A comparison of undergraduate major and technical knowledge of post-baccalaureate teacher candidates M. Baker and S. Malle Abstract J Agr Educ Ext (1995, 2, 3, pp 51-58) Introduction Preservice teacher education consists of the following components: (1) general education, (2) technical education, and (3) professional education (Cruickshank, 1985). A balance of the three components is essential in developing competent teachers with the required skills to succeed in the agricultural teaching profession. McCracken (1982) reported that a concern regarding the technical agricultural preparation of teachers has existed in the United States since the beginning of this century. This same writer suggested that stakeholders in the profession must address criteria that are used in assessing technical knowledge. Although there are a number of methods used to evaluate technical competence, such as industry work experience and grades received in technical agricultural courses, the two methods which this research focuses upon are cooperating teacher evaluations of technical competence of student teachers and performance tests designed to measure individual competence. Little research has been conducted to examine preservice teachers' knowledge of technical subject matter. Ary et al. (1990) stated that performance tests "measure the mastery and proficiency of individuals in different areas of knowledge." In discussing performance tests, McCracken (1982) stated: "Properly developed and validated, written tests can also be helpful in assessing a person's level of knowledge about technical subject matter." | |
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