| Purpose of the Study. One of our nation's greatest manpower needs today is an adequate supply of well-trained technicians or middle-level workers. These individuals are trained to function in close association with, or in direct support of, the professional worker.;The post-secondary, non-baccalaureate institution has been defined as one of the appropriate environments to train the technician. These institutions are generally referred to as junior colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, area vocational schools, proprietary trade and technical schools, and divisions of senior colleges and universities.;In the area of technician education, one of the more pressing manpower needs is in the category of drafting technician education, and more specifically, that of machine-drafting technician. The occupational area of drafting has not been immune to the rapid technological change which is affecting all aspects of our industrial society.;In order for post-secondary institutions to adequately train machine-drafting technicians, there is a need to determine the relative importance of machine-drafting competencies and practices, and to determine which are required for entry-level employment.;Analysis of the Data. The study utilized data obtained from 56 post-secondary educators, and 93 industrial respondents in machinery manufacturing industries located in the nine northeast states. For the purpose of this study, the nine northeast states were defined as the states of: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. A t-test was utilized to determine the significance of difference between the two groups of respondents regarding their ratings of the drafting competencies and practices. A chi-square analysis was undertaken to determine which competencies and practices were required for entry-level employment in the machine-drafting field. The instruments used in the study were as follows: (1) a demographic data sheet developed by the researcher, and (2) a rating scale covering 112 machine-drafting competencies and practices developed by Edward W. Sturgeon.;Findings. A t-test showed a significant mean difference (p. less than .05) between post-secondary educators and industrial respondents in the machine-drafting competency categories of: Detail Drafting, Sources of Information, Computer Work in Drafting, Geometric Constructions, Types of Drawings Made, and Drafting Knowledge.;In the area of machine-drafting practices, the t-test indicated a significant mean difference (p. less than .05) only in the drafting practice category of Lettering.;The chi-square analysis (p. less than .05) indicated general agreement within each group of respondents regarding which competencies and practices should be required for entry-level employment. In addition, there was agreement between the two groups that 55 of the 112 competencies and practices should be considered required for entry-level employment.;These results indicated that a closer liaison should be developed between post-secondary institutions training machine draftsmen, and the machinery manufacturing industry, to develop a better understanding of the relative importance assigned to the competencies and practices in the study. |
