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This study provides an in-depth analysis of recent graduates' experience with completing an engineering technology program and entering the profession. It is unique because the study was conducted on a baccalaureate-level program and because it helps fill a gap in the literature. The phenomenological method was used to obtain qualitative data to understand the personal meaning of the process for the participants. Findings include positive perceptions about the curriculum and faculty, and some areas for improvement. The graduates found personal meaning especially in their capstone course and by being involved with the engineering student organization. There are implications for program evaluation and educational leadership. (Contains 2 figures.)

The Ford Motor Company launched a new pre-engineering curriculum for high schools in the Fall of 2004. Building on an earlier manufacturing program, the development process for the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies took approximately three years. Ford and the course designers wanted the new program to incorporate the best principles and practices of technical/technology education at the secondary level. Therefore a conscious effort was made to integrate national curriculum standards in the design phase; in addition, there are explicit connections in the instructional materials between the academic and technical content for both teachers and students. This article reviews the rationale and the strategies for academic integration, and shows how the new Ford program is a prominent example of effective curriculum development in technology education. The product of this process is a coherent series of five courses that are educationally sound and that address national standards in academics, technology, and engineering.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how vocational education and training (VET) in Ukraine has changed since the Soviet era; and to determine its structure, successes, and challenges. Design/methodology/approach: The author conducted interviews and tours at 15 vocational schools in seven cities in Ukraine. Findings: Ukraine is struggling to establish itself as an independent, modern country; education includes elements from the Soviet era and contemporary European practices; the VET system is taking on the state-regulated bureaucratic model; it has mixed success mainly due to economic development; social support for secondary students is very strong. Research limitations/implications: Since Ukraine will eventually be a key player in international relations, it is important for scholars to understand how the VET system is developing. Originality/value: This study provides an in-depth view of VET in this once closed country which is now susceptible to influence from Russia and Europe.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create a contemporary taxonomy of Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher competencies in order to evaluate and improve CTE teacher education. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilized a modified Delphi technique with a large sample of CTE experts--teachers, administrators, and teacher-educators in the state of Michigan, USA to identify the competencies and their relative importance. Findings: As a result, new competencies were added and a number of old competencies were deleted or changed. The product of this research is a matrix of 144 competencies in 13 categories, which also shows the level of importance and degree of consensus for each competency. Research limitations/implications: The state plans to use the new competencies for a variety of purposes, however caution is advised for making conclusions and generalizations from the study for other applications. Practical implications: Using the matrix as its infrastructure, CTE teacher-education institutions can assess their curricula to determine where the competencies are addressed, and use it in the form of a follow-up survey with recent graduates. CTE administrators might utilize the competencies for internal evaluation of new teachers and as a needs assessment for professional development. Originality/value: Any effort to improve CTE teaching and teacher-education, by researchers or policy-makers, should begin with a consensus on the competencies required for successful teaching and learning. (Contains 3 tables.)

The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is presented as a model for business and education collaboration to develop technical degree programs for producing more and better technicians. The new roles of industry and college leaders are discussed through a synthesis of literature on skill standards and workforce development. Data are presented from a national evaluation of ATE projects on collaboration, materials development, professional development, and program improvement that demonstrate substantial goal attainment. A discussion on how this process has changed and benefited the partnerships concludes the paper.

Responses from 11 of 17 plastics employers showed a low level of satisfaction with community college plastics courses. Focus groups of 10 plastics students indicated satisfaction with course costs and locations. Courses focused on associate degree requirements and articulation, whereas employers were interested in focused training for jobs and employee development. (Contains 16 references.) (SK)

Western Michigan University's technical teacher education program developed a course on teaching career and employability skills using state standards and benchmarks as a framework. Preservice teachers complete five projects: job shadowing, professional portfolio, written lesson plan, videotape and self-critique of lesson plan, and an application paper. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

Discusses the career matrix, a spreadsheet that identifies all the functions in an organization (horizontally) and the different levels of responsibility (vertically). Describes how technology teachers can develop their own matrix and use it for career awareness and planning with secondary students.(JOW)

The application of adaptive filters in noise canceling often requires the relative placement of the two transducers at a distance that necessitates a large order filter in order to obtain an adequate output signal-to-noise ratio. A new adaptive filter structure is introduced that permits a closer placement of the transducers and that allows the cancellation of noise in the presence of crosstalk. Algorithms are developed for the new transversal and lattice filter estimators. Simulations show considerable improvement in mean-square error over that obtained with standard noise canceling algorithms.

The author examines the closer connection between education for work and education at work, particularly the connection between career and technical education (CTE) and human resource development (HRD) in the U.S. It describes the current trends and issues in CTE. It explores the way by which the fields of CTE and HRD have moved apart and the possibility of renewed connections of CTE and HRD.

Discusses the creation of a career opportunities matrix for technology students. Illustration of a career matrix; Creation of new career paths; Process of developing career paths; Value of the career matrix as a tool for career awareness, information, planning and decision making.