Introduction
9
States’ Career Clusters Initiative, 2010, www.careerclusters.org.
About the Author
Dr. R. Thomas Wright is one of the leading figures in technology education
curriculum development in the United States. He is the author or coauthor of
many Goodheart-Willcox technology textbooks. Dr. Wright is the author of
Manufacturing and Automation Technology, Processes of Manufacturing, and
Technology & Engineering. He is the coauthor of Exploring Design, Technology, &
Engineering with Dr. Ryan A. Brown.
Dr. Wright has served the profession through many professional offices.
These offices include President of the International Technology Education
Association (ITEA) and President of the Council on Technology Teacher
Education (CTTE). His work has been recognized through the ITEA Academy
of Fellows award and Award of Distinction, the CTTE Technology Teacher
Educator of the Year, the Epsilon Pi Tau Laureate Citation and Distinguished
Service Citation, the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the Governor of
Indiana, the Bellringer Award from the Indiana Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the Ball State University Faculty of the Year Award and George and
Frances Ball Distinguished Professorship, and the EEA-Ship Citation.
Dr. Wright’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from
Stout State University, a master of science degree from Ball State University, and
a doctoral degree from the University of Maryland. His teaching experience
consists of 3 years as a junior high instructor in California and 37 years as a
university instructor at Ball State University. In addition, he has also been a
visiting professor at Colorado State University; Oregon State University; and
Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia.
Mike Berkeihiser has written numerous journal articles for Technology and
Engineering Teacher and the TEEAP Journal and has presented at many
conferences. Mike teaches Engineering Design, Architectural Design, and
Electronics at Unionville High School in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Unionville’s Technology Education Department won ITEA and TEEAP Program
Excellence Award in 2009.
Berkeihiser’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from
Millersville University and a master’s degree from Ball State University.
The Career Clusters
The Career Clusters are 16 groups of different types of occupational and
career specialties, which are further divided into pathways. Looking ahead at
these pathways will help determine the course of study for your chosen career.
The Career Cluster icons are being used with permission of the: