A Constructivist Approach to Teaching Web Development in Post-Secondary Vocational Settings

TLDR: In this article, a curriculum and constructivist-based instructional delivery approach is presented for a four-year degree in web development developed for a vocational training institution, where the instructional outcomes for such a program are distinctly different from traditional software engineering and other computer-specific programs and require a different approach to curriculum development and instructional delivery.

Abstract: Vocational education by its nature has a need for delivery methods that place a strong focus on the relationship between school and work and seeks to deliver instruction in a manner that bridges the two as seamlessly as possible. This paper presents a curriculum and constructivist-based instructional delivery approach, designed to emphasize a strong school-work relationship, for a four-year degree in Web Development developed for a vocational training institution. The instructional outcomes for such a program are distinctly different from traditional software engineering and other computer -specific programs and require a different approach to curriculum development and instructional delivery, which focuses on the unique needs of vocational students. At the same time, such programs should strive to emulate the best practices, educational values, and, to the extent possible, the curriculum of traditional programs. The educational program presented here employs a spiral sequencing of course material, presented using the constructivist approach of goal-based scenarios, in order to emphasize the applied, skill-building nature of vocational instruction. Many authors have discussed the benefits of a constructivist approach to vocational education (i.e. Brown, 1998), while others have called for its increased use in computer science related education (i.e. Connolly & Begg, 2006).