What Do Vocational Education Professors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Vocational Education Professors teach or instruct vocational or occupational subjects at the postsecondary level (but at less than the baccalaureate) to students who have graduated or left high school. Includes correspondence school, industrial, and commercial instructors; and adult education teachers and instructors who prepare persons to operate industrial machinery and equipment and transportation and communications equipment. Teaching may take place in public or private schools whose primary business is education or in a school associated with an organization whose primary business is other than education. They also observe and evaluate students’ work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.

Other tasks include:

• Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students’ knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
• Supervise and monitor students’ use of tools and equipment.
• Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness.
• Provide individualized instruction and tutorial or remedial instruction.
• Prepare reports and maintain records, such as student grades, attendance rolls, and training activity details.
• Develop curricula and plan course content and methods of instruction.

We asked Vocational Education Professors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 73% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Vocational Education Professors prepare reports and maintain records, such as student grades, attendance rolls, and training activity details. They determine training needs of students or workers.

A typical day for a Postsecondary Vocational Education Teacher will also include:

• Observe and evaluate students’ work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
• Select and assemble books, materials, supplies, and equipment for training, courses, or projects.
• Integrate academic and vocational curricula so that students can obtain a variety of skills.
• Supervise independent or group projects, field placements, laboratory work, or other training.
• Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students’ knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.

We asked some Vocational Education Professors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	51% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	62% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	36% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Vocational Education Professors also develop teaching aids, such as instructional software, multimedia visual aids, or study materials. They may also serve on faculty and school committees concerned with budgeting, curriculum revision, and course and diploma requirements.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Vocational Education Professors Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness. They might also Advise students on course selection, career decisions, and other academic and vocational concerns.

In addition, they Review enrollment applications and correspond with applicants to obtain additional information.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Acquire, maintain, and repair laboratory equipment and tools.

To some Vocational Education Professors, it is also their responsibility to Prepare outlines of instructional programs and training schedules and establish course goals.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Postsecondary Vocational Education Teacher, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm

http://www.cgsnet.org/

https://www.acteonline.org/

http://www.teach.org/