Technological Education in the United States: Present and Emerging Patterns.

The explosive technological advances of recent years have created a need to incorporate technical education into curricula at all levels from elementary through and including higher education. This in turn has led to the necessity of articulation among the various levels of technical education, including articulation between postsecondary institutions and higher education. Included among the current issues that are of particular importance for technical education in this country are strengthening the role of technical education in economic development, determining and developing the appropriate role of technical education in higher education in the United States, meeting the requirements for increased competency levels among technical education students, and funding the increased costs resulting from these increased requirements. Areas in which innovations can contribute to the success of technical education in meeting the need for a highly skilled work force in a technological society include (1) establishment of advisory committees to perform such functions as making curriculum recommendations, providing professional development opportunities for faculty and placement opportunities for students, arranging for equipment donations, and delivering guest lectures to students; (2) development of industrial/university linkages that address such areas as cooperative planning, curriculum evaluation, and instructional materials development; (3) use of part-time adjuncts/specialists; and (4) innovative delivery of courses through distance education. Three pages of references conclude the report. (MN)