EdInfo: Integrated Occupational and Academic Instruction in the Community College

Integrated Occupational and Academic Instruction in the Community College

EdInfo 2001-07
July, 2001
ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges

In a study of seven community colleges, the Community College Research Center at Columbia University examined the benefits and obstacles related to the integration of occupational and academic education. The colleges were in urban, suburban, and rural areas in four states, two in the Northeast, and two in the Midwest. A total of 33 classrooms participated in the study, of which 25 were observed. Students in 23 classrooms completed anonymous surveys. Additionally, 137 individuals were interviewed, including 77 students, 40 instructors and chairs, 13 administrators, and 7 other personnel.

Curriculum Integration

Of the classes offered by the colleges as examples of integration, only 68% were actually integrated in terms of discernable classroom practice.

Instruction

Seven of 25 classrooms used student-centered instruction, 5 used teacher-centered instruction and 13 were mixed. Examples of integrated classrooms were found in both student-centered and teacher-centered instruction.

Benefits of Integrated Instruction

Students who are reluctant to attend general education courses are more likely to engage in academic instruction when it is linked to career education.
Faculty enjoyed opportunities to collaborate with other faculty, which offset the increased workload associated with integrated courses for some faculty.

Obstacles

Faculty were often resistant to trying new instructional approaches and to the increased workload associated with integrated instruction.
Expenses related to release time and other incentives necessary to initiate and maintain integrated instruction were a strain for the colleges.
It was often difficult to maintain integrated instruction initiatives as the leadership of these initiatives often rests with one faculty member or administrator.

This information was reported in ED448817, "Curriculum and Pedagogy to Integrate Occupational and Academic Instruction in the Community College: Implications for Faculty Development" by Dolores Perin. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC.