Improving Vocational Curriculum

Improving Vocational Curriculum is a collection of articles edited by Lester Duenk and Howard Bud Smith. It is neither a coffee table classic nor one to be perused for enjoyment or the amusement of the moment. Nor was it intended to be.Duenk and Smith realized that vocational educators need to be kept up to date on curriculum theory in an area that is vital, yet neglected, by their community. Too many vocational teachers rely on project-based learning without the planning behind it to assure their students of a comprehensive educational experience.Each chapter in this book addresses one phase of the process of developing a curriculum and then implementing it. It covers such neglected topics as Cognitive Achievement Evaluation and performing the Occupational Analysis. Both topics take on more meaning as vocational education moves into the new millenium and yet might not leap to the minds of the average vocational teacher. The chapter on Sources of Curriculum Materials represents one of the most comprehensive treatments of the subject in the literature, although it would benefit from some updating since its original publication date of 1993.In short, while it may have missed the New York Times Best Seller List, for a vocational teacher, teacher educator, or serious student of curriculum, it still represents a must-read.