Search

The importance of students developing the knowledge required to handle different tools and machines is specified in the curriculum of vocational education as well as emphasized in research. However, there are very few studies that focus on the learning processes that take place when teachers and students attend to tools and machines as a vocational learning content in workshop teaching sessions. This article aims to shed light on these processes by exploring how tools and machines are constituted through the interaction between vocational teachers and students in Swedish upper secondary vocational education. Leaning on the theoretical and methodological framework CAVTA (Conversational Analysis and Variation Theory Approach) when analysing video-recorded lessons, the study shows that the teaching about tools and machines takes place as a result of suddenly emerging problems that the students encounter. The study also shows that the teaching about tools and machines is conducted through the framing method of individualization, which leads to situations in which some students are given the opportunity to learn specific things about tools and machines, and others are not, even within the same session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that academic institutions need to consider how the learning spaces shape the behaviours of students and the pedagogies of academic staff in the delivery of Digital Media curricula. It looks at the existing provision of space in the form of computer labs and identifies how media departments could learn from the media industry, as they have in more traditional broadcast settings, to develop spaces to simulate industry practice. We argue that Lab spaces create teacher-dependant learning environments, and influence and restrain the learning experience in negative ways which promote approaches to teaching and learning which do not help graduates develop the skills and attributes they will need to work in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of vocational education and training (VET) and, in particular, the quality of VET teaching, is a prominent topic of discussion in Australia's post-compulsory education sector. VET teachers are described as 'dual professionals', and expected to maintain current vocational competencies (industry currency) as well as pedagogical skills for effective VET teaching practice. This paper examines issues associated with industry currency activities for Australian VET teachers. It reports on findings from a qualitative study which employed a multiple case study methodology to examine advanced skills for VET teachers. Emergent findings suggest that while legislation requires VET teachers to maintain current vocational competencies as well as knowledge and skills for effective VET teaching, interpretation of policy into practice has led to an unbalanced approach which emphasises industry currency activities over pedagogical skills development. Further, teachers reported difficulty completing currency requirements due to competing pressures of time and teaching commitments, and some industry currency activities regarded as legitimate by VET managers and auditors appear to offer limited developmental opportunities for VET teachers while other activities were overlooked. This is a significant issue which requires further investigation due to its potential impact on VET teacher development and the quality of VET teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the current demands of Swedish vocational education and the withdrawal of the requirement for formal teacher competence in vocational subject teachers, the aim of this article is to develop knowledge of what it means to be a vocational subject teacher in an upper secondary school, i.e. how vocational subject teachers describe their vocational teacher identity. Drawing on a sociocultural perspective, this study analysed data from 22 interviews. The vocational subject teachers describe their relationship with students and the fostering work of teaching for studies, life and work as distinctive characteristics of vocational teacher identity. The fostering work is focused on students’ behaviour, i.e. the relational and normative aspects of a social practice. The study results suggest that the identity of vocational teachers includes guiding students towards memberships in various social practices. The benefit of both high-quality teacher competence and vocational competence in vocational teachers is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]