Program for the Preparation of Preservice Agricultural Education Teachers for the Twenty-First Century.

Overview & Synopsis

This report describes a proposal for a preservice teacher education program to prepare agricultural education teachers for the 21st century. The paper identifies and defines the critical roles agricultural education teachers must perform in the 21st century and recommends specific preservice teacher education practices. After an introduction, the first section describes six specific teacher roles and the skills and knowledge needed for each: (1) facilitator of learning; (2) understander of the learner; (3) program developer; (4) administrator; (5) professional educator; and (6) role model and mentor. The second section explores the development of a preservice curriculum and describes specific courses based on guidelines suggested by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, State Teacher Education and Certification Standards, and the Standards for Quality Vocational Programs in Agriculture/Agribusiness Education. Section 3 examines teaching methods for effective presentation of the preservice agricultural teacher curriculum. Section 4 covers resources and facilities needed for effective preparation of preservice agricultural education teachers, including instructional and support facilities, instructional equipment, off-campus facilities, and funding sources. Section 5 discusses recruitment, selection, and retention of students. Section 6 covers faculty selection. Section 7 examines program evaluation. Section 8 outlines the elements that distinguish the proposed preservice program from other preservice teacher education programs in agriculture. Section 9 looks at issues and problems associated with developing a preservice teacher education program in agriculture in each of the areas described. (Contains 68 references.) (ND)