Identifying the Agricultural Mechanics Knowledge and Skills Needed by Kentucky Agriculture Teachers

Abstract

The agricultural industry increasingly relies on complex machinery and technology, creating a need for individuals who are proficient in agricultural mechanics. School-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs play a crucial role in preparing students for college and career opportunities associated with the agricultural industry. Many agriculture teachers feel unprepared to teach agricultural mechanics, often attributable to gaps in their own knowledge and skill sets. Our study sought to determine the agricultural mechanics knowledge and skills that Kentucky agriculture teachers need to successfully teach agricultural mechanics in SBAE programs across the state. Using Wells et al.'s (2021) agricultural teacher education and agricultural industry partnership model as our conceptual framework, our study employed a three-round Delphi technique to reach a consensus among a panel of experienced Kentucky agriculture teachers. At the conclusion of the Delphi technique, panel members reached consensus on 149 items. Eighty items related to technical agricultural mechanics while 69 items pertained to agricultural mechanics laboratory management. Our findings provide a baseline list of agricultural mechanics knowledge and skills that agriculture teachers need to successfully teach agricultural mechanics in Kentucky. We recommend that SBAE stakeholders in Kentucky use our findings in a variety of ways, including refining agricultural teacher education programming.