The purpose of the study is to determine the attitudes of teachers and students towards vocational education in the Senior Secondary School phase. The population for the study constituted senior secondary school teachers and standard eight (Grade ten) learners of the Kokstad region in the Eastern Cape Province. 270 teachers and 540 students in the nine districts of the Kokstad region, made up the samples for this research which was conducted in 27 schools. Three schools per district were purposively drawn. The use of questionnaires and interviews provided findings on attitudes towards vocational education. The research was pilot tested in two schools. The objectives of the pilot test were two fold: - to test the appropriateness of the items in the questionnaire and clarity of the wording; - to test the relevance of the open-ended questions, and whether their purpose in eliciting from teachers and students the reasons for their attitudes towards vocational education, was achieved. After each pilot testing session, items in the questionnaire were discussed and rephrased to enhance clarity. Questionnaires were dispatched timeously to both teachers and students with a fair response. Data analysis led to findings, implications and recommendations. One of the findings was that both teachers and students had positive attitudes towards vocational education in secondary schools. They recommended greater inclusion of vocational subjects in the curriculum. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key officials in the Department of Education in the Kokstad Region. Findings from the interviews indicate that the educationists that were interviewed favoured more curricular inclusion of the vocational subjects. Career guidance was recommended as a necessity by the head of the Psychological Services so as to help students in the choice of subjects for their future careers. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Durban-Westville, 1999.

The present study investigates the relationship between educational and vocational indecision. It examines gender and cultural differences in relation to these two main variables. Three levels of educational and vocational indecision among first-entry university students were studied and designated the categories decided, tentatively decided and undecided. A biographical questionnaire and the Career Decision Scale (CDS) were used to gather quantitative data. The CDS was used to measure career indecision. Students here were arbitrarily categorised as decided, somewhat decided and undecided according to their CDS scores. Interviews were also conducted to gather qualitative data. A total of 404 students completed the questionnaire and CDS, and a total of 25 students were interviewed. The sample was drawn from the first year student population and comprised 153 male and 221 female students. There were 271 African, 1 Coloured, 99 Indian and 4 White students in the sample. The results from the data show that there is a significant relationship between educational and vocational indecision in the sample. There were significant differences for gender and culture in relation to educational and vocational indecision. Male students were found to be more decided than female students about their majors and vocation. African students were more decided about their vocation than their majors. The reverse was true for Indian students, that is, they were more decided about their majors than their vocation. There were also very interesting differences among the different language groups. The findings of this study show that the levels of educational and vocational indecision were high among the first-entry university students. Recommendations and implications for further study are discussed. KEY TERMS: Career decision-making; majors; vocation; indecision. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Durban-Westville, 1997.

This case study examines some key factors that influence student engagement in a blended learning environment, in particular, when using interactive online resources to learn Carpentry theory. The participants were volunteers from two parallel classes of secondary school students working toward Level 1 Building Construction and Allied Trade Skills Certificate designed for secondary schools by the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation. The participant researcher was also the teacher for both classes. Data in this case study was collected by observation, reflective journal writing, student records, group discussion and analysis of student course results. It showed that the students responded positively to the blended classroom environment and the interactive online resources developed by the researcher for this study. The blended learning environment in the classroom increased student participation, aided classroom management, and more than halved the time needed for both classes to finish the Instrumental Drawing Unit Standard 7502 while the interactive online resources enhanced student engagement and achievement in other areas of their theory. Students responded positively to the automated formative feedback and were encouraged by knowing their results instantly; working to gain top results and correct answers rather than just completing an activity by filling in the blanks. A competitive element was introduced by integrating a timer into the resources. Challenges encountered included limited access to computers and the necessity for students to share computers, a network failure which made the online resources unavailable for an extended period, and storage problems for the online resources to allow them to be accessed from the online learning environment at school and at home. This study concluded that technology can enable teachers to enhance their teaching and enrich the student learning environment through the introduction of a variety of media. Students still depended on face-to-face teacher input but, in the blended classroom environment and the online environment, the role of the teacher changed noticeably to a role of facilitator.

Within educational research, postsecondary vocational education receives relatively little attention; within this sector, trades education is studied even less frequently. This research sought to address this gap through exploring the transition of master tradespeople who have completed a first apprenticeship in their trade and who then undertake a second apprenticeship as trades teachers. The research question explored: the motivation for career change; pre-existing competencies brought to the role of teaching; the methods used to learn to teach; negotiation of a new vocational identity; and sources of satisfaction in the teaching role. Using a constructivist paradigm, this qualitative-dominant crossover sequential mixed methods study surveyed trades teachers via a newly created instrument, distributed electronically to three Western Canadian polytechnic institutions. In addition to analysis of the full data set, the survey data were divided by respondents’ years of teaching to look for possible changes with experience. A summary was shared with survey participants who were willing to participate in follow-up discussions. Interpretation panel meetings were held with these volunteers; discussions were transcribed and analyzed for themes, comparing the results of this qualitative data set to that of the quantitative survey results. As the qualitative and quantitative data were combined, the following key insights about this group emerged. Tradespeople moving to trades teaching are motivated primarily by two factors. They take pride in their trade and want to see the craft continue through teaching and mentoring apprentices on a full-time basis. Secondly, they seek an improved work-life balance through teaching and will accept lower remuneration as a teacher in order to have more time for family and life outside of work. Tradespeople bring a strong sense of having been a teacher, as an aspect of being a journeyperson, to the role of trades teacher. They are self-reflective and wish to improve as teachers. They rate themselves as stronger in the general abilities, attitudes and traits associated with teaching than in pedagogical knowledge and skills competencies, but learn in these areas to gain confidence in their overall teaching competency over time. In learning to be a teacher, trades teachers prefer to replicate the informal learning methods of the apprenticeship model: mentorship, discussions, self-study, and trial and error. They reject overly-formal or academic training as impractical, not helpful toward improving teaching, and an expression of the lower status accorded to trades teaching within higher education. The transition from tradesperson to trades teacher is not a distinct change or linear process. It is an evolution, growing from the role of teacher imbedded within journeyperson, and subsuming the trades knowledge gained through apprenticeship and practice, to become a new identity that makes one more than a teacher, more than a tradesperson, but rather a teacher of the trade. Trades teachers are satisfied with their work. They find satisfaction primarily through interactions with students and through relationships with colleagues. Dissatisfaction comes from time constraints and from a sense of not being valued within the institution.

The aim of this thesis is to contribute knowledge about pedagogical change in Swedish vocational education and training (VET). The study focuses on vocational schools between 1918 and 1971, and discusses the educational practices that balanced on the border between school and work. The practices under study are probation periods, production work, and “diligence allowance”. By focusing on these practices, which ceased when the vocational training was integrated with upper secondary school in 1971, this study seeks to illustrate how shifts in work and school traditions in the VET discourse are relevant to pedagogical change in vocational training. The central questions of the thesis seek to pinpoint the ways in which the traditions manifested themselves and how the pedagogical content of the educational practices were renegotiated. The study is based on extensive empirical data consisting of public enquiry reports, an organisational journal, archive material, and memory books from vocational schools from the relevant period. The VET discourse has been analysed using Johan Asplund’s concept of “figures of thought”. The central figures of thought in vocational training – school and work – have been used to see how the practices’ pedagogical content and aims were renegotiated. This renegotiation made it possible to adapt to school structures in a way that made these practices problematic. Consequently, they could be removed when vocational training was integrated with upper secondary school. In the period leading up to the 1950s, the pedagogical foundations were largely inspired by work practices. Thereafter, it became increasingly common for tensions between the logics and structures embedded in work and school to arise in the VET discourse. This process led to a shift in emphasis in the discourse, from the “work” figure of thought to the “school” figure of thought.

The purpose of this study was to investigate existing work-oriented programs for the educationally deficient in the state of Indiana, to review related literature concerning such vocationally-oriented programs, and to explore the implications for future directions in program planning and implementation.The reserach was planned to answer questions pertaining to four major levels of investigation: 1) program and coordinatore identification, 2) analysis of program structure, 3) descriptive analysis of students and 4) curriculum content. An eighteen item questionnaire was devised to gather descriptive data pertaining to these four areas.The questionnaire was sent to seventy-nine Special Education Cooperatives and/or Unified Public School Systems in Indiana as identified by the Division of Special Education, Indiana Department of Public Instruction, 1974-75 school year. From the seventy-nine questionnaires mailed, sixty-six percent of the Co-ops or Single Unified Systems responded.The first level of information analyzed concerned existing or planned programs, specific program locations in the state, identifying terminology, and information concerning personnel and their certification. All Systems responding, except one, stated that they did have some type of program for educationally deficient students at the secondary level. In fifty-eight percent of the systems, Pre-Vocational Education (P.V.E.) was the term which titled the program. Anotherthirty-five percent used the more standard label of Special Education while twenty-five percent chose Work-Study. Other labels were closely associated with Vocational Education.All professional Personnel were certified teachers with twenty-seven systems reporting that their personnel held certification in the field of special education and twenty-five systems had a wide diversity of educational certification held by their personnel. One might assume that persons with certification in special education were not abundant at the time when a large majority of these programs were initiated. The title held by these professionals closely corresponded with the program title; P.V.E., Special Education, and Work-Study. Only small differences were discernible between the total number of males and females working as professionals in the programs.Level two contained information concerning program operation and length of service with the system. Finances and program management were also questioned with regard to local, state, and federal regulations. Nearly thirty-one percent of the systems reporting had some structured program for more than seven years. Most of these long term programs are operating in large metropolitian areas and are single system units. Another twenty-eight percent of the systems responding had been operating some secondary work-oriented programs between two and three years. It would appear that these more recent programs have been developed in preparation for the special education mandate or since the promulgation of the mandate in Indiana.Nearly eighty percent of the programs were financed from twelve to one hundred percent by the school corporation. Most school systems accepted between forty-three to fifty-five percent of the financial obligation. Only three systems obtained federal grants and this money was ear-marked for specific additions to an already existing program. Seventy-five percent of the systems were applying and receiving between twenty to sixty percent of their program finances from the Department of Public Instruction.Nearly one half of those responding systems were receiving aid in widely varying amounts from either Indiana Vocational Education or Indiana Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Both Departments have criteria upon which program funding assistance can be obtained. However, these criteria seem to lack consistency among those programs which are receiving financial benefits.Level three refers to specific information concerning students who are enrolled in work-oriented programs. Seventy-five percent of the students are enrolled in these public school programs at the secondary level between three and four years. Most of the programs appear to be structured as four-year programs. The length of enrollment varied from one to six years which may mean that pupils in soem systems may continue as long as they can show progress toward meeting program goals, or that the pupils enter the program at the junior high level.The students who are enrolled in work-oriented programs tend to cluster between the chronological ages of fifteen to nineteen inclusively. Most programs adhere to State Rules and Regulations concerning intelligence quotients for students which are between 50-79. Criteria beside that of I.Q. scores were used to determine placement in some systems, suggesting that there are more complexities in dealing with handicapped children than a single test score might indicate.Much of the literature suggests that most educationally deficient persons fall into more than one classification and this data seems to support these same findings inasmuch as a number of systems checked several categories of handicaps for their students. Forty-six of the systems reported that eighty-eight percent of their students were classified as being mentally retarded. The second largest group were classified as slow learning. One assumption can be made from this evidence; these students received higher than state standards indicating retardation on intelligence tests but still required individualized programs in order to achieve academic success and enter into the employment field.Approximately eighty-two percent of the programs are operating in a regular high school facility. Less than one-third of the programs provide work-shop facilities. More than three-fourths of those systems responding place their students on jobs either within the school or in the community.Level four concerned curriculum development. More than ninety-eight percent were utilizing some type of mainstreaming technique. The courses of Home Economics, Industrial Arts, Health & Safety, Art, Music, and Physical Education proved to be the most frequently used for the integration of educationally deficient students.According to the literature available, pre-vocational education programs seem to be providing a rewarding experience for educationally deficient students at the secondary level. It is generally agreed that goals of social and vocational competencies can be enhanced by use of a work-study contact for the adolescent because such an arrangement gives real meaning to public school attendance. Work-oriented programs are structured to provide those types of educational courses and actual job training which will later prepare the student for the world of work The pre-vocational phase of the program cultivates those work habits and specific occupational skills which make it possible for the student to be gainfully employed.Research indicates that the educationally deficient student has the potential of limited academic education, vocational training, and employability. However, he lacks sufficient skills, appropriate attitudes, and self-confidence in order to maintain an economically independent and/or socially acceptable life style without supervision and guidance from other sources. Upon graduation from the work-study program, each student should be able to take his place in society on a meaningful, rewarding level, capable and willing to assume the responsibility that will be demanded of him as an adult.From the sixty-six percent of responses received, it seems evident that there has been activity in Indiana to develop work-oriented programs for educationally deficient students at the secondary level. Adequate job placement which is suited to the individual's physical and mental capacities is the final goal.On the basis of the study it is recommended that a more uniform and reliable funding system be established to support work-oriented programs, that follow-up studies on program graduates be initiated, and that both pre-service and in-service programs be developed to upgrade the competencies of professional personnel associated with work-oriented programs.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The purposes of the study were to (1) demonstrate that due to the increased demand for vocational education on the secondary level, the high school principal must take a more active role in vocational education, and (2) determine what knowledge or information the vocational directors of Indiana believed the principals should have in order to provide a stronger vocational delivery system.Vocational education students represent thirty percent of the total high school population in Indiana. Enrollment of secondary school students in Indiana vocational education programs have increased steadily since 1967, with an increase of ninety-eight percent. With thirty percent of high school students involved in vocational education, the secondary school administrator must take a more active role in the administration of vocational education. The secondary school administrator needs to provide for a smooth transition from the high school environment to the vocational centers.FindingsThe following selected findings were based upon the data of the study:1. The major emphasis of vocational education in Indiana is concentrated on an area center level.2. The findings indicated 90.4 percent of the vocational directors and 87.6 percent of the high school principals surveyed did graduate work leading to a vocational director's license and secondary administrator's license in Indiana.3. The average number of graduate classes in educational administration and supervision completed by the vocational directors was 2.9.4. The average number of graduate classes completed by high school principals concerning vocational education was .06, less than one class.5. The vocational directors believed that the high school principals should be more knowledgeable about vocational education than the high school principals perceptions indicated by the principals.ConclusionsThe following conclusions were based upon the findings and data of the study:1. High school principals did not have the knowledge, concerning vocational education, that was believed necessary for the principals to have in order to strengthen the vocational delivery system.2. Cooperation and communication between the high school principals and vocational directors was viewed as weak and ineffective.3. High school principals are not being prepared to meet the vocational needs of high school students.4. There is evidence of limited or no communication between the State Board of Vocational and Technical Education, the Division of Vocational Education and the high school principals.5. High school principals have limited opportunities to contribute in planning and implementation of vocational education at the area vocational centers and state administration level.6. State teacher certification patterns do not include vocational education in the requirements for the secondary school administration and supervision license.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

The purpose of this study was to discover variables or combinations of variables which would predict academic success in industrial education at Norfolk State College. More specifically, it utilized standardized verbal and nonverbal tests and compared these with the presently used Scholastic Aptitude Tests as predictors of success in industrial education. The data for this study were collected from tests administered to a sample population by the writer during regularly scheduled class periods in the Fall semester, 1971, and from the Scholastic Aptitude Test records in the Office of the Registrar at Norfolk State College. The variables included in the study were: Scholastic Aptitude Test - Verbal scores, Scholastic Aptitude Test - Mathematical scores, Scholastic Aptitude Test - Total scores, Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test, and the Raven Progressive Matrices.The criteria of success were the final semester grades in the following courses: Basic Woodworking, Introduction to Technical Drafting, Introduction to Industrial Education, Basic Electronics, and Automobile Engines.In order to show the relationship between the variables studied, the data were analyzed and statistics were computed throw a program developed by the Health Sciences Computing Facility at University of California at Los Angeles. This program incorporated a step-wise regression and rendered a correlation matrix, an analysis of variance, a multiple r and a standard error of estimate. All statistics utilized in this study were computed by the Ball State University Computer Center. The results of this study indicated that the variable that offered the best information of predicting academic success in industrial education at Norfolk State College was the Raven Progressive Matrices. The combinations of variables which were statistically significant were the SAT Mathematical and the Bennett MeoY~anioal Comprehension Test correlated to final grades in Electronics, and the SAT Mathematical, Raven Progressive Matrices, Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test, and SAT Verbal correlated to final grades in Drafting. The results of the study seem to justify the following conclusions: 1. The SAT scores are not valid predictors of academic success in several of the technical areas of industrial education and probably should not be used as such. 2. The Raven Progressive Matrices showed evidence of contributing significantly to prediction of academic success in industrial education at Norfolk State College. 3. The Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test showed a high correlation with final grades in Drafting but probably should not be used as a predictor in other areas. 4. Neither verbal or nonverbal tests used without benefit of other devices should be used as predictors of academic success in industrial education at Norfolk State College. As a result of the present investigation, it is recommended that: 1. A follow-up study of the students in this research study be conducted to ascertain their success as students and later as teachers in the field of industrial education. 2. An investigation employing individual rather than group testing as predictive devices be conducted.3. Further study of the use of the Raven Progressive Matrices be made with larger samples and other criteria of success.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.