Occupational experience and technical competence of vo-ag teachers
Date
1976
Authors
Oades, John Douglas, author
Anderson, B. Harold, advisor
Johnson, William H., committee member
Linson, M. G., committee member
Rask, Glen D., committee member
Sjogren, Douglas, committee member
Wyatt, Windol L., committee member
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Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between ability to perform selected technical agriculture competencies and certain other variables dealing with the related occupational experiences of vocational agriculture teachers. Variables of length, experience source, recency and attitude toward the value of occupational experience were considered. A secondary purpose of this study was to gather profile data concerning the related occupational experiences completed by vocational agriculture teachers in Colorado. A six page, 108 item survey instrument was used to gather data for this study. The research instrument was composed of three sections: demographic, designed to gather respondent data concerning education completed, related occupational experience, and opinions concerning value and duration of occupational experience; teacher attitude scale, designed to provide an indication of respondent attitude toward the value of occupational experience; technical competence self-evaluation section, designed to allow the respondent to evaluate his ability to perform selected technical subject matter competencies, and identify from what experience source he gained each competency. Vocational agriculture program areas to be included in the study were chosen on the basis of having 10 or more operational secondary programs in Colorado. Program areas thus selected were production agriculture (70) and ornamental horticulture (12). The population included all secondary production agriculture (98) and ornamental horticulture (12) teachers in Colorado. The Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze all data gathered. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. Statistical tests used included Pearson product moment, multiple regression and one-way analysis of variance. Seven hypotheses were tested and the major findings included: (1) There was no statistically significant correlation (.05) level) between the technical subject matter competence of production agriculture teachers and (a) belief in the necessity of occupational experience to program success, (b) source of occupational experience from which competencies were learned, (c) total hours of occupational experience completed, (d) recency of occupational experience completed, and (e) attitude toward the value of occupational experience; (2) There was a statistically significant correlation (.05 level) between technical subject matter competence of ornamental horticulture teachers and (a) source of occupational experience from which competencies were learned, and (b) total hours of occupational experience completed, while no statistically significant correlation was found for (c) belief in necessity of occupational experience to program success, (d) recency of occupational experience completed, and (e) attitude toward the value of occupational experience.
Description
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Subject
Vocational teachers
Agricultural education