Assessing the Learning Needs of Student Teachers inTexas Regarding Management of the AgriculturalMechanics Laboratory: Implications for theProfessional Development of Early Career Teachers inAgricultural Education

摘要

Skills needed to manage a laboratory are essential knowledge for all school–based, agriculture teacherswho instruct agricultural mechanics curriculum (Saucier, Terry, & Schumacher, 2009). This researchinvestigated the professional development needs of Texas agricultural education student teachersregarding agricultural mechanics laboratory management. Data were collected with a mailedquestionnaire to determine student teachers' perceptions of the importance of 70 agricultural mechanicslaboratory management competencies and their self–assessed ability to perform those competencies. TheBorich (1980) Needs Assessment Model was used to assess and evaluate the professional developmentneeds of these student teachers. The study found that these student teachers were in need of professionaldevelopment in many areas of laboratory management, such as diagnosing malfunctioning laboratoryequipment, repairing laboratory equipment, and administering first aid.