CTE College Teaching Outlook
Post Secondary School {Community Colleges}:
Nature of Work:
Provide instruction for occupations that require specialized training, but not usually a 4-year degree. They may teach classes in welding, dental hygienic, automotive technicians, etc. Classes often are taught in an industrial or laboratory setting where students are provided hands-on experience. Increasingly, career and technical education teachers are integrating academic and vocational curriculum so that students obtain a variety of skills that can be applied on the job. In addition, community college instructors play a key role in students' transition from school to work by helping to establish internship programs for students and by facilitating contact between students and prospective employers.
Work Environment:
Most postsecondary teachers have flexible schedules. They must be present for classes, usually 12-16 hours per week, and for faculty and committee meetings. Most establish regular office hours for student consultations, usually 3-6 hours per week. Otherwise, teachers are free to decide when and where they will work, and how much time to devote to course preparation, grading, study, research, and other activities. Most colleges require teachers to work 10 months of the year, which allows them time during the summer and school holidays to teach additional courses, travel, or pursue nonacademic interests.
Tasks & Skills:
Postsecondary teachers should communicate and relate well with students, enjoy working with them, and be able to motivate them. They should have inquiring and analytical minds, and a strong desire to pursue and disseminate knowledge. Additionally, they must be self-motivated and able to work in an environment in which they receive little direct supervision. Other tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Arrange for lectures by experts in designated fields.
- Determine training needs of students or workers.
- Participate in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of development
in the field; and integrate relevant information into training programs.
- Supervise independent or group projects, field placements, laboratory work, or other
training.
- Select and assemble books, materials, supplies, and equipment for training courses
or projects.
- Prepare reports and maintain records such as student grades, attendance rolls, and
training activity details.
- Develop teaching aides such as instructional software, multimedia visual aids, or
study materials.
- Administer oral, written, or performance tests in order to measure progress and to
evaluate training effectiveness.
- Integrate academic and vocational curricula so that students can obtain a variety
of skills.
- Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence,
using visual aids such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
- Prepare outlines of instructional programs and training schedules, and establish course
goals.
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make
suggestions for improvement.
- Develop curricula and plan course content and method of instruction.
- Supervise and Monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
Most postsecondary teachers extensively use computer technology, including the Internet, e-mail, and software programs. They may use computers in the classroom as teaching aides and may post coursed content, class notes, class schedules, and other information on the Internet. Teachers should communicate and relate well with students, enjoy working with them, and be able to motivate them. They should have inquiring and analytical minds, and a strong desire to pursue and disseminate knowledge. Additionally, they must be self-motivated and able to work in an environment in which they receive little direct supervision.
Training & Education:
Training and education requirements vary by state and subject. The minimum qualifications for teaching in a California Community College in CTE areas are any associate degree plus six years of work experience or any bachelor's degree plus two years of work experience. Requirements may vary by community college for full-time tenure opportunities, but many require a minimum of a bachelor's degree.
The CTE Certificate Program works in two ways:
- A student can choose to complete an Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree along with his/her
6 years experience in Automotive, Welding, or Woodworking is qualified to teach part-time
in that particular area. OR
- A student can complete 40 General Education Units along with the Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology, which requires completion of General Education Requirements along with Required Courses & Upper Division Units from CSU Los Angeles.
Wages:
While there is not a lot of information available regarding this occupation, the mean
average in California in 2011 for postsecondary teachers was $68,470
(Note: The salary varies according to educational background and years of work-related
experience.)
Outlook:
During 2011, there were approximately 13,380 people employed in this field in California. There are no future predictors for employment available in California in this profession at this time.
Information was taken from:
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Website at http://www.bls.gov
The California Career Zone Website at http://www.cacareerzone.org
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