WORK BASED LEARNING

Work Based Learning

Work Based Learning

Introduction

Effective teachers recognize that students all have different needs and different strengths. This is the reason why they design their programs based on what they perceive their students. Effective teachers understand that there are basic needs shared by all students. All students want to be accepted as they are because they need to know how they are accepted and not judged. Acceptance allows them to take risks without fear of failure or ridicule. All students want to learn and improve. The students are curious and need to engage in meaningful activities. They thirst for new knowledge and try to remain enthusiastic about interesting learning activities. Moreover, they are proud of their accomplishments on which they build new successes. All students need guidance to learn and improve on the academic and social areas. The social and academic development is only possible if students receive the knowledge to make wise choices. All these factors have led towards a high value of work based learning in most of the fields. Therefore, all the issues related to work based learning will be discussed in detail.

Discussion

Technology education is being taught in almost every high school and middle school in America. Technology education is offered in middle schools as an elective course that students choose to take or are placed in by guidance counselors in order for students to fill credits. Unfortunately these elective classes have been considered dumping grounds for students who had no focus or direction; for students not going to college. Technology education has progressed well through its development in the U.S. over the past two decades. Enrollment in grade levels 6-12 has reached an all time high. The increased popularity of technology education courses in schools offers administrators and educators the opportunity to use the curriculum to improve student's achievement in academic content areas (Thompson, 2007, 291).

Technology education curriculums in the middle schools are designed around the Standards for Technological Literacy. Modular technology education (MTE) has been the method of delivery in middle school technology education courses since the mid 80's. MTE is curriculum provided by commercial vendors; Pitsco, Learning Labs, Paxton Patterson, and Hearlihy for example. Students learn about the areas of technology by (a) participating in interactive media presentations, (b) following instructions in workbooks, (c) writing responses in student journals, and (d) experimenting and building projects. Each module covers a technological content area in the Standards for Technological Literacy. The basic technology content areas are biotechnology, communication technology, production technology, and transportation technology (Barrows, 1976, 56).

The MTE vendors claim to engage students through the use of open ended problem solving or problem based learning strategies. No research is offered by the vendors other than customer testimonials to substantiate the claims or explain their meaning of engagement. Further evaluation of student engagement is presented in the chapter. Modules are individual learning or lab stations where small groups of two to three students work. Each module contains tools, supplies, and curriculum necessary ...