TEACHER COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO UTILIZE MICROCOMPUTERS IN VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE

The problem of this study was to identify and evaluate the importance of teacher competencies needed to utilize microcomputers in vocational agriculture. A review of the related literature revealed very little information on teacher competencies in microcomputers. To identify and evaluate the needed competencies, the Delphi technique was selected.;The panel of experts evaluated the importance of the competencies through a five point Likert-type scale. Responses to the evaluation of the competencies were shown as a percentage. On two rounds the respondents were allowed to reconsider their responses in view of the ratings given to each competency by all of the experts. On the last iteration the panel was provided a list of minority opinions to assist in reconsidering their previous responses.;Of the 51 teacher competencies identified, 46 were recommended as those competencies needed to utilize microcomputers in vocational agriculture. This recommendation was based on the teacher competencies which were evaluated as being of medium importance or higher by more than 50% of the panel of experts. It was also recommended that the competencies be given consideration for use in (a) planning preservice instruction for prospective teachers of vocational agriculture, (b) planning inservice teacher education courses for vocational agriculture teachers, and (c) planning local vocational agriculture programs for secondary students and adults.;Heads of departments of agricultural education in 87 universities were contacted to locate 35 educators who were considered to be experts in microcomputer use and who were also familiar with the vocational agriculture program. The first round of Delphi was used to identify the teacher competencies. Three additional rounds of the Delphi technique were used to modify the wording of competency statements, to generate new competency statements, and to evaluate the importance of the competencies to vocational agriculture teachers.