Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to describe the extent and type of the use of Internet-enhanced instruction by secondary Agricultural Education teachers in Georgia, to determine perceived barriers and enabling factors for the implementation of such instruction and provide insight into the kinds of professional development Agricultural Education teachers need. Demographic information on each program was used to determine if differences existed in relation to Internet usage. Data were collected using a survey instrument for the quantitative portion and semi-structured interviews for the qualitative portion.
Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses to the survey instrument and frequencies and percentages were reported. Multivariate Analysis of Variance tests were used to determine if significant differences on the perceptions of respondents towards using the Internet to enhance learning in the classroom could be attributed to ratings on the survey in relation to the demographic variables of age, years of teaching experience, number of hours using the Internet per week, and the number of Internet-connected devices in the respondents’ rooms. Open-ended questions were utilized during the interview process to identify perceived barriers and enablers and elicit recommendations for professional development.
The findings revealed that 98% of participants used the Internet to some degree to enhance learning in their classrooms. There was a significant effect on survey ratings for the variables of age, total years teaching, and the number of Internet-connected devices. Teachers selected for interviews shared many recommendations for professional development, the most prominent of which was to focus on one Internet use at a time.