| The study identified successful practices used in vocational agriculture programs nationwide by surveying FFA executive secretaries, state vocational agriculture consultants and teacher educators in agricultural education. The three most frequently occurring practices in each of twenty-two categories from Survey 1 (national) became the variables for Survey 2. Survey 2 asked each participant (present and graduated vocational agriculture students, their parents, vocational agriculture teachers, consulting committee members, administrators, and community members involved in agriculture) to assign an importance rank and a frequency of use rank to each of the sixty-six variables. These variables, or practices, were deemed important because of the increased emphasis on excellence in education, and the desire for an evaluation system based upon the needs of program participants.;The data from Survey 1 were analyzed for the number of times a practice was identified. Survey 2 data were analyzed statistically resulting in a rank ordering of successful practices and in interpretive tables based upon significant differences between respondent groups. It was concluded that many of the practices identified and deemed important by program participants were not being used in program evaluation. These practices, used at either the state or local level, could improve educational delivery and enable programs to more closely relate to the needs of the community. |
