he Internet has become a major source of up-to-date information. It
enables individuals to access remote knowledge bases at a simple key-stroke.
Moreover, these electronic information archives can be easily updated
to reflect changes in topics of interest. However, this convenient
and vast information source has created one unexpected downside- users
of the Internet may get lost in electronic space, find it difficult
to judge the quality of the information, and sometimes end up collecting
a hodge-podge of information from many different sources. Truly, too
much information may be more troubling than a lack of information.
When you type the keyword "Tech Prep" on an Internet search
site such as Google or Yahoo, you are likely to face astronomical
numbers of web resources. Any indication about the quality of the
information would be a big time-saver and mind-reliever!
A good many professional organizations utilize the web to disseminate
current knowledge about their field. These sites provide both the
researchers and the practitioners with good quality and trustworthy
information. Working as a Research Associate studying Tech Prep,
I spent tons of hours collecting information about the topic. My
experiences with this firmly convinced me that the Internet is a
mixed blessing. What you find is convenient, current, and readily
retrievable. However, finding useful information is time-consuming
and oftentimes futile. With this in mind, I present the "Top
10: The most useful Tech Prep related web resources", which
have been very informative and usable:
1. Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL)
Tech Prep webpage
http://occrl.ed.uiuc.edu/TPESI/default.asp
This site provides in-depth information regarding the status of
Tech Prep in Illinois, one of the most successful states in implementing
Tech Prep. Other useful information includes fact sheets, PowerPoint
slides, brochures, and technical reports published by OCCRL researchers.
The Tech Prep program evaluation materials and protocols on the
site are also very useful. These materials can be used as a benchmarking
tool in planning and developing Tech Prep program evaluations in
schools, districts, and/or consortia.
2. Introduction to Tech Prep: A Self-Directed Learning Program
webpage
http://occrl.ed.uiuc.edu/TP/tpt.asp
This self-directed Tech Prep learning program is a great start
for new Tech Prep coordinators or other individuals who are eager
to learn more about Tech Prep. The contents and instructional materials
are from a graduate-level on-line course about Tech Prep that was
taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign during
the spring semester of 2002. The course consists of a series of
modules with PowerPoint slides, reading materials (mostly free for
downloading), and course assignments.
3. Illinois State Board of Education Tech Prep webpage
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/techprep/
This website provides Illinois' Tech Prep definitions, grant information,
and the Tech Prep consortia directory. The site also includes great
Tech Prep marketing materials, such as flyers, brochures, posters,
booklets, and PowerPoint slides. One very useful item (free download)
from the site is the "Tech Prep Directors Handbook". This
material is a great resource for Tech Prep administration and implementation.
4. U. S. Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) webpage
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/
OVAE is a branch of U.S. Department of Education. Resources on
this site are targeted to topical areas such as High Schools, Career
and Technical Education, Community Colleges, and Adult Education
and Literacy. Tech Prep-related resources include:
5. Center for Occupation Research and Development (CORD) website
http://www.cord.org/
As a national nonprofit organization, CORD focuses on curriculum
development, teacher training, and Tech Prep leadership. It aims
to provide innovative changes in education to prepare students for
greater success in careers and higher education. Related to this
goal, the site presents information on contextual teaching/learning
and business-education partnerships, in addition to Tech Prep related
materials. Some materials are free and others are available for
a moderate cost. One popular free downloadable item is "The
ABCs of Tech Prep: A User's Manual"(http://www.cord. org/Lev2.cfm/86).
6. National Tech Prep Network (NTPN) website
http://www.cord.org/lev1.cfm/2
Founded by CORD, NTPN is an organization for educators and employers
involved in Tech Prep. It provides resources to assist its members
with planning, developing, implementing and evaluating Tech Prep.
The monthly "Connections" newsletter provides the latest
Tech Prep news. Other resources include the state Tech Prep coordinators
list, information about the exemplary worksite learning award winners,
and reports on exemplary Tech Prep sites.
7. The National Association for Tech Prep Leadership (NATPL)
website
http://www.natpl.org/
NATPL aims to encourage career development, professional involvement,
and networking among Tech Prep leaders. Its website has a discussion
forum that is a good channel for communication with other Tech Prep
leaders. The web resource page on the site provides web links to
Tech Prep websites in each state. You can learn about other states'
Tech Prep efforts by clicking
(http://www.natpl.org/top/links.html)
8. Tech Prep Texas website
http://www.techpreptexas.org/
As one of the leading states in developing and implementing Tech
Prep, Texas maintains an informative and user-friendly Tech Prep
website. The site provides information targeted to the needs of
different visitors, such as students and parents, high schools and
colleges. Visiting here, you will see the state's efforts to expand
its Tech Prep program along with the Statewide Articulation Program
as major educational reform initiatives.
9. ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career and Vocational Education
website
http://www.ericacve.org/
Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is probably the
world's largest information source for educators. This electronic
database system is large and includes journals, articles, and technical
reports. If you type 'Tech Prep' in the little box in the search
page, you will get to almost 1000 articles related to Tech Prep.
For example, you can obtain the full text of "Tech Prep Implementation
in the United States: Promising Trends and Lingering Challenges"
by Bragg et al (1994) and "Focus for the Future. The Final
Report of the National Tech-Prep Evaluation" by Hershey et
al (1998) through the ERIC database for free (the ERIC number for
Hershey et al is'ED423395' and for Bragg et al is 'ED374336'). These
two papers effectively illustrate the status of Tech Prep implementation
in the United States.
10. National Center for Career and Technical Education (NCCTE)
(formerly NCRVE) website
http://www.nccte.com/
NCCTE has conducted projects and published numerous papers related
to Career Technical Education including Tech Prep. Typing in "Tech
Prep" as a search keyword will direct you to numerous published
papers and other resources on this topic.
JoHyun Kim is a Research Assistant with the Office of Community College
Research and Leadership at UIUC, and a doctoral candidate conducting
research on Tech Prep. She may be contacted at jkim24@uiuc.edu.
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