Agricultural Mechanics Laboratory Management Competencies

A study was conducted to determine the laboratory management competencies needed by secondary agriculture instructors. Information was gathered through an initial mailing to all postsecondary, college, and university agricultural mechanics specialists serving on the National Future Farmers of America Agricultural Mechanics Contest Committee, 1986-87 school year. The questionnaires had a 43 percent rate of return. A list of 50 competencies was drawn up and re-sent to the experts with a Likert-type scale for rating them. A 76 percent return rate was achieved. The results showed that respondents averaged more than 20 years of teaching experience. They identified 44 of the 50 laboratory management competencies as being of average or greater importance. Eleven of the top 18 competencies pertained to safety. Other top-rated competencies included "update course offerings,""develop objective student evaluation criteria,""develop laboratory clean-up procedures," and "identify equipment needed to teach mechanical skills." The identified competencies represent the perceptions of recognized experts concerning the skills needed by high school agriculture teachers to manage an agricultural mechanics laboratory. (KC)