| This dissertation explores and clarifies the past, present, and future aspects of factors that contribute to the growth and decline of Alberta's high schools in the subject area of career and technology studies, mechanics, specifically, automotive mechanics. One purpose for this study in career and technology studies is to suggest possible new directions and understanding for practitioners of automotive programs to deal with this newly implemented Alberta curriculum. The instruments used in this study were a teacher perception survey and an individual school observational survey completed by the researcher. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research have been used in the data collection, as well as postmodern and deconstruction theories to assist with interpreting and explaining the data. This study is intended to assist those CTS automotive program stakeholders who might be asking questions about how and why the change to the new CTS curriculum has affected the province's automotive programs. It is also intended that this dissertation offer possible insights for future directions and add to the understanding of how continuity of the junior high industrial arts, senior high automotive, and college/institute automotive programs may be improved. |
