Perceptions of Iowa Vocational Agriculture Teachers regarding Methods Used in Agricultural Education

The primary role of the vocational agriculture teacher has always been to help students learn knowledge and skills in agriculture. In order for the program to justify the time and money utilized on it, it is important that students be taught by competent teachers using a variety of teaching methods and using them appropriately (The Unfinished Agenda. 1986). A competent teacher is the essential component for a successful vocational agriculture program. This concept implies that the teacher must have sufficient technical expertise in the field of agriculture as well as skills in imparting knowledge and facilitating learning. One of the key factors for effective instruction in the classroom centers around the teaching method used (Cooper, 1977; Moore, 1984).