UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED LEARNING IN THE DELIVERY SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION TEACHER PREPARATION INSTITUTIONS FOR ENHANCING RELEVANCE OF GRADUATES

Abstract

The study ascertained the training needs of vocational adult education instructors for curriculum reform for global competitiveness.  The study was carried out in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The population for the study was 758 vocational adult education instructors in the 292 adult learning centres in the study area.  Simple random sampling technique through balloting was used to pick 50 percent of the population (394) for the study. The design adopted for the study was a descriptive survey. A 14-item questionnaire titled “Assessment of the Training Needs of Vocational Adult Education Instructors for Curriculum Reform (ATNVAEI) was used for the data collection. The instrument were validated  by four experts, two in the Department Adult Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka and two in the Department of Measurement and Evaluation, Nasarawa State University Keffi.  Mean and t-test statistics were used for the data analysis. The findings revealed amongst others that the instructional development needs of vocational adult education instructors for curriculum reform include: training in problem identification, skills in the selection/combination of appropriate teaching methodology and learning experiences for self reliance. Also, the strategies for enhancing the competencies of the instructors for skill training were identified. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that government, NGOs and stakeholders in the educational sector should sponsor vocational adult education instructors to workshops/conference.