This report concerns first-year activities of a study of alternative futures. The study attempted to identify major trends and possible events that could influence vocational education in the 1980s and to analyze policy issues likely to be associated with them. Following the introduction, chapter 2 addresses procedures followed in each of three main tasks: (1) Delphi study, (2) analysis of external trends likely to influence vocational education, and (3) conference. Chapter 3 presents results from the third round of a Delphi study of estimates of the probability and impact of thirty-six possible events; the panel for this consisted of national leaders and scholars of vocational education. Chapter 4 contains an overview of the proceedings of the Conference on Alternative Futures for Vocational Education held at the National Center for Research in Vocational Education (January 8-9, 1980) and summaries of major presentations and discussions. One presentation summarizes main findings of the study of forecasts of trends likely to be of significance and the analysis of their policy implications. Appendixes, amounting to over one-half of the report, include the full report of the study on trends (also available separately as ED 189 370), National Institute of Education Vocational Education Study--A Progress Report, and Recommendations by the American Vocational Association Legislative Study Teams. (YLB)