Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers STEM Education & Professional Studies 2005 Technology Education in Virginia's Private School System Cara Kimball Old Dominion University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/ots_masters_projects Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Kimball, Cara, "Technology Education in Virginia's Private School System" (2005). OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers. 132. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/ots_masters_projects/132 This Master's Project is brought to you for free and open access by the STEM Education & Professional Studies at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Technology Education in Virginia’s Private School System A Study Presented to the Graduate Faculty Of the Department of Occupational and Technical Studies Old Dominion University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science By Cara Kimball October 7, 2005 Signature Page This research paper was prepared by Cara Kimball under the direction of Dr. John M. Ritz in OTED 636, Problems in Occupational and Technical Studies. It was submitted to the Graduate Program Director as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree. Approved by: ______________________________ Date ___________ Dr. John M. Ritz Advisor, Chair and Graduate Program Director Occupational and Technical Studies Old Dominion University i Table of Contents Signature Page............................................................................................................. i Table of Tables.......................................................................................................... iv Table of Figures ......................................................................................................... v CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem .................................................................................... 2 Research Goals............................................................................................... 2 Background and Significance......................................................................... 2 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 3 Assumptions................................................................................................... 4 Procedures ...................................................................................................... 4 Definition of Terms........................................................................................ 4 Overview and Summary................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE......................................................................... 7 History of Technology Education .................................................................. 7 Standards for Technological Literacy ............................................................ 8 Virginia Technology Education Program ...................................................... 9 Summary ...................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER III METHODS AND PROCEDURES.............................................................. 12 Population..................................................................................................... 12 Instrument Design ........................................................................................ 12 Data Collection............................................................................................. 12 Statistical Analysis ....................................................................................... 13 Summary ...................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER IV FINDINGS ................................................................................................... 14 Technology Education in Virginia ............................................................... 14 Technology Courses Offered in Virginia..................................................... 15 Summary ...................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER V SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS............... 20 Summary ...................................................................................................... 20 ii Conclusions.................................................................................................. 21 Recommendations ........................................................................................ 25 Bibliography............................................................................................................. 26 Appendices............................................................................................................... 28 A. Standard for Technological Literacy....................................................... 29 B. List of Virginia Accredited Private Schools............................................ 32 C. Survey...................................................................................................... 37 D. Cover Letter Accompanying Survey....................................................... 41 iii Table of Tables TABLES............................................................................................................... Page Table 1: Middle School Technology Courses Recommended by VDOE................ 16 Table 2: High School Technology Courses Recommended by VDOE ................... 16 Table 3: Middle School Technology Courses Not Recommended by VDOE......... 18 Table 4: High School Technology Courses Not Recommended by VDOE ............ 18 Table 5: Private Schools with Titles of Technology Education Courses ................ 21 iv Table of Figures FIGURES ............................................................................................................. Page Figure 1: Virginia Technology Course list. ............................................................. 10 Figure 2: Private Schools That Provide Technology Education Courses ................ 15 v CHAPTER I INTRODUTION Technology education is important for all students. By providing an introduction to new and changing technologies to students, technology education prepares them for the technologically advanced work facing them in the future. The United States is facing an overwhelming competition in the global economy. This competition involves mastery and application of new technologies in almost every field of human endeavor (Page, 2005). It is the responsibility of our education systems to adequately prepare students for this new technological world. Technology education programs are the key to introducing students to critical new technologies and the key to preparing them to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Technology education must be taught to meet the needs of students and the needs of our country. Today’s students must be able to use technology effectively in order to keep our nation strong and to compete in the expanding global economy. With technology as a top priority for the national economy one major question arises. What are private schools doing to meet this need? This research project will discover whether private schools in Virginia are meeting the needs of tomorrow’s technological leaders by providing technology education courses as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education. Since technology education is one of the most important aspects of education provided today within our schools systems, it is critical for the education of leaders and decision makers of tomorrow. Students that graduate from private schools need to be technological literate in order to be able to make educated decisions on the direction the country will take over the next one-hundred years. Tomorrow’s students will need to be able to establish the financial well being of the country. It is important that technology education be an intricate part of curriculum in private and public schools systems to advance the well being of the country and world. This research report was designed to evaluate what technology education courses are offered in Virginia’s private schools. 1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The problem of this study was to determine the extent that Virginia’s private schools have incorporated technology education courses into their curriculum. GOALS The goals of this study will answer the following questions: 1. Do the accredited private schools within the Commonwealth of Virginia offer technology education courses to their student body? 2. What technology courses (titles) are offered in private schools in Virginia? BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE “Over the next decade, the United States will face ever increasing competition in the global economy” (Page, 2005, p. 1). To an overwhelming extent, this competition will involve the mastery and application of new technologies in virtually every field of human endeavor (Page, 2005). “Eighty-five years ago the federal government first committed to vocational education as a national priority” (Silverberg, Warner, Fong,