Importance and Capability of Teaching Leadership as Perceived by Beginning Agricultural Education Teachers DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Jon Christian Simonsen Graduate Program in Agricultural and Extension Education The Ohio State University 2010 Dissertation Committee: Robert J Birkenholz, Advisor Joseph A Gliem Jeffrey E King Copyright by Jon Christian Simonsen 2010 Abstract We are surrounded by leadership influences that impact our daily lives and the future will require numerous leaders possessing leadership knowledge, skills, and dispositions The teaching of leadership has an extensive tradition in secondary agricultural education programs that can be traced back almost a century Much of the success in teaching leadership rests upon the secondary agricultural education teacher providing the learning experience The primary goal of agricultural education teacher preparation programs is to develop highly qualified teachers in the subjects they are expected to teach Leadership topics are being taught in the formal instruction component of secondary agricultural education programs Thus, it is essential for agricultural education teacher preparation programs to better understand the importance of teaching leadership and the capability of agricultural education teachers to teach the leadership topics This information can then be used by administrators and faculty as they make decisions about the design, implementation, and effectiveness of agricultural education teacher preparation programs This descriptive research explored the importance of teaching leadership in secondary agricultural education programs and the self-perceived capability of beginning secondary agriculture teachers to teach leadership First through third year agricultural education teachers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio were surveyed The researcher-developed data collection instrument was based on the National FFA ii Organization LifeKnowledge® resource materials Respondents rated the importance and self-perceived capability to teach 60 leadership topics Data collected were used to: describe the importance of teaching leadership topics, describe the capability to teach leadership, calculate discrepancy scores, and to prioritize leadership topics Based on the data collected, it was determined that a majority of beginning agricultural education teacher respondents had taken leadership coursework during their post-secondary education and nearly one of five had taken more than three leadership courses Respondents reported that leadership topics were important to teach in secondary agricultural education programs Furthermore, the respondents perceived they were capable of teaching leadership topics Agricultural education teacher preparation programs are encouraged to consider leadership coursework in program requirements This research revealed an extensive list of important leadership topics that may overwhelm agricultural education teachers Therefore, it is recommended that efforts should be made to identify core leadership knowledge, skills, and dispositions that should be taught in all secondary agricultural education programs Assessment of teacher capability to teach leadership topics should be conducted periodically with teacher candidates and practicing agriculture teachers Based on assessment results, modifications to teacher preparation programs and professional learning opportunities should be considered As the teaching of leadership continues to evolve, care should be taken to ensure that leadership development and leadership education efforts are harmonious and build upon each other to provide the knowledge, skills, and dispositions desired in future generations of leaders iii Dedication To Leon and Marcella Simonsen – my parents and true teachers – I Love You iv Acknowledgments I thank my family, mentors, and the Good Lord for providing me support and guidance throughout this educational journey The amount of sacrifice that my wife, Michelle, and our two boys, Nick and Carter, have gone through during this process is humbling To them, thank you and I love you more than you will ever know To mine and Michelle’s families, your support and prayers through this journey has kept us focused and secure when we decided to move a 1,000 miles away Thank you to Dr Robert J Birkenholz for his patience and guidance throughout this process He has helped me to not only develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be a part of post-secondary education but demonstrated the dispositions of a true educator in all facets of life Thank you to Dr Jeffrey E King and Dr Joseph A Gliem for being integral parts of my educational journey, aiding in further developing my leadership education understanding and honing my research abilities Thank you to all the professional faculty and staff that have supported and helped mentor me during this educational journey Thank you to the graduate student colleagues that I have encountered over the years There were times of frustration, doubt, and disagreement but most of all there was celebration I know our paths will continue to cross v Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me and my family to embark upon this journey There were many questions along the way, but we know the answer in our hearts why we were to take this journey We are eternally grateful and ask for Your continued guiding hand in our lives as we continue to serve You vi Vita December 24, 1972 Born, Superior, Nebraska 1996 B.S Agricultural Education and Agricultural Economics University of Nebraska – Lincoln 1997 - 2007 Agricultural Education Instructor Holdrege Public Schools Holdrege, Nebraska 2008 M.S Agricultural and Extension Education The Ohio State University 2007 to present .Graduate Teaching Associate The Ohio State University Publications Simonsen, J C., & Birkenholz, R J (In press) Leadership courses required in agricultural teacher education programs Journal of Agricultural Education Velez, J J., Simonsen, J C., Cano, J., & Connors, J J (In press) Teacher partnerships: The use of peer facilitators in the college classroom Journal of Agricultural Education vii Fields of Study Major Field: Agricultural and Extension Education viii Table of Contents Abstract ii Dedication iv Acknowledgments v Vita vii List of Tables xiii List of Figures xiv Chapter 1: Introduction Problem Statement Purpose of the Study Objectives Definition of Terms 10 Limitations of the Study 12 Basic Assumptions 14 Chapter 2: Review of Literature 15 Theoretical Foundation 15 Leadership Theory 16 ix APPENDIX D DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT 130 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT Importance and Capability of Teaching Leadership as Perceived by Beginning Agricultural Education Teachers Depart ment of Hu man and Co mmunity Resource Develop ment 208 Agricultural Ad istration Building 2120 Fy ffe Road Colu mbus, OH 43210-1067 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 APPENDIX E FIRST EMAIL REMINDER 139 FIRST EMAIL REMINDER Click on this link to begin the questionnaire: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX March 18, 2010 Dear Educator, Recently you received an invitation to participate in a valuable study related to the teaching of leadership in Agricultural Education You were selected because your input represents beginning Agricultural Education teachers from across the nation If you have already completed and submitted the questionnaire to us, please accept our sincere thanks If not, please so by Tuesday We are especially grateful for your help because it is only for people like you that participate that we can further develop deve teacher preparation programs which in the end benefits students Thank you for your participation Sincerely, Robert J Birkenholz Professor Jon C Simonsen Graduate Teaching Associate Click on this link to begin the questionnaire: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Click this link to be removed from our mailing list: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 140 APPENDIX F SECOND EMAIL REMINDER 141 SECOND EMAIL REMINDER Click on this link to begin the questionnaire: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX March 22, 2010 Dear Educator, Last week you received an invitation to participate in a valuable study related to the teaching of leadership in Agricultural Education Your input is valuable to us and represents thousands of Agricultural Education teachers from across the nation If you have already completed and submitted the questionnaire to us, please accept our sincere thanks If not, please so by Tuesday At the conclusion of the questionnaire you will be presented with an electronic gift certificate as a small token of appreciation app for your time We are grateful for your help and look forward to including your input to aid in developing teacher preparation programs that benefit teachers and students Thank you for your participation Sincerely, Robert J Birkenholz Professor Jon C Simonsen Graduate Teaching Associate Click on this link to begin the questionnaire: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Click this link to be removed from our mailing list: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 142 APPENDIX G FINAL EMAIL REMINDER 143 FINAL EMAIL REMINDER Click on this link to begin the questionnaire: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX March 24, 2010 Dear Educator, Last week we sent you a link to an important research study concerning the teaching of leadership in Agricultural Education We are sending this final reminder because we hope to hear from everyone invited to assure that the results are as accurate as possible The survey will close at midnight on Wednesday, March 24 so there is time left to include your input At the conclusion of the survey you will be presented with an electronic gift certificate as a small token of appreciation for your time We also want to assure you that your response to this study is voluntary, and if you prefer not to respond that is fine The responses you provide will be held confidential Finally, we appreciate your willingness to consider our request Have a great and productive spring Sincerely, Robert J Birkenholz Professor Jon C Simonsen Graduate Teaching Associate Click on this link to begin the questionnaire: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Click this link to be removed from our mailing list: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 144 [...]... importance of leadership topics as perceived by beginning agricultural education teachers 3 Describe the perceived capability of beginning agricultural education teachers to teach leadership topics 4 Determine the discrepancy between leadership topic importance and the capability to teach leadership topics as perceived by beginning agricultural teachers 5 Prioritize leadership topics by importance and teacher... agricultural education However, teacher educators need to know the leadership topics that are important to be taught in secondary agricultural education programs In addition, there was a need to determine the perceived capability of agricultural education teachers to teach the important leadership topics Knowing more about the importance of leadership topics and the capability of agricultural education teachers. .. teacher capability based on beginning agricultural education teachers perceptions Definition of Terms Agricultural Teacher Education Program – post-secondary program that prepares candidates to meet licensure requirements for secondary agricultural education teaching Beginning Agricultural Education Teacher – a secondary agricultural education instructor with one to three years of teaching experience Leadership. .. explored the capability of beginning secondary agricultural education instructors to teach leadership topics in the formal classroom setting of a secondary agricultural education program Therefore, subjects were asked to answer questions based on the teaching of important leadership topics in the formal classroom setting and not as part of the FFA or Supervised Experience components of a secondary agricultural. .. to describe the perceived importance and capability of beginning agricultural education teachers to teach leadership topics This chapter provides the theoretical foundation that is the underpinning for the research A review of leadership theory and leadership education is provided Literature of postsecondary agricultural leadership education, secondary agricultural leadership education, secondary agriculture... administrators and faculty to determine the perceived level of importance of teaching leadership topics within secondary agricultural education programs and if beginning agricultural education teachers perceive they are capable of teaching leadership Information from this study can then be utilized by university administrators and faculty to modify agriculture teacher preparation programs and courses... teach those leadership topics will provide information that can be used by administrators and faculty to make decisions about the design, implementation, and effectiveness of agricultural education teacher preparation programs Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of beginning agricultural education teachers regarding the importance of teaching leadership topics... Three-Component Agricultural Education Model 6 Figure 2 Conceptual Model of a Teacher’s Ability to Teach Leadership 40 Figure 3 Conceptual Model of a Teacher’s Ability to Teach Leadership 43 Figure 4 Modified Johari Window Classifying Leadership Topics by Importance and Teacher Capability 51 Figure 5 Modified Johari Window Classifying Leadership Topics by Importance and Teacher Capability. .. materials The perceived capability to teach the leadership topics was measured on a five point summated rating scale (identifying level of capability from 1 = No Capability to 5 = A Great Deal of Capability) with 60 items 11 Perception of Importance to Teach Leadership – the value, relevance, or interest placed on something In this study, perception of importance to teach leadership was measured using... and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems (National Council for Agricultural Education, 2008) Limitations of the Study 1 The population frame of the study was a census of beginning agricultural education teachers who were in their first, second, or third year of teaching secondary agricultural education from NAAE Region IV, as described in ... Describe the importance of leadership topics as perceived by beginning agricultural education teachers Describe the perceived capability of beginning agricultural education teachers to teach leadership. .. between leadership topic importance and the capability to teach leadership topics as perceived by beginning agricultural teachers Prioritize leadership topics by importance and teacher capability based... evolution of teaching leadership within agricultural education was outlined and the research problem was described The purpose of this study is to describe the perceived importance and capability of beginning