Agricultural Mechanics Laboratory Management Professional Development Needs of Wyoming Secondary Agriculture Teachers

Abstract

Accidents happen; however, the likelihood of accidents occurring in the agricultural mechanics laboratory is greatly reduced when agricultural mechanics laboratory facilities are managed by secondary agriculture teachers who are competent and knowledgeable. This study investigated the agricultural mechanics laboratory management in-service needs of Wyoming secondary agriculture teachers who are responsible for managing agricultural mechanics laboratories. Data were collected with a Web-based questionnaire designed to determine teachers’ perceptions of the importance of 70 selected agricultural mechanics laboratory management competencies and their self-assessed ability to perform those competencies. The Borich (1980) needs assessment model was used to assess and evaluate the in-service needs of the teachers. This study found that Wyoming secondary agriculture teachers were in need of agricultural mechanics laboratory management in-service education in the areas of: first aid, correcting hazardous laboratory conditions, and general laboratory safety. Wyoming teacher educators, state agricultural education supervisory personnel, and local professional development coordinators should provide pertinent and continuous in-service education for Wyoming secondary agriculture teachers in the area of agricultural mechanics laboratory management through technical workshops, summer professional development conferences, and university instructed agricultural mechanics courses.