The social shaping of work and technology as a guideline for vocational education and training

Views new tasks of vocational education and training (VET) from the perspective of the German educational system for the upper secondary level. Outlines a proposal to enrich the German “dual system” of vocational education with elements of “general” education. Important effects on VET are to be expected. The main means for such a change should be the guideline of “social shaping of work and technology”. Stresses the importance of “doing” in relation to “thinking”. This “shaping approach” shows to be a starting point for a new curricular theory. Sketches the problem of legitimizing criteria for shaping work and technology, making use of dialectical ideas. In conclusion, highlights some consequences for the education of VET professionals.