Technology education programmes and vocational pathway options

While technology education is generally recognized as a vital part of general education for all students through the compulsory years of schooling, it is evident that there are advantages to including vocational options as part of an overall curriculum structure. It is the intent of this paper to examine such options within North America, with reference to specific program examples. The recent introduction, development and expansion of technology education curricula has resulted, in some localities, in the retention or re-definition of content that has the potential to provide students with specific career/job preparation skills prior to their completing high school graduation requirements. Such experiences vary, but can lead directly into employment, be credited toward an apprenticeship undertaking, be articulated with post-secondary college programs, and/or provide the student with an in-depth exploration of selected career pathways. For some students, these vocational or work-based elements can additionally contribute to a pattern of courses required for a high school diploma. There are, however, specific issues that need to be addressed with respect to these optional program routes.