Skills demonstration as a part of a vocational course

Abstract

A skills demonstration is included to a vocational course in electronics: “the Computer Equipment and Structure”. The course is 2,5 studying weeks. The course is studied during two periods, which is 16 weeks and 5 hours per week. The demonstration consists of assembling a personal computer according to a customer’s order. The students have an opportunity to make this demonstration after studied theory. The theory part is studied using a web-based studying environment. A precondition for the demonstration is that the students prove their theoretical knowledge in a verbal and a written exam. The demonstrations are started about in the middle of the course, depending on a student’s abilities to work with the theory. The project is considering what the students think about the skills demonstrations as specified by the NBE and what the teachers’ duties are in this process. The project includes also planning, implementation and testing of a competence test together with the students and colleagues and evaluation of its usability as an educational instrument.