A Profile of Secondary Teachers and Schools in North Dakota : Implications for the Student Teaching Experience in Agricultural Education

Abstract

This study was an inquiry of secondary teachers' perceptions of the agricultural education student teaching experience in North Dakota. The sampling frame (N = 89) included all secondary teachers in the state; the final return rate was 74%. The instrument included 16 items identifying selected characteristics of secondary teachers and their schools. The agriculture teachers also rated 34 elements of the student teaching experience using a summated-rating scale ("5" = "High Importance..."1" = "No Importance"). Teachers rated 31 of 34 elements as having "much importance" or greater (M [greater than or equal to] 4.00). Seven of the ten highest rated elements were from the core area "Cooperating Teacher-Student Teacher Relationships." Recommendations and implications suggest a need for greater emphases in pre-service and in-service education regarding the importance of SAEs, careful consideration of student teacher placements, and future inquiry regarding student teachers' perceptions of the student teaching experience. (Contains 3 tables.)