Confidence Levels of Texas Entry Year Agricultural Science Teachers in Agricultural Mechanics Related Skills

The purpose of this study was to examine the confidence levels and level of university preparation of entry year, Texas Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) teachers regarding the instruction of agricultural mechanics related skills. During the 2018 Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (VATAT) first year teacher workshop (n = 143) received a survey instrument titled: The Agricultural Mechanics Skills Assessment. A total of 143 ( %) first year teachers during the 2018 – 2019 school year completed this instrument. This instrument consisted of four sections that included: confidence levels to teach agricultural mechanics skills, instruction of skills at the university level and the teaching methods used to teach those skills, professional development format preferences, and demographics information. Additionally, the researcher utilized a simultaneous multiple linear regression to explain if there is a relationship between teachers’ confidence levels to teach agricultural mechanics skills and the instructional methods used to teach them those skills. The two skill areas that teachers felt most confident about teaching hand tools skills and employability/career skills, which was only categorized as moderately confident. Whereas, participants had no confidence in teaching pneumatics, hydraulics, modern machinery technology, and multi-cylinder engines. A low percentage of participants indicated that they were taught concrete, fencing, hydraulics, modern machinery technology, and pneumatics. Out of the 13 professional development formats identified by this study, only the multi-day during summer workshop format resulted in more than 50% of respondents preferring that format. Furthermore, teachers’ confidence in 23 of the 24 skill areas could be explained by the application project teaching method.