This book is designed primarily for potential and inservice vocational instructors who are pursuing a program of personal and professional development which will ensure competency in this specialty. In any state in the United States, there are a number of uncredentialed instructors who teach courses in vocational education. Although these individuals may be competent enough in their subject matter areas, there is an obvious deficiency in the foundations of vocational education. Foundations of vocational education help vocational educators lay a solid foundation from which they can better help students hold aloft the banner of the full range of education for work, which is career and technical education in its modern sense. From this standpoint, this book is an excellent textbook for undergraduate and graduate students at university settings. Appealing foundation books are normally concerned with historical, philosophical, and social considerations of vocational education. The basic principles of vocational education must be covered in these books. Such prominent elements can be found from Evans and Herr’s (1978) Foundations of Vocational Education to Gray and Herr’s (1998) Workforce Education: The Basics. This book is no exception.

More than half of 9th graders in the United States will never complete a college degree. High schools must do more than prepare some students for college: They must prepare all American youth for productive lives as well as continued learning beyond high school. In this timely volume, two educational leaders advocate for a more meaningful high school experience. To accomplish this, the authors argue that we need to change the focus of our current high school reform efforts from "college for all" to "careers for all." This work shows how schools can prepare young people both for the emerging workplace and postsecondary education.

Like most good educational interventions, problem-based learning (PBL) did not grow out of theory, but out of a practical problem. Medical students were bored, dropping out, and unable to apply what they had learned in lectures to their practical experiences a couple of years later. Neurologist Howard S. Barrows reversed the sequence, presenting students with patient problems to solve in small groups and requiring them to seek relevant knowledge in an effort to solve those problems. Out of his work, PBL was born. The application of PBL approaches has now spread far beyond medical education. Today, PBL is used at levels from elementary school to adult education, in disciplines ranging across the humanities and sciences, and in both academic and corporate settings. This book aims to take stock of developments in the field and to bridge the gap between practice and the theoretical tradition, originated by Barrows, that underlies PBL techniques.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has become a vibrant source of workforce development across the globe. It is no longer an offering only for a specialized sector of students. Instead, it has matured into a sound and meaningful program for high school and postsecondary students across interest areas, and abilities. CTE programs and students realize the great relevancy of the programs to workplace and higher education readiness and immediate earning power. This volume addresses the changing needs of foundation courses in CTE. As land grant universities began to offer courses to cover the historical, social and philosophical aspects of CTE, teaching institutions have followed suit. Therefore, readers will find not only a rich background in history and philosophy of the field, but also theory, best practice, and strategies specifically grounded in CTE. As scholars and practitioners argue whether human resource development (HRD) encompasses CTE or vice versa in the field, this text proves that HRD is an integral component and thrust of CTE. As a broad field of study, CTE has come a long way and its history parallels the efforts of humanity from the Stone Age to modern civilization. Building Workforce Competencies through CTE proves that CTE survived, and thrives. The more we realize how pervasive technology and information skills are needed in our society, the more we need CTE. CTE is a leader in innovative educational programs, pedagogical theory and practice; it prepares people, young and old, for the world of work. This book provides a practical and visionary basis for cultivating future opportunities and directions in CTE.

This volume examines STEM education, preparation, and career exploration--and the role of career and technical education (CTE) in preparing individuals for the STEM workforce. Highlighting avenues for success and exemplary practices, the volume covers topics such as: 1) Incorporating experiential learning activities for students in CTE-STEM programs, 2) Providing avenues and effective strategies for closing the skills gap for students in CTE-STEM through funding and evaluation and assessment activities, 3) Highlighting the experiences of women in CTE-STEM related programs, and 4) Implications for policy and practice. This is the 178th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Essential to the professional libraries of presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other leaders in today's open-door institutions, New Directions for Community Colleges provides expert guidance in meeting the challenges of their distinctive and expanding educational mission.