Enhancing Curriculum Design and Implementation through Instructor Certification

In Career and Technical Education there is often a dis-connect between what is
being taught and what is expected of new hires entering the workforce. This is in
spite of the fact that many CTE educators come from industry and have direct
knowledge of those needs. In order to bridge this gap it is necessary for
educators to keep their knowledge and certifications current to not only stay in
touch with industry but to ensure curriculum is designed to allow students to
pursue current certifications as well. By researching the current available
certifications within the Outdoor Power Equipment industry and comparing their
various attributes one can determine which are the most cost effective to obtain
and which will yield the greatest value to the holder of said certification(s). By
polling the various manufacturers and organizations that offer certification it was
determined that the suite of certifications offered by the Engine and Equipment
Training Council met the requirements set forth in this project.
After the determination was made the process of obtaining the certifications
began with application, studying and finally taking the actual tests