Identification of Activities That Are Appropriate Parts of a Partnership Between Secondary Technology Education Programs and Business and Industry.

The purpose of this study was to identify specific activities that are considered appropriate parts of a partnership between secondary technology education programs and the business and industry community by experts in the field of technology education and business and industry in the southeastern region of the United States. The states included in the study were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. A form of the Delphi Technique was used to solicit and reach consensus on the appropriateness of partnership activities between secondary technology education programs and members of the business and industry community. The combined panel consisted of two secondary technology education teachers and two business and industry representatives from each of the nine states included in the study for a total of 38 panel members. The study identified 153 unique activities during the first round of the study. These activities were categorized as relating to curriculum development and modification; supplies, materials, and equipment; instruction or staff development; and other activities. Following rounds two and three, the combined panel and the panel of secondary technology education teachers reached consensus on the appropriateness of all 153 activities while the panel of business and industry representatives reached consensus on 152 of the activities