ACED 7030—Curriculum Issues in Adult and Career Education Defining the Vocational/Technical Curriculum

What is Curriculum?? Take a minute and write your definition before you go to the next slides. Compare your definition to those given later.

According to Webster, Curriculum is... n Series of studies required, as for graduation. AND n all of the courses offered in a school, college, etc.,or in a particular subject. The word is from the Latin root “currere.” It means “a course or race.” Inquiring minds want to know!

Oliva (1989) states... To some people the curriculum consists of all of the experiences undergone by children wherever they may be: in school, at home, on the street. To others the curriculum is a set of subjects which children “take.”

Oliva (1989) goes on to say... Some educators call a written plan a curriculum. When they write curriculum guides, they say that they are “writing a curriculum.” Page 262 Taken from Supervision for Today’s Schools--3rd Edition

Crunkilton and Finch say... Curriculum is the sum of the learning activities and experiences that a student has under the auspices or direction of the school. Page 11

Their idea includes two supporting concepts. n The focus is on the student (each has his or her own curriculum). n Formal courses are only part of the curriculum. The focus is on the “whole” student!

What do you think?? What difference does this make?? Follow this link to the discussion board and give us your thoughts on these definitions and on the need to have a clear definition in mind when working with a curriculum project.

The educational goals of the organization can affect the curriculum What are the purposes or goals of education, in general?? Follow this link to the discussion board and give us your thoughts on this questionFollow this link to the discussion board and give us your thoughts on this question.

Here’s a few that I came up with... n Prepare graduates for the future n Encourage citizenship n Address health issues n Provide social opportunities n Keep “kids” off of the streets

What about GOALS 2000? n School Readiness n School Completion n Student Achievement and Citizenship n Teacher Education and Professional Development n Mathematics and Science n Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning n Safe, Disciplined, and Alcohol-and- Drug-Free Schools n Parental Participation Click here for more information on Goals 2000Click here for more information on Goals 2000.

Where are we today on the national level?? No Child Left Behind! How does the NCLB affect career and technical education programs and curriculum? Go to the discussion board and share your thoughts on this. Go to the discussion board and share your thoughts on this.

What about the organization’s guiding principles or conceptual framework? The conceptual framework for the college of Education at VSU is the foundation for all of our teacher-preparation programs. Everything that we do should support the conceptual framework. Click here for more information.Click here for more information.

What are the purposes or goals of adult, vocational, and technical education?? Do these differ from other, more traditional general education subjects? Think about it.

Do you agree with these? n Prepare for earning a living n Teach employability skills/work ethics n Teach technical subject matter n Teach interpersonal work skills n Upgrade or update skills

The focus of Career Education varies at educational levels. n Elementary--Career awareness n Middle School--Exploration n High School--Continued exploration, some skill development, work habits n Post-Secondary--Heavy skill development, employability, work readiness n Lifelong/Career--Update skills, train for new careers, sensitivity, personal interest

Education for Life AND Education for Earning a Living! See page 10 in your text for a discussion of this concept.

FORMAL EDUCATION INFORMAL EDUCATION EDUCATION FOR LIFE EDUCATION FOR EARNING A LIVING All are important when educating the “whole student!

In the next lesson, we will look at how instruction differs from curriculum and at some specific characteristics of the adult, vocational, and technical curricula. Check the website for assignments Check the website for assignments related to this lesson. Contact me or one of your classmates if you have questions on this lesson.Contact me