FCS
Career and Technical Education
Program Philosophy
Regardless
of the type of CTE degree undertaken at WMU, the curriculum
and practice of the career and technical teacher education program
at WMU is conducted and based on the following published beliefs:
- Education for employability, broadly conceived and for the long term, and as generally and specifically provided through career and technical education, is in the purview of public education at the secondary, post-secondary and adult levels.
- Pedagogy is important to the preparation of career and technical education personnel.
- The design for career and technical teacher education programs must be intellectually well grounded, including strong components in subject matter content, liberal studies, pedagogy and clinical experiences.
- Teaching in career and technical teacher education should be student-centered, but relevant to the changing nature of work, changes in the workplace, new and emerging technology and the needs of the employment community.
- Learning to teach is viewed as a long-term, developmental process.
- Teaching and learning to teach should be done within the context of inquiry.
- Teacher education in career and technical education should be conducted in collaboration with area technical centers, public schools, and community colleges.
- Public schools, area technical centers and community colleges can accommodate personnel with varying levels of occupational preparation and experiences.
- Career and technical education programs should be staffed with personnel from a broad array of clientele appropriate to the subject matter to be taught and congruent with the egalitarian goals of society.
- There is no single “best” method or delivery system with which to initially prepare and credential career and technical education personnel.