Traditional education teaches you about academic subjects. You learn some theory and facts on various subjects or, in higher education, a lot of theory and facts on a particular subject. In vocational education, on the other hand, you learn how to complete a particular task. It is procedural knowledge. Of course, this is not as absolute a division as it sounds; one learns some procedure in traditional education and some theory in vocational education, but the emphasis of the former is on theory, whereas the focus of the latter is on procedure.

1. What Is Vocational
Education?
By Sandra Ankier

2. What Is Vocational Education?
Traditional education teaches you about
academic subjects. You learn some theory and
facts on various subjects or, in higher education,
a lot of theory and facts on a particular subject.
In vocational education, on the other hand, you
learn how to complete a particular task. It is
procedural knowledge. Of course, this is not as
absolute a division as it sounds; one learns
some procedure in traditional education and
some theory in vocational education, but the
emphasis of the former is on theory, whereas
the focus of the latter is on procedure.

3. What Is Vocational Education?
An educational system that maintains a vocational
program recognizes not only that students excel in
different areas, but that the demand for students who
with practical skills is at least as high as for those who
know a lot as well. Specialized skills can be just as
valuable in establishing a career as specialized
knowledge. Well-known careers that benefit from
vocational education include mechanics, funeral service
providers, information technologists, HVAC specialists,
plumbers, and electricians. They also include traditional
crafts such as blacksmithing and jewelry making.
Requiring physical skills for quality of work and safety,
these fields provide a wider range of possibilities in
modern economies than ever before.

4. What Is Vocational Education?
Sandra Ankier has supervised the
vocational education program of the
Elmsford Union Free School District in
Elmsford, New York, since 2008.