Workforce Education, Leadership, & Social Foundations
Workforce Education
Program Information
Mission, Goals and Initiatives of the program of Workforce Education
The Goal of the Program of Workforce Education is to prepare educators to assist individuals to meet the challenges of living and working in a global society. The Program offers comprehensive, broad-based curricula that focus on workforce preparedness, integration of research on workplace issues, integrating technology and basic skills applications into courses, and increased efforts to prepare educators to work with different populations
The curricula is futuristic and innovative. It is both broad-based and allows for individualized, specialized studies. It emphasizes effective teaching technology, leadership, theory, and research. Teacher certification is now available through the master's programs.
Faculty are committed to program development and are working to create a world-class graduate program in Workforce Education. They enjoy a national reputation and bring their experience to bear on the various initiatives of the Program.
The Program of Workforce Education is respected for its support of its students. Classes are small so that the learning experience is personal and collaborative. The Program recognizes that many students are working full-time and are off-campus; therefore, courses are offered at off-campus sites, in the evenings, and during summers.
Initiatives
"Special attention is directed toward the psychological and social views of learning..."
As we conduct research, and provide service in the area of workforce development, several unifying themes characterize excellence in the Program of Workforce Education. The strength of the Program is largely the result of a diverse group of faculty working collaboratively to encourage and stimulate work-related scholarship in the areas of Philosophy, Teaching and Learning, Human Development, and Social Development.
Philosophy
A deep understanding of the philosophical principles from current workforce development education is based is essential.
With an eye on past, present, and future factors of workforce education, faculty members within this Program are seeking to gain better perspectives on education reform. Special attention is directed toward the psychological and social views of learning, as well as the issues related to experiential learning. By seeking to address the rich philosophical roots of vocational education, scholars can build strong learning structures that can withstand the test of time.
Teaching & Learning
Issues related to teaching and learning are at the heart of the Program of Workforce Education. The faculty make efforts to incorporate innovative teaching and learning events within their classes. From the bulwarks of curriculum development and student assessment to the most current developments in electronic distance learning and instructional technology, the Program is leading the way in teacher preparation and human resource development Individual faculty members, as well as the Program as a whole, have received numerous awards and recognition for their efforts in teaching, research, and service.
Specific teaching and learning efforts are directed in the area of teacher preparation, curriculum reform, student assessment, career decision strategies, school-to-career transition, comparative educational practices, situated cognition, special needs education, field experience, along with student and professional organizations. Each of these areas reflects serious research and teaching efforts by the faculty. Similarly, many of these areas emphasize maintaining a strong connection between the Program and business and industry.
The faculty, through various courses and instructional strategies, incorporates multicultural education and issues of diversity including gender, race and class into the teaching and learning experiences provided to students.
Human Development
The human development initiative reflects on our commitment to our students and the individuals they teach or with whom they work. The faculty are highly engaged in the areas of human resource development, career development, and leadership development. These issues are integral to all instructional environments as we provide a climate that enables students to develop their potential. We believe that our most important priority is to provide every student the essential personal growth skills that will transcend all learning environments.
Social Development
Social development issues address a wide and comprehensive perspective of how people live and work within the context of the over-arching impact of technology. This initiative focuses on the application of research and growth in the areas of work ethic/work attitudes, work and family, transition services (placement, counseling), policy studies, the impacts of technology on society, and appropriate technology in a societal context. We believe that the issues incorporated into the fields of study connected within our Program go beyond the traditional approaches linked with vocational education and provide a unique perspective of the future.
Program Information |
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