The New Curriculum for Electric and Electronic Cluster

The New Curriculum for Electric and Electronic Cluster of Vocational Schools in Taiwan Pao-Ming Wang I-Ying Hsu Ph. D Student, Department of Industrial technology Education, National Taiwan Normal University

Abstract • This study, from the view of curriculum design, aims to construct the occupational competency for vocational school students in their future jobs. • Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) makes the new curriculum’s standards approach the need of the vocationaltechnical education system and the labor market.

Abstract • Therefore, the major purpose of this study is to research on” The New Curriculum for Electric and Electronic Cluster of Vocational Schools in Taiwan, R. O. C” (scheduled on 2006/8/1). • The researcher will analyze the curriculum’s structure of which concepts was adjusted from department- oriented to cluster- oriented.

Abstract • The study will explore that the educational goals, core competency of vocational schools cluster, curriculum’s structure, subjects of teaching, principles of programming, etc. • It also explains and discusses generally the related supporting methods of the schoolbased curriculum.

Abstract • Key Words: vocational school, electric & electronic cluster, the new curriculum

Introdoction • Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) proclaimed “The New Curriculum for Electric and Electronic Cluster of Vocational School” (will be effected on August 1, 2006) on February 5, 2005. This Procedure traverses traditional session set aimed at subject-learning, into aim at group of sessions.

Introdoction • Which integrate electrical-related and electronic-related clusters, forms their related basic subjects, reduces the units of major requirements. Meanwhile, reduces the units of major subjects, help the schools or the institutes to have more control on management of cluster setting.

Introdoction • Therefore, the schools and the institutes can base on their features to have more room on curriculum development to keep up the pace with the trend of industries, and the need of communities.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS • The new required units for graduating of vocational school is, minimum 160 credits, maximum 192 credits; the national defense education, nursing, and physical education from 0 to 20 credits; the required credits were reduced.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS I. The Goal of Education (I)The Goal of Education for Vocational School To enhance the student’s vocational skills, conserve vocational ethics, and to develop a versatile technician, increase his/her study of skills and career developing. (II)The Goal of Cluster Education To develop a student’s core skills of electric and electronic, and to upgrade a student’s skills for senior profession. And to enhance professionals with electric related and electronicrelated skills who can do conducting, maintaining, testing, and applying. (III)The Goal of Subject Education Each vocational school should according to the goal of education, the goal of cluster education, the features of school, industry situation, and student needs to set clear and precise goals of subject education.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS II. The Core Competency / Skills of Vocational Cluster Each school select 2 subjects totally are 4 credits in sum. Each subject is minimum 1 credit, maximum 2 credits, so totally are 2 -4 credits. The temporary Procedure of new clusters’ planning, designing, and implementing, are to develop the following abilities of students: (I) General Competency i. Basic competency of life-adjusting and future-learning (i) Problem-solution and emotion-adaptation. (ii) Inspiring the consciousness of respecting lives. (iii) Developing the basic competency of career expanding. (iv) Developing positive attitude of continuous learning.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS ii. Cultural developing and professional ethics. (i) Cultivating basic human science. (ii) Developing the attitude of respecting differentials. (iii)Developing the competency of learning from same generation. (iv) Cultivating the spirit of profession-devotion and team-cooperating. iii. Basic competency of citizenship and social service. (i) Developing positive attitude (ii) Developing skills of self-expressing and inter-relations. (iii) Cultivating the sense of Democratic, Law and Order. (iv) Developing society-devoting attitude. (v) Enhancing the competency of global view.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS (II) Professional Competency i. The competency of solving circuit problem. ii. Developing the competency of solving problem by applying calculator / computer. iii. The competency of applying basic tools, machine, and electric instrument, and etc. iv. The competency of maintaining and repairing machine, electric instrument, and related equipment. v. The competency of looking up manual, understanding circuit layout. vi. Be familiar with related regulations or codes. vii. The competency of maintaining the safety and the sanitation of working environment. viii. Understanding the current situation of industry.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS III. Electric and Electronic Cluster Table 1 Electric and Electronics Cluster Session Department Industry Maritime Affairs & Aquaculture Electrical Engineering, Electrical Electronic Engineering, Communicating Computer Engineering, Engineering. Control Engineering, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technique, Aviating Electronic Engineering.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS IV. Department, school, maritime affairs & aquaculture, electric & electronic cluster structure, subjects and units. (I) Department, school, maritime affairs & aquaculture, electric & electronic cluster structure, subjects and units, are as Table 2: (II) electric & electronic cluster structure, subjects and credits (units). Learning subjects & credits (units) structure for electric & electronic cluster structure as Table. 3:

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS V. School (obligatory, elective) subjects designing rules: (I) School-setting sessions should follow the regulation of “The Temporary Procedure of Electric and Electronic Cluster” and the following rules: i. School-setting clusters should follow the need of student’s career developing, to design multi-purpose clusters containing career, professional training, certificate obtaining, and to meet every requirement of the society.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS ii. Planned school-setting clusters should include following items, and categorized into general cluster plan: (i) The idea for planning: developing SWOTS (ii) Structure of class: consisting of general group class structure, subjects & units, the portion of required subjects and the procedure of new cluster designing. (iii)Recommendation for the student to select cluster (iv)The names of subjects and the outlines of teaching

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS (v) The simulation of class processing (vi)The deployment of school faculty / Human Resources Management (vii) The setting of equipments (viii) Miscellaneous (depending on different situation. Regulation: “Project” is at least for 2 credits; although the required subjects are not an element of unit calculation, male or female are required to take required subjects)

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS (II) The school should set cluster-planning or audit mechanism according to community features, circumstances, problems and opportunities. (III) Regarding school-setting optional subjects, basically the school will have 1. 5 times optional courses for the student to take freely. However, the school should depend on the clusters’ needs to reduce the optional courses, and disclose in general cluster plans. (IV)A student at least must finish 60 units both in major and practical training subjects and reach the requirement. The school should disclose the attribute of each major and practical training subject.

THE CONTENT OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOL’S NEW SESSIONS (V) In order to develop students’ creativity and the competency of integration, the school-setting courses must contain the subjects which meet the requirement of industry. (VI) The course development center should provide the MOE the schedule of school-setting course to the MOE, and periodically conduct examinations or audits, provide the information to vocational schools as a reference public. (VII)The school can’t open the same courses in different grades. When the MOE examines the plan of general course, it can examine this part more critically, and list it into audit and budget as a consideration.

CONCLUSION • The purpose that MOE published the New Curriculum for Electric and Electronic Cluster of Vocational School is to keep up the pace with the rapid change of industry and society. • To assist universities of science and technology to choose new teaching materials, to cope with the problem concerning general core course, and to adopt the differentials between suburban and urban area.

CONCLUSION • To make the timetable of all subjects more flexible in late-term senior high school education (senior high school, comprehensive senior high school, and vocational school), the MOE is willing to adopt all opinions from all professional fields.