Vocational Teachers Research Articles

Vocational teachers in school settings: career pathways and motivations

ABSTRACT Vocational programmes offered to school students form an essential segment of senior secondary education, providing opportunities for students to develop employability skills, complete their senior secondary certificate and gain credit towards a vocational qualification. While school systems are experiencing teacher shortages across the board, these are both acute and ongoing in vocational programmes in many countries and attracting and retaining vocational schoolteachers is a critical policy challenge. While career pathways, motivations and intentions, and job satisfaction for mainstream schoolteachers have been extensively studied there has been less research on vocational teachers, and very little on those teaching in a school setting. We sought to understand motivations for teaching, satisfaction and career pathways of teachers who teach Vocational Education and Training in schools (VET in schools) in Australia. This study employed structured interviews with nine VET teachers working within a secondary school setting. Self Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000b) was the analytical framework used to understand factors influencing their entry into teaching and engagement. We found commonalities with the research on attraction and retention into teaching more broadly, but identified additional specific factors shaping vocational teachers’ career journeys and motivation. We identify implications for policy and practice to support the attraction, retention and career satisfaction of VET in schools teachers.

직업계열 고등학교 교사의 교육데이터 활용 현황과 요구 분석

As technology that enables data collection, accumulation and analysis develops, the use of data is being emphasized as the key of evidence-based policies. The purpose of this paper is to identify the current status of data collection related to vocational high school, analyze the current situation and needs of data usage by vocational high school teachers and suggest implications for future educational data construction. The main results of this paper are as follows. First, most of the collected data included vocational high school students and graduates as part of all high school students, young people or candidates for qualification. In particular, it was verified that data surveys using vocational high schools as parent population and linking administrative statistics and were insufficient. Second, vocational high school teachers who participated in this paper answered their data using frequency as ‘more than once a year'(28.0%), ’more than once a quarter’(26.1%), and ‘not at all'(23.3%). Teachers were using data for ‘writing a project plan or result report', ‘providing career counseling for students' and ‘developing and organizing a curriculum'. Teachers hoped to ‘link and integrate vocational high school-related data’ and data such as ‘students' interests and career plans’, ‘graduates' major retention rate’ and ‘predicting the supply and demand of high school graduates/college graduates by region/major/industrial field’ to be offered in the future,. Third, it is necessary to include vocational high school teachers to consider the context of vocational high school when promoting the collection and release of educational data, the use of administrative and learning data and the establishment of big data.

Reference management training to improve the quality of scientific publications for vocational high school teachers

Recognizing the challenges faced by teachers in completing their portfolios due to limited knowledge and skills in writing scientific publications, this training program aimed to equip them with the necessary expertise in using Mendeley, a digital referencing tool, to enhance their scientific writing capabilities. The training was conducted online with 24 participants. The first day covered an introduction to Mendeley and citation practices, while the second day focused on hands-on Mendeley application. The training effectively enhanced participants' knowledge and skills in using Mendeley. Evaluation indicators revealed that none of the participants had installed the Mendeley application prior to the training, while 67% had installed it after the training. Furthermore, 54% of the participants were able to perform Mendeley practices both online and on desktops. Additionally, 73% of the participants expressed their intention to utilize Mendeley for action research, reference searching, and automated bibliography generation.

Increasing Teacher Innovativeness Through Strengthening Creativity, Organizational Support, Emotional Intelligence, And Information and Communication Technology (Ict) Literacy in Private Vocational School Gty Teachers in Bogor District

This research aims to produce strategies and ways to increase teacher innovativeness by strengthening the variables of creativity, organizational support, emotional intelligence, and information and communication technology (ICT) literacy as intervening variables. The research sample was 218 samples taken using stratified proportional random sampling of private vocational school GTY teachers in Bogor Regency. This research uses a survey method with a path analysis approach and SITOREM analysis. The results of this research can be concluded: 1). there is a direct influence of creativity on teacher innovativeness, 2). there is a direct influence of Organizational Support on Teacher Innovativeness, 3). there is a direct influence of Emotional Intelligence on Teacher Innovativeness, 4). there is a direct influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy on Teacher Innovation, 5). there is a direct influence of Creativity on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy, 6). there is a direct influence of Organizational Support on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy, 7). there is a direct influence of Emotional Intelligence on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy, 8). there is an indirect influence of Creativity on Teacher Innovation through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy, 9). the indirect influence of Organizational Support on Teacher Innovation through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy, and 10) the indirect influence of Emotional Intelligence on Teacher Innovativeness through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy. The results of the SITOREM analysis show that based on the priority order of improving teacher innovation, it is necessary to strengthen creativity, organizational support, and emotional intelligence. Creativity is to be strengthened, so it is done by enhancing indicators that are still weak, namely: smart (acting cleverly in looking for opportunities), habit ( behavioral habits in solving problems), originality (originality in developing something new or different), as well as maintaining or developing indicators: openness (open behavior in accepting new ideas and thoughts), interest (behavior interested in complex things), and persistent (acting persistently in trying), organizational support is to be strengthened, then this is done by improving indicators that are still weak, namely: providing justice and leadership support, as well as maintaining or developing indicators: respect from the organization and working conditions, emotional intelligence is to be strengthened, then this is done by improving indicators that are still weak, namely: emotional expression, optimism, empathy, as well as maintaining or developing indicators: adaptability, impulsive behavior, and relationships, information and communication technology (tik) literacy wants to be strengthened, so it is carried out by improving indicators that still weak, namely: user ability, knowledge of data communications, understanding of operational systems, as well as maintaining or developing indicators: understanding of computer application programs, understanding of computers, ability to operate computers, effectiveness and sustainability of use, and efficiency and capacity of use .

PELATIHAN ALAT PEMADAM API RINGAN DAN KARUNG GONI SEBAGAI MEDIA PEMADAMAN KEBAKARAN KEPADA MAHASISWA POLIBATAM, SISWA DAN GURU SMK DI BATAM

Fire disaster is one of the many disasters that occur in the wider community both in the office and residential environment. This fire disaster generally occurs due to human factors such as: using electrical loads that exceed the power capacity and placing flammable items near the source of fire. This fire hazard will be easier to overcome if people know how to put out fires properly and know how to use extinguishers such as APAR (Light Fire Extinguisher) and the use of gunny sacks. APAR is generally categorized into 3 types, namely: Dry Chemical Extinguisher, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extinguisher, and Foam. Extinguishers containing dry chemical powder are very commonly used because they are able to extinguish almost all types of fires. The use of APAR is most likely to be used because of its portable nature, easy maintenance, and easy to use. In the community service that has been carried out at Batam State Polytechnic, a demonstration on how to extinguish fire with fire extinguisher and the use of gunny sacks was also carried out. Participants of this community service program are students, vocational school students and vocational school teachers.

IMPLEMENTASI PENGGUNAAN PENILAIAN PORTOFOLIO DALAM PEMBELAJARAN MENULIS PADA TINGKAT SMK DI KABUPATEN BOGOR

The aim of this research is to analyze the implementation of the use of portfolio assessment in learning to write at the vocational school level in Bogor district.The method used in this research is a descriptive qualitative method, as the research subject for teachers and students. The instruments and data collection techniques used consisted of interviews, observation and documentation. The data analysis technique uses the Milles and Huberman model theory which consists of data collection, data reduction, data display and conclusions. The research results show that Bogor district vocational school teachers have used portfolio assessment in writing learning activities. This was obtained from the results of interviews, observations and documents of teachers who had carried out the portfolio assessment stage in learning to write quite well but not yet optimally. There are still several steps that have not been implemented by teachers in the form of obstacles in providing reviews and reflections on students' assignment results due to time constraints.

Workshop on the Implementation of Project-Based Learning Based Independent Curriculum Teaching Tools for Vocational Teachers throughout Manggarai Regency

Workshop on the Implementation of Project-Based Learning Based Independent Curriculum Teaching Tools for Vocational Teachers throughout Manggarai Regency

Sustainable vocational education models for industrial revolution role in development of job market absorption in Tangerang City, Indonesia

The study’s objective is to identify the challenges and limitations faced by the current vocational education system in preparing graduates in the era of the industrial revolution in the evolving job market in Tangerang, Indonesia. The study primarily examines vocational high schools and adopts a quantitative and quasi-experimental research approach, using control groups to conduct pre- and posttests. The experimental group experiences demonstrations, whereas the control group receives explanations. Instructors employ a blend of demonstration and explanation techniques to explain equipment operation before allowing students to engage in vocational training. The study, led by students in various engineering fields, evaluates technical competencies, work ethics, and foundational knowledge using tests and observations. Job preparation is assessed using the minimal completeness criteria (MCC), which focuses on the importance of proper knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The results indicate that vocational teachers have the potential to play a pivotal role in introducing cutting-edge, technology-based teaching methods, therefore enabling students to make well-informed decisions about their careers. This research enhances vocational education by incorporating practical skills and attitudes with academic knowledge, effectively addressing the changing requirements of the work market.

E-Learning Platform for Enhancing 21st Century Skills for Vocational School Students: A Systematic Literature Review

The importance of skills for vocational high school graduates in entering the workforce, facing competition, and increasing productivity, in accordance with the current industry needs, cannot be overstated. E-learning has become one of the platforms that vocational high schools can utilize to assist students in acquiring the necessary skills such as literacy, communication, collaboration and critical thinking as needed in the 21st century. However, the issue lies in determining the type of e-learning that can enhance students' learning outcomes and skills. This paper aims to present an analysis and description of the implementation of different types of e-learning in vocational high school education. The research adopts a systematic literature review approach, incorporating research questions: i) what types of e-learning are being used? ii) what are the impacts of implementing e-learning in vocational high schools? and iii) what competencies can be enhanced through the implementation of e-learning. The subject of this research is articles that have been published in Scopus and Google Scholar-indexed journals. The article selection technique employed the PRISMA method, which successfully obtained 35 articles out of the 2,093 articles. The review results indicate that there are many variations in the utilization of e-learning formats in schools. Digital learning media is one type of e-learning that is often used by teachers, although there are many other types such as e-modules, Learning Management System, multimedia, and others. In addition, the research findings showed that through e-learning, many 21st-century skills, such as literacy and critical thinking abilities can be improved. The findings further showed that e-learning contributes to the improvement of learning outcomes in psychomotor and cognitive aspects. These research findings are expected to serve as a basis for vocational school teachers to confidently utilize e-learning in their teaching activities.

The Effect of Human Resource Management on Learning Effectiveness in Vocational Schools

This study aims to analyze the effect of human resource management (HRM) on the effectiveness of learning in vocational schools. This research uses quantitative methods with a meta-analysis approach. The data source came from an analysis of 10 national and international journals. The data collection process is through searching the google database, ProQuest and ScienceDirect. Data analysis techniques in quantitative analysis research by calculating the value of effect size with the help of the JSAP application. The results of this study concluded that human resource management has a significant influence on the effectiveness of learning in vocational schools with an effect size value of 0.814; P< 0.001. The findings have a positive impact on vocational school teachers to provide professional and competent teacher candidates in work. Vocational schools need to implement good HR practices to improve the quality of education and produce job-ready graduates.

Foreign education policy practices, core training, and international exchange and cooperation among Chinese vocational teachers

Foreign education policy practices, core training, and international exchange and cooperation among Chinese vocational teachers

Teacher, Professional or Both? A Mixed Method Study of the Professional Identity of Vocational Teachers and Trainers in Hungary

Purpose: Vocational educators in many countries enter teaching as a second career and authentic occupational expertise is seen as essential to good quality VET. The changing contexts of VET and the growing diversity of its learning populations also demand the development of teaching expertise. This dual professionalism is related to a unique combination of an occupational and a teacher identity, however, prior, and mainly qualitative research from a limited number of VET contexts suggests that often one side of this duality prevails. Our study aimed to explore the professional identity of vocational educators in Hungary and to identify some of the factors that might influence its formation. Methods: We applied a mixed method design, conducting a teacher survey (N=138) and semi-structured interviews (N=12). The quantitative and qualitative strands followed a parallel design, exploring the same topics but identity views and the organisational context were studied more deeply in the interviews. In the survey, we measured professional identity through a direct question about its type as well as questions about the importance of specific goals and teacher competence areas in vocational teaching. We used statistical and thematic analyses to study our quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Most vocational educators in our study identified as both a teacher and a professional, though the type of identity varied by gender and length of occupational work experience. Perceptions about the main goals in teaching revealed vocation/outcome-focused and student/education-focused goal orientations influenced by gender, qualifications and work experience, while our qualitative data also showed the impact of school culture and the wider socio-economic context. The goal orientations identified in the survey were more balanced for those with a dual identity, and they correlated with perceptions about the importance of different teacher competence areas, which were most influenced by whether or not the educator had obtained a pedagogical qualification. Conclusion: Our findings showed that although most vocational educators also in Hungary claim to have a dual identity, they often prioritise the development of occupational expertise as they believe it is what gives them credibility that is seen as essential to "good VET". Considering the significant impact we have found of teacher education and continued work in the occupation on identity views, it seems of utmost importance that policy and schools recognise and support the development of both occupational and teacher expertise, to ensure a balanced dual identity that seems best suited for vocational teaching.

A vocational education and training subject teacher for fostering students' entrepreneurial skills—The development of a conceptual model

AbstractIn the future, a significant portion of the workforce is expected to engage in self‐employment or pursue part‐time entrepreneurial endeavours, especially in vocational education and training (VET) fields where entrepreneurship serves as a predominant avenue of employment. The primary goal of this article is to investigate the interconnectedness of a teacher's autonomy, agency, and guiding behaviour and to understand their relevance to the teacher's pedagogical decisions and ability to effectively guide students toward entrepreneurship. To achieve this objective, semistructured interviews were conducted with eight VET subject teachers, employing predetermined concept definitions derived from prior research. Analysis of the interviews revealed a connection between these concepts, highlighting their influence on the pedagogical decisions made by VET teachers. However, minor variations were observed across diverse fields of VET. The study underscores the significance of autonomy, decision‐making capabilities and teacher agency in fostering students' entrepreneurial skills. It emphasises that autonomy alone is insufficient, and various factors either facilitate or hinder the promotion of entrepreneurship. This article contributes to entrepreneurship education research in two ways. First, it provides new information about the VET subject teacher as a promoter of students' entrepreneurial skills. Second, by presenting a theoretical model that helps to understand the factors influencing teachers' actions. The model, being novel, can be utilised to understand how VET teachers utilise autonomy and express agency in their work. Additionally, the research results are considered from an international perspective. The discourse revolves around the conceptual model, by exploring the reasons behind it, and considering subject teachers' professional identity as entrepreneurship teachers.

Vocational teachers as policy actors

Linguistic diversity has become a focus in the Norwegian National Curriculum (LK20), which establishes students experiencing “multilingualism as a resource” as a policy intention. This study explores if and how this policy intention corresponds with teachers’ experiences and practices in mainstream vocational education and training (VET). Using the concept of policy enactment developed by Ball et al. (2012) as a theoretical and analytical framework, I analyze the curricular aims set by the LK20 Core Curriculum and a subject-specific VET curriculum, comparing them to the teaching practices reflected in interview data gathered through linguistic ethnographic fieldwork in mainstream Norwegian VET programs in 2020 and 2021. My findings show that (a) the National Curriculum positions vocational teachers as subject-specific, mainly Norwegian-oriented language teachers held to ensure the enactment of “multilingualism as a resource”, even though most vocational teachers are not trained in language education, and that (b) vocational teachers act as interpreters, translators, and relatively passive receivers of language-related policies, also frequently assuming critical positions towards these policies and some organizational features of the educational institution. The study highlights the ambiguous and challenging positions vocational teachers find themselves in, emphasize the necessity of more multilingually-oriented approaches to mainstream vocational education, and show that for language-related policy intentions like “multilingualism as a resource” to be enacted, it is imperative to provide policy actors like vocational teachers with sufficient suitable resources.

Pengaruh Kompetensi Guru dan Motivasi Kerja terhadap Kinerja Guru SMK Swasta Wira Jaya Tanjung Morawa

The purpose of this study is to know and analyze the effect of teacher competence and work motivation on teacher performance at Wira Jaya Tanjung Morawa Private Vocational School. The population and sample in this study were 30 people. Data collection techniques used interviews, questionnaires, documentation studies, and literature studies. The data analysis techniques used are data quality tests, classical assumption tests, multiple linear analysis and hypothesis tests. The results of this study show that partially (t-test) Teacher Competence has a positive and significant effect on the Performance of Wira Jaya Tanjung Morawa Private Vocational Teachers, and Work Motivation has a positive and significant effect on the Performance of Wira Jaya Tanjung Morawa Private Vocational Teachers. The results of simultaneous significant testing (F-test) of Teacher Competence and Work Motivation have a positive and significant effect on the Performance of Teachers of Private Vocational Schools Wira Jaya Tanjung Morawa. The suggestion of this research is as a reference material to improve competence and pay attention to providing work motivation for the performance of teachers of Wirajaya Tanjung Morawa Private Vocational SchoolTeacher Competence;Work Motivation;Teacher Performance

Vocational didactics based on industrial teachers’ stories

Based on industrial teachers’ narrated experiences of teaching and meeting students at Swedish vocational high schools, this study will provide a definition of the concept of vocational didactics. The study is based on two central pillars: 1) the concept of vocational didactics and 2) narrative research. The concept of vocational didactics is elaborated on the basis of previous research, and stories are further described as the theoretical and methodological starting points. The results show that ten themes about vocational didactics (vocational teaching and vocational learning) emerge from the industrial teachers’ stories. The common denominator in the themes is the concept of occupation, which is related to employability as an industrial worker. The vocational didactics and its constituent themes, which are context-bound and change as a result of technological development and societal changes, are processed and discussed in relation to the workshop environment (master-apprentice tradition) and school environment. The conclusion is that vocational didactics comprises teaching and learning professional skills and enabling students to become professional practitioners in a profession and a labour market that change continuously in step with technological development and social change.

Assessing the Work Performance of Vocational High School Teachers in Gunung Kidul: A Survey

This study aims to evaluate the work performance of vocational high school (SMK) teachers in Gunung Kidul District, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and factors influencing their performance. It also aims to provide recommendations for improving vocational education quality in the region. Using a survey method with a qualitative descriptive approach, the study focuses on assessing chemistry teachers’ performance in SMKs in Gunung Kidul. Data were collected via a validated questionnaire covering 4 aspects and 11 indicators. Analysis involved descriptive qualitative methods and literature review. The survey included 32 chemistry teachers, predominantly female (65.62%), aged 21-30 years (46.88%), with teaching experience under 5 years (62.50%). Evaluation of teachers’ performance focused on quality of work, quantity of results, knowledge of job tasks, and collaboration. Results showed overall high compliance with standards and efforts to achieve optimal results, but disparities in meeting workload expectations. Effective communication between teachers and school leaders is crucial for improvement. This research contributes significantly to understanding teacher performance in SMKs in Gunung Kidul, filling knowledge gaps and providing insights into vocational education quality at the local level.

Enhancing Digital Literacy and Technological Integration: A Case Study at Henan's Vocational College

The study focuses on the necessity for vocational instructors to have digital skills to prepare their students for the job. This research intended to improve digital literacy and technology integration among vocational college personnel in Henan Province, China. The key difficulties handled are digital literacy and organizational support gaps that hinder educational technology integration. The study examined approaches to increase digital literacy, organizational support for digital transformation, and teacher digital skills plans. A qualitative case study in an interpretivist framework examined instructors' and stakeholders' subjective experiences. The study included 12 participants consisting of educators, managers, and stakeholders selected via intentional and snowball sampling. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. According to the findings, 70% of the participants have basic digital literacy abilities, but they lack advanced technology integration ability, emphasizing the need for ongoing professional development. Additionally, 60% reported minimal organizational help, emphasizing the necessity for solid infrastructure and coordinated training. Important discussions centered on how these findings may alter vocational college policy and pedagogy. The study stressed the need to match innovative methods to classroom needs. Rogers's Theory of Technological Adoption focused perceived usefulness and ease of use in technology adoption, whereas the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Theory guided cooperative and reflective learning contexts. Also, the Digital Literacy Framework provided a comprehensive approach to learning digital skills, emphasizing advanced training programs. Policymakers and educators should prioritize professional development programs for advanced digital skills and provide appropriate physical and technological infrastructure. The research suggests mentoring programs, hands-on workshops, and contemporary technologies for instructors. Future research should examine the long-term effects of these treatments and adjust similar educational settings to ensure vocational education remains relevant and effective in a digital world.

МОВЛЕННЄВА КОМПЕТЕНТНІСТЬ ЯК СКЛАДОВА ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ МАЙБУТНІХ ПЕДАГОГІВ ПРОФЕСІЙНОГО НАВЧАННЯ

Relevance: The prioritization of developing speech competence in future teachers of vocational education is necessitated by the need to equip learners with competencies for lifelong learning, aligning with the qualification requirements of higher education graduates amidst the reforms in the national higher education system and its integration into the European space. Objective: To substantiate the importance of speech competence as a component of professional training for future teachers of vocational education in higher education institutions. Methods: Analysis, synthesis, and generalization of scientific works and legislative and regulatory documents were used for the theoretical analysis of key concepts of the study, defining the term "speech competence as a component of professional training for future vocational education teachers"; comparison was employed to identify approaches to solving the researched problem; generalization and systematization were used to formulate conclusions and prospects for further research. Results: Analysis of scientific works revealed that the speech competence of future vocational education teachers develops through the integration of the main tenets of linguistic sciences, psychology, and pedagogy. It is hierarchically subordinated to the principles of implementing a competence-based approach in the education system and integrates into the system of key (general) competencies as a distinct component. Speech competence, as defined in the Standard of Higher Education at the Bachelor's level, field of study 01 – "Education / Pedagogy", specialty 015 – "Professional Education (by specializations)" and in educational-professional programs, is determined by specific learning outcomes, mastery of which provides the ability to obtain an educational qualification. The level of speech competence within the system of general competencies for lifelong learning is a guarantee for the systemic further personal and professional development of a vocational education teacher according to the standards and socio-cultural trends. Conclusions: Innovative and European integration development of educational systems, current scientific research in pedagogy and psychology, technological changes, and the digitalization of society require a systemic update of educational content components to effectively develop the speech competence of future vocational education teachers and to ensure their ability to organize and conduct pedagogical activities effectively.

The problems of training future teachers of vocational education in the context of post-war economic recovery in Ukraine

The research analyzed the key issues of preparing future vocational education teachers for the economic recovery of Ukraine, particularly emphasizing the relevance and necessity of ensuring the economic component of their pedagogical training for the further development of entrepreneurial competence of students in vocational education, which will meet the state's needs during the post-war period in qualified specialists and workers. In the process of scientific research, a set of problems of preparing future vocational education teachers for professional activities in the context of post-war recovery of Ukraine was identified, particularly emphasizing the need for systematic updating of the content of pedagogical training taking into account the socio-economic factors that influence the labor market and determine the content of economic components of educational programs in vocational education. The research utilized methods such as analysis of scientific-pedagogical and socio-economic literature, periodicals, monographs; study of state standards, legislation in the field of education, qualification frameworks, concepts of competency-based approach, strategies for post-war recovery, etc., systematization of research results; interviews with specialists from the Ministry of Education, teachers in vocational education, educators and masters; pedagogical observations, and more. The author identified and justified the relevance of a number of key issues in preparing future teachers in preliminary higher and vocational education considering the economic component of pedagogical training, and also planned perspectives for further research on the readiness of future teachers to carry out their professional activities at the sufficient level, taking into account the modern requirements of the labor market for qualified specialists and workers, as well as the socio-economic factors in the country during the period of post-war recovery