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Journal of Research in Technical Careers

2017

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Vocational Education

Quality Indicators Guiding Secondary Career And Technical Education Programs Of Study, Xue Xing, Sara Shaw, Howard R. D. Gordon Dec 2017

Quality Indicators Guiding Secondary Career And Technical Education Programs Of Study, Xue Xing, Sara Shaw, Howard R. D. Gordon

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The purpose of this study was to examine quality indicators currently guiding the rigor of secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs of study in the United States. Quality indicators are desirable characteristics or expectations for a comprehensive and effective CTE program of study. As of May 2017, we were able to locate publicly accessible secondary CTE quality program standards/guidelines for 38 states. A majority (n=24) updated their secondary CTE quality program standards/guidelines within the last five years (i.e., 2012-2017). Deductive content analysis was conducted to examine the 38 state profiles using the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) …

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Promoting Active And Sustained School-Business Partnerships: An Exploratory Case Study Of An It Academy, Victor M. Hernandez-Gantes, Simone J. Brookins, Edward C. Fletcher Jr. Dec 2017

Promoting Active And Sustained School-Business Partnerships: An Exploratory Case Study Of An It Academy, Victor M. Hernandez-Gantes, Simone J. Brookins, Edward C. Fletcher Jr.

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

In support of the national push for promoting career readiness, school-business partnerships have been noted as an important support strategy. However, there is limited research in the context of career academies. Thus, we sought to explore the nature of a partnership between an information technology (IT) career academy and local business partners. We found that the development of social capital is required to keep the network of partners bonded toward a common goal, bridged through a Business Advisory Council to facilitate planning and related supports, and linked by a local web of connecting relationships. Study findings add to the limited …

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Career And Technical Education For Sustainability: A Multiple Case Study Of Innovative Community College Programs, James A. Gregson, Karen Ruppel Dec 2017

Career And Technical Education For Sustainability: A Multiple Case Study Of Innovative Community College Programs, James A. Gregson, Karen Ruppel

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This multiple case study explored Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that were identified as having a focus on sustainability. Using the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (AASHE STARS) as a conceptual framework, the researchers interpreted whether the social, economic, and environmental concepts of sustainability were included in these programs' curriculum. Findings suggested that several factors impacted program curriculum: (1) attentiveness to industry trends; (2) sustainability as an institutional core value; (3) geographic location of urban versus rural; (4) program maturity; and (5) advisory committee influence. Findings also suggested a …

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Economic Attainment Patterns Of College-Educated Women In Mid-Career: An Objective Indicator Of Career Success, Hyojung Han, Jay W. Rojewski Dec 2017

Economic Attainment Patterns Of College-Educated Women In Mid-Career: An Objective Indicator Of Career Success, Hyojung Han, Jay W. Rojewski

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The purpose of this study was to identify latent classes of college-educated late-baby-boomer generation women’s economic attainment (income) patterns during mid-career and examine the family and job satisfaction characteristics within each latent class. Longitudinal latent class analysis was used to analyze income data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 for 607 college-educated women in the United States for the years 1990 to 2010. The analysis revealed five distinct patterns of women’s economic attainment. A majority of the sample (72.7%) fell into the sustained growth group in which women’s economic attainment increased continuously and consistently. Approximately one-third of the …

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From The Editors Vol. 1, Iss. 2, Jrtc Editors Dec 2017

From The Editors Vol. 1, Iss. 2, Jrtc Editors

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

No abstract provided.

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A Qualitative Study On The Influence Of Quality Systems In Meeting Performance Funding Criteria In Wisconsin Technical College System Institutions, Kinga N. Jacobson May 2017

A Qualitative Study On The Influence Of Quality Systems In Meeting Performance Funding Criteria In Wisconsin Technical College System Institutions, Kinga N. Jacobson

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This case study investigated the influence of quality systems on meeting performance funding criteria in Wisconsin Technical College System institutions. Using qualitative text-analysis methodology, the case study identified the common processes, systems, values, and culture of three Wisconsin Forward Award-recognized technical colleges, looking for ways these characteristics were used for attaining performance-based funding goals. Sources analyzed included the colleges’ Wisconsin Forward Award application documents and evaluator feedback reports, and the transcripts of six interviews conducted with professionals with expertise in organizational effectiveness and performance funding at these institutions. Findings indicated that the entities shared quality, benchmarking, feedback, strategic planning, and …

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Bridging Technical Skills Gaps Between High School Students And Local Employers, Edward C. Fletcher Jr., Will Tyson May 2017

Bridging Technical Skills Gaps Between High School Students And Local Employers, Edward C. Fletcher Jr., Will Tyson

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The purpose of this study was to explore how technical skills taught and learned in Florida engineering and engineering technology-themed career academies fit technical skills desired by local employers in technology and manufacturing. The analysis utilized the narratives of 70 students and four teachers from career academies at four high schools and 27 industry leaders from the same geographical region of Florida. Data interpretation led to understanding that employers expressed an urgent need for technical skills using appropriate equipment and technologies, teachers were teaching students technical skills by simulating the real-world work environment, and students valued their abilities to transform …

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Iowa Agricultural Educators’ Current And Perceived Grading Practices, Jenny Ann Lichty, Michael S. Retallick May 2017

Iowa Agricultural Educators’ Current And Perceived Grading Practices, Jenny Ann Lichty, Michael S. Retallick

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Literature on grading reveals that grading practices have not changed much since they were first introduced. However, with alternative approaches, such as standards-based grading, being introduced, it is important to look at how agricultural educators are using grades to evaluate student learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the grading practices of Iowa high school agricultural educators. The accessible population consisted of 236 high school agricultural educators. Findings were based on responses of 157 (69.8%) educators who responded to the study via an online questionnaire. These agricultural educators used a variety of learning approaches, and their beliefs aligned …

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