Clarifying the Goals for Career and Technical Education

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Clarifying the Goals for Career and Technical
Education

• James A. Gregson
• University of Idaho
• Peg Rooney Community College of Denver

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Career Technical Education Philosophy Matters

• James A. Gregson
• University of Idaho

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Philosophy Why does it matter in general?

• 1. Is a key characteristic of a profession
• 2. Clarifies issues
• 3. Raises questions
• 4. Recognizes alternatives and
• 5. Facilitates coherence in theory and practice.

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Why philosophy should matter to you

• 1. Informs policy and funding
• 2. Impacts stake holders
• 3. Effects practice
• 4. Contributes to democratic participation

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Philosophical Questions

• 1. What is (are) the purpose (s) of Career and
  Technical Education (CTE)?
• A. What is the nature of the learner?
• B. What is the role of the teacher?
• C. What is the role of curriculum?

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What are some possible philosophies for CTE?

• Instrumentalism
• Progressivism
• Emancipatory

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Instrumentalism

• CTE should
• 1. Meet the needs of employers.
• A. Prepare learners for work
• B. Have technical experts as teachers and
• C. Employ curriculum that promotes work
  knowledge, skills, dispositions.

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Progressivism

• CTE should
• 1. Meet the needs of learners, communities, and
  employers.
• A. Engage students in academic, lifelong,
  self-directed, career/technical learning
• B. Have expert teachers as facilitators and
• C. Employ contextualized, experiential, and
  experimental curriculum.

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Emancipatory

• CTE should
• 1. Address social, economic, political and
  performance issues related to work.
• A. Help empower marginalized populations
• B. Have educators who serve as change agents
• C. Employ a transformative curriculum.

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Reflecting on the past and thinking about the
future

• 1. Need to bridge dualisms
• 2. Learn lessons from history
• 3. Gain insight into new possibilities and
• 4. Recognize philosophy reflects purpose and
  informs practice.