Design and development of computer based training module for teachers of an agricultural university
Loading...
Files
Date
2010-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Professional development of teachers is essential for qualitative improvement of any system of higher education. Professional development is concerned with enhancement of knowledge and skill of the teachers. Teachers face a widening range of demands and roles. National governments, international organizations and specific circumstances continually set new goals. All of this creates new challenges for teacher education and continuing professional development. This ushers strong need for teachers training. Researches prove that computer based instructions could be as effective as face to face training when the method and technologies used are appropriate to the instructional task and need based. Hence, an attempt has been made by the researcher to investigate in to this area and study entitled “Design and Development of computer based training modules for teachers of an agricultural university”, with the objectives: To study the socio- psychological and communication characteristics teachers, assess the training needs, relationship between the Socio- psychological & communication characteristics & needs for training, design & develop computer based training module and test effectiveness of computer based training module. This study aimed at the need assessment of professional development and developing a computer based module for university teachers. 247 Respondents were selected from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar out of which 135 responded. Analytical research design was used. On the basis of major findings and dominant trends, it can be concluded that teachers who were middle aged, male, in the rank of Professor, possessed Ph.D. as the highest qualification, had middle level of work experience, untrained, moderate job satisfaction, medium motivational profile, medium level of achievement motivation and medium level in professional use of ICT. It was found that teachers had moderate to high level of training need. The most important area of training was found to be lesson plan preparation, classroom management, and general teaching methodology. However, training need of teachers was affected by some of their characteristics like age, work experience, job satisfaction, information sources used and professional use of ICT. As per the results obtained training need of teachers had negative and significant correlation with „age‟ (r = -0.237) and „work experience‟ (r = -0.257). Majority of the teachers preferred „flexible and learner centered approach‟ as the best approach for effective learning during „Training of teachers‟, followed by group work and project formulation‟. The Instructional System Design (ISD) approach was followed to design training module for university teachers. The Designed module is divided in three parts or sub modules viz. „classroom management', lesson plan preparation' and 'general teaching methodology'. 40 experts were selected to test the effectiveness of module out of which 25 responded and found Scope, depth and format aspect of the module to be of good quality. In content nature accuracy aspect, authority, uniqueness, currency, links made to other resources were found to be of good quality. In graphic and multimedia design aspect curiosity, linkages and form and quality of graphics were rated as good quality design by the experts. Overall the CBT module was found to be adequate, effective and user friendly by majority of the experts.
Description
Thesis-PhD
Keywords
modules, agricultural education, design, teacher training, universities, computers