The social shaping of work and technology as a guideline for vocational education and training

Abstract

Views new tasks of vocational education and training (VET) from the perspective of the German educational system for the upper secondary level. Outlines a proposal to enrich the German “dual system” of vocational education with elements of “general” education. Important effects on VET are to be expected. The main means for such a change should be the guideline of “social shaping of work and technology”. Stresses the importance of “doing” in relation to “thinking”. This “shaping approach” shows to be a starting point for a new curricular theory. Sketches the problem of legitimizing criteria for shaping work and technology, making use of dialectical ideas. In conclusion, highlights some consequences for the education of VET professionals.

Citation

Heidegger, G. (1997), "The social shaping of work and technology as a guideline for vocational education and training", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 21 No. 6/7, pp. 238-246. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090599710171576