is organized around a specific career cluster, which are like a specialized charter school. The goal is to feature a series advanced “pathway” courses that can help students to enrich their knowledge through work-based learning and academics. In turn, this specialized education will allow student to demonstrate their understanding through assessments and industry credentialing opportunities. As well these schools are enrolled in a learning exchange that have partnerships that are organized to support the programs of study by coordinating statewide networks of education partners, businesses, industry associations, labor, and other organizations (2013, p. 21-23). Consequently, the program is driven to help high school students develop a career path and to receive exploratory education that will given them an advantage in either college endeavors or in the job market.
The university-statehouse-industrial complex has grown such that the traditional models of primary and secondary education have survived two or three decades beyond their practical use. With a public school system that segregates and discriminates based on, “college material or not?” (Brolin & Loyd, 1989) and a university system that places only one in five graduates in work in their field of major (cite), our educational system has passed its prime and is still training and educating for 20th century job markets that no longer exist. The way that we educate and what we educate for and why needs rethinking from the top down and needs to be more practical and pragmatic. Career and technical education (CTE) consisting of specialized, targeted, and focused vocational programs at all levels do more than just prepare a student for a real job – these programs have practical education and socialization value that conventional classrooms centered around a teacher’s monologue for many do not. Nowhere is the added value of such targeted programs more useful and valuable than in special classes, courses, and CTE training aimed at students with disabilities.
As the economy evolves and the job market continues to get more competitive, it’s becoming harder to have a successful career without some kind of college degree. This creates a belief in many young students that college actually is a commodity, something they must have in order to have a good life. There’s many different factors that influence this mindset, high schools must push the importance of the student’s willingness and drive to further their education. College isn’t just a gateway to jobs, but it is an opportunity to increase knowledge and stretch and challenge the student which in return makes them a more rounded adult and provides them with skills they might lack prior to
High Schools That Work (HSTW), a school improvement initiative of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), has documented achievement gains by career and technical education (CTE) students at participating sites (Bottoms and Presson 2000). At HSTW sites participating in 1996 and 1998 assessments (Frome 2001), CTE students showed math and science achievement equal to the national average of all high school students—and exceeded the national average of CTE students in math, science, and reading.
Central Idea: Many students feel like they are moving on after high school with no knowledge of real life situations.
Over the past few years, people have begun to see going to college as a way to achieve the American Dream through career-readiness. People used to go to college, hoping to get a better well-rounded education. For most the well-rounded education, it usually came with the courses required for a liberal arts education. The courses would provide a level of analytical and in-depth understanding that would prepare the students for both life and whichever career path chosen. No matter the amount of money paid, parents would be willing to gi...
Career and technical education courses are intended to prepare high school students to enter the work force in a skilled trade. It equips the students with the experience and education necessary to succeed in an average skill level job while maintaining the student’s interest. In an article that focuses on an aviation CTE program, a “senior policy analyst at the Morrison Institute, said that Career and Technical Education provides another opportunity for students who struggle in high school.” The assumption is that students who struggle in high school presumably do not want another four years of education to attain a bachelor’s degree. Until recently, schools have been excessively geared towards college readiness. The dogma was elementary school, high school, college, without exception. With this “one size fits all” education system in place, a different education course had to evolve. CTE courses offer a break from the tedious grind by introducing career readiness as an alternative. In place of the four years in a college, CTE programs gives student...
For far too long, people have regarded vocational schooling as a second class option to a traditional college. Some believe that only under achievers will attend this type of school...
Office of Vocational and Adult Education. (2012). Investing in America's future: A blueprint for transforming career and technical education. Office Of Vocational And Adult Education, US Department Of Education. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED532493
Time sure does fly; in the blink of an eye, yet another 7.5-week class has come and gone. Just like life, it is scary to think that in just a few short years I will be graduating college and be in search of a future career. The magnitudes of readings, assignments, PowerPoint lectures, and videos have all contributed to the valuable knowledge I have gained since taking this course. Nothing that was presented or required was seen as invaluable towards my progression of career development. This career development course has allowed me to do some self-exploration, career research, and help me understand what influencing factors were related to the job market. Ultimately, this class helped me gauge and find a suitable career path, which will forever shape my future.
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, (2006). Major milestones of career & technology education in oklahoma. Career Tech, (pp. 1-12). Retrieved from http://www.okcareertech.org/educators/cimc/resources/downloads-1/learning-to-earn/learning-to-earn/history_of_careertech_lo_res.pdf/view
Reducing the dropout rate is the most common outcome of vocational education for at-risk populations
The purpose of a high school education is to prepare one for college and ultimately, the workforce. By the end of freshman year, in high school, the average student has learned a sufficient amount of material in enough subjects , that he or she can be considered "well-rounded" in his or her studies. This is because the rate at which material is covered in schools, across the nation has increased dramatically compared to the past. Students now learn more advanced curriculum at a younger age, and this continues to become more evident year after year. High school has now become more focused on teaching students a small amount of information on several essential subjects, rather than having them focus deeply on the subjects they seek to pursue in career. Unfortunately, this shift in focus has caused the overall high school experience to stray away from its intended purpose. If students are not prepared for their career, what purpose does a high school education have? If High Schools inserted more elective course opportunities into their standard set of curriculum, it would further prepare students for the career of their choice, allow them to truly master a subject, build their confidence, and refine their talents so that they may grow and succeed their future occupations.
The completion of high school is the beginning of adult life. Entitlement to public education ends, and young people and their families are faced with many options and decisions about the future. The most common choices for the future are pursuing vocational training or further academic education, getting a job, and living independently.
What is vocational education? That depends on the period in history and whom you ask. There is probably no greater bone of contention or confusion among educators. Vocational education or educating students to fulfil their vocation or calling in life is such a broad definition. Traditionally it has been seen as an education for those not taking up tertiary studies, for those who instead undertake hands on training before entering the world of work. If this then is the definition, entry to some of the most highly regarded professions, is through vocational education. Take for example the doctor, teacher or the architect. In each of these cases the undergraduate student must undertake some form of on the job training and examination in order to receive their registration. This then changes the focus of vocational education. No longer can we look from the traditional view that it is for tradespeople, or blue-collar workers. We must then take a more encompassing view that it is necessary element of education for all students, to give them the grounding to deal with the challenges of the work force, regardless of the esteem the work they will ultimately do is held in.