Vocational Education Commons^™

The Urgency Of Instituting Systemic Cybersecurity Curriculum Within Stem At Secondary Educational Levels In Preparation For Postsecondary Institutions., Robert Spencer

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Over the last 20 years, many secondary institutions have made advances developing curriculum defined as “STEM (Science, Engineering and Mathematics)” in order to ensure secondary students are eligible to apply as well excel in technology degree programs at the college and university levels. Although various initiatives exist, there are studies however, which allude to a great possibility that there will be a lack of cybersecurity professionals filling present day and anticipated future positions. Despite a large number of federal and educational enhancements there is need for additional research regarding instituting overall systemic processes and curriculum which supports secondary student transition …

Bridging Academia And Industry: Enhancing Workforce Readiness Through Experiential Learning, Sharon Obasi, Beth Hinga

eJournal of Public Affairs

In today's rapidly evolving job market, it is imperative for educational institutions to prepare students for successful transitions into the workforce. This project highlights the integration of experiential learning opportunities into the curriculum through partnerships with industry organizations. By bridging academia and industry, students gain practical skills, industry insights, and professional networks essential for thriving in their careers.

Teaching Disciplinary Ways Of Knowing Using Stem In Afnr, Elizabeth E. Ogar, Neil A. Knobloch, Hui-Hui Wang

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This study explores the integration of STEM in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) education through a course designed to teach disciplinary ways of knowing such as scientific inquiry, engineering design, mathematical modeling, and agroecosystem thinking. The course prepares upper-level undergraduate and graduate students to design and implement STEM-integrated mini-units in both formal and nonformal settings. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and real-world applications, the course encourages critical thinking and problem-solving in addressing global challenges like food security and sustainability. The outcomes include enhanced pedagogical skills, real-world STEM application, and increased student engagement, preparing learners for careers in STEM-related fields.

Beyond Rules And Tools: Imagining A Design Approach To Metadata Management Training, Rebecca B. French

Libraries

Professional development offerings for cataloging and metadata practitioners primarily focus on "rules and tools" - the standards, guidelines, and software applications commonly used in the field. These areas of knowledge are important and foundational, but professionals also need competence in synthesizing this information to solve metadata problems. In this presentation, I will explore design epistemology as a way of understanding metadata management. I will apply design concepts and methods to reimagine metadata training and provide suggestions for on-the-job training approaches that support the development of these harder-to-teach skills.

The Masters Program: A Model For Teaching Adolescents Soft Skills For Career Readiness, Jewrell Rivers

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This workshop will introduce conference participants to the MASTERS Program, a model for teaching adolescents soft skills for career readiness. Participants will engage in small group discussions, simulation activities and interactive exercises to fulfill learning objectives. Participants will be provided with guidance on how to implement the MASTERS Program at their school for preparing students for success in the workplace.

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report - Avenal High School, Ryan D. Deaver

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This report includes documentation that Avenal High School meets the quality criteria required for High School Agriculture Education Programs. The documents are used for reviewing a school as well as applying for grant funding through the Agriculture Incentive Grant. There are supporting documents provided to show proof of things that are being done as well as areas that may need improvement.

Examining The Value Of Industry-Recognized Certifications In Illinois Secondary Career And Technical Education Programs, Nancy Awdziejczyk

Dissertations

The goal of career and technical education (CTE) is to equip students for success in postsecondary education and the workforce. This study investigated the integration and impact of industry-recognized certifications (IRCs) within CTE programs in Illinois, particularly within the framework of Perkins V legislation. The research aimed to determine how IRCs enhance employability, increase starting salaries, and support career advancement for high school students through aligning CTE curricula with the demands of the current labor market.

The study was initiated due to difficulties in identifying valuable certifications for CTE programs stemming from the excessive number of certifying organizations and unclear …

Immersive Virtual Reality Heavy Equipment Simulator Training Effectiveness And Participant Performance Comparison, Zachary E. Calderon

Theses and Dissertations

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) simulator training is an interactive form of computer-based training that can positively promote the transfer of skills from training to trainees. Even at a lower physical fidelity IVR simulators may more effectively train individuals on the operation of virtual heavy equipment compared to written, demonstrative, and oral computer-based training. IVR simulator training may also be beneficial for implementation of heavy equipment operation training as a means to promote familiarization of controls and foster self-efficacy and confidence in trainees. A multi-stage IVR simulator was created for this study that both trained participants on wheel loader operations and …

National Ffa Parliamentary Procedure And Conduct Of Chapter Meetings Leadership Development Events Presentation Generator, P. Troy White

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

A Microsoft Excel macro-enabled workbook that produces presentation cards for the National FFA Organization's Parliamentary Procedure and Conduct of Chapter Meetings Leadership Development Events.

Each set of cards also creates a judges help sheet for the motions with proper verbiage and the Standard Descriptive Characteristics as listed in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th edition).

The workbook uses randomization to create set cards from a list of over 300 possible main motions from a variety of internet sources. The 2024 list of eligible motions for both events was used for the permissible motions.

Impact Of A Kinesthetic Learning Model On Architecture, Engineering, And Construction (Aec) Knowledge In African American Middle School Girls, Mercy F. Fash, Andrea A.N Ofori-Boadu

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study examines the impact of a femalized Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Kinesthetic Learning Model (fAEC-KLM) intervention on the AEC knowledge of African American middle school girls. Fourteen (14) middle school girls completed both pre- and post-surveys and tests that assessed their knowledge of AEC concepts, including roles and responsibilities, gender and racial diversity, and salary benefits. Paired-sample t-tests were utilized to evaluate statistically significant differences in knowledge before and after fAEC-KLM intervention. Results showed notable improvements in students' knowledge of AEC salary and benefits, as well as the underrepresentation of females, particularly African American females, and AEC roles and …

Exploring School Teachers' Cyber Security Awareness, Experiences, And Practices In The Digital Age, R Ravichandran, Sonam Singh, P Sasikala

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

This study investigates the awareness and practices of cyber security among school teachers, exploring their understanding of cyber threats, online behaviours, and response mechanisms to cyber incidents. A structured questionnaire was administered to gather data on demographic information, cyber security training, online practices, and experiences with cybercrime. The findings reveal varying levels of awareness among teachers, with many reporting limited knowledge of prevalent cyber threats such as phishing and identity theft. Despite the increasing reliance on digital tools for teaching, a significant number of respondents indicated a lack of formal training in cyber security. The study highlights the necessity for …

Computing In The Commonwealth: Specialized Education In Computer Science And Information Technology For High School Students In Virginia – An Environmental Scan, Amy Corning, Jonathan D. Becker, Jon Graham, James Carrigan, Keisha Tennessee

ICRE Publications

Over the past two decades, Virginia has invested substantially in STEM education, in part through specialized programs focused on computer science and information technology (CS/IT). This study represents the first effort to identify Virginia’s specialized secondary CS/IT programs and examine them collectively. Findings from the statewide environmental scan indicate that the programs are delivered through a wide variety of institutional structures, including Governor’s STEM Academies, Governor’s Schools, specialty centers, and academies, but most often through Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers. Programs tend to be concentrated in metropolitan areas, and some rural divisions may not be served. The programs provide …

School Level Patterns In Student Engagement In Illinois’ Career And Technical Education Pathways: Exploring Patterns Between Enrollment And Postsecondary Matriculation In Three Pathways, Nikolas C. Butenhoff

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation examined the relationship between high school career and technical education (CTE) program enrollment and postsecondary enrollments. It also examines current demographic enrollment trends within CTE programs. There were two objectives for this research. The first was to gather information that may be used to determine whether CTE programs are preparing students for careers in middle skill job areas like health sciences, information technology, and manufacturing. The other was to gain data to determine whether student tracking occurs for students enrolling in these programs.

This quantitative study examined CTE programs in traditional high schools in the state of Illinois …

The Impact Of A Paid Work Experience On High School Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities From The Parental Perspective, Lori Lee Schleinkofer

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how the parents/guardians of high school students with mild/moderate disabilities in Southern California perceive the impact that working while in high school has on their students with respect to confidence, independence, motivation, responsibility, self-advocacy, self-esteem, and social skills. The central research question was “How do parents/guardians of high school students with mild/moderate disabilities perceive the impact that working while in high school has on their students?” Methodology: Interviews were conducted with 11 parents of participants in paid work experience programs. A qualitative interview question development matrix was used …

The Launch Of An Undergraduate Accelerated Program: Initial Quantitative Data, C. Tomovic, M. Bartlett, M. Tomovic, V. Jovanovic, S. Bawab

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

The launch of an accelerated Training Specialist undergraduate program at a U.S. public university began with a pilot course in Fall 2024. This paper presents initial quantitative findings from pre- and post-course surveys designed to assess students' perceptions of the benefits of accelerated courses, as defined in the literature, as well as their self-perception as self-directed learners. The survey results revealed significant changes in students' views on the advantages of accelerated courses, particularly in terms of completing their degree more quickly and better managing family obligations. Additionally, the surveys showed a notable shift in students' perceptions of themselves as self-directed …

Employers' Perceived Value Of High School Industry Recognized Credentials, Teri Harris, Mickey Kosloski, Philip A. Reed

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine whether industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) earned in secondary school led to quality employment and which IRCs should be integrated into career and technical education (CTE) high school courses. Using survey data from business leaders across the 14 nationally recognized Career Clusters (Advance CTE, 2024a), credentials were ranked by importance within five program areas (n = 257). Pareto analysis revealed 80% of respondents rated health sciences, family and consumer sciences, and agricultural sciences credentials highest, while business/marketing and skilled/technical sciences/STEM credentials did not rank in the top 20%. This research provides empirical evidence for …

Teaching, Engagement, And Support: A Ccfsse Analysis Of Full- And Part-Time Cte Faculty In Community Colleges, Michelle E. Bartlett, James E. Bartlett

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study examines the characteristics, perceptions, and experiences of full-time and part-time career and technical education (CTE) faculty in community colleges using data from the Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (CCFSSE) from 2017 to 2023. Descriptive and inferential analyses in SPSS were used to address four key areas: faculty demographics, perceptions of student engagement and teaching impact, views on student support services, and experiences with professional development opportunities. The findings revealed distinct differences in demographics and faculty perceptions, highlighting areas where part-time instructors often face challenges compared to their full-time counterparts. Insights into the availability, value, and integration …

Think Again: How Communication Eportfolios And Work-Based Learning Foster Resilience Through Double-Looping, Megan Mize, Alison Lietzenmayer, Gary Beck

Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

In a changing professional landscape, students need more than disciplinary knowledge; they need tools for reflection, adaptability, and purpose-driven growth. At Old Dominion University (ODU), ePortfolios and work-based learning (WBL) are strategically embedded across the Communication curriculum to foster double-loop learning, a recursive, metacognitive process through which students not only reflect on outcomes but also interrogate the assumptions behind their choices. Drawing from a decade of institutional practice, course-based examples, and student reflections, this chapter illustrates how these high-impact practices (HIPs) help students connect coursework to career goals, revisit self-perceptions, and build resilience over time. By linking academic learning to …

Editorial: Invention Education And Stem: Perspectives And Possibilities, Joanna K. Garner, Shiri D. Gandhi, Adam V. Maltese

Center for Educational Partnerships Publications

[Introduction] Generating solutions for society's complex problems requires a diverse workforce dedicated to technological and social innovation, and sustained efforts toward invention: the process of creating new, novel, and useful products to overcome challenges that affect quality of life and productivity (Couch et al. 2019). Historically, opportunities for K-12 students to develop inventive acumen have been rare and inequitably distributed, partly because educators were expected to provide such experiences without the support of professional development, curricular materials, and instructional examples. These issues have become the focus of an emergent field called Invention Education (IvE). IvE uses trans-disciplinary, equity-oriented …

V1804 Table Of Contents

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

table of contents