Teacher education institutions need to accept responsibility for helping to keep vocational and technical teachers technically current. The University of Minnesota is helping inservice teachers keep up-to-date in three ways. The largest number of teachers have been served through short technical workshops. The workshops have covered a wide variety of topics and have been taught by instructors from industry who received help in developing instructional plans and materials. The State Department of Education has provided money for the workshop coordinator's position and has subsidized the cost of the workshops. Teachers also enroll in internships that refer to industrial employment in the teacher's field of specialization. The state of Minnesota pays the essential costs, including hiring of a substitute teacher and extra travel. Inservice teachers can also utilize a variety of other learning experiences through independent studies. Independent studies can center on participation in manufacturers' service schools, attendance at a trade show, travel, research and writing, and consulting. Some principles can ensure the quality of a learning experience. These include careful planning, analysis of need, statement of objectives, use of the community as a resource, integration of the technical updating into teaching, and evaluation of outcomes. (YLB)