Teaching Styles And Learning Strategies Of Illinois Secondary Career And Technical Education Teachers

Author

Stephen Jack McCaskey, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

1-1-2009

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Workforce Education and Development

First Advisor

Anderson,Marcia

Second Advisor

Washburn,John

Abstract

AN ABSTRACT FOR THE DISSERTATION OF STEPHEN JACK MCCASKEY, for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in EDUCATION, presented on June, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: TEACHING STYLES AND LEARING STRATEGIES OF ILLINOIS SECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCAITON TEACHERS MAJOR PROFESSORS: Dr. Marcia Anderson Dr. John Washburn The purpose of this study was to identify the teaching styles and learning strategy preferences of secondary CTE teachers in the state of Illinois. This study explored variables related to the teaching-learner transaction for teachers with varied educational backgrounds. Further, this study examined the relationship between teaching styles and several demographic variables and the relationship between learning strategies and several demographic variables for teachers in the CTE field. Participants involved in this study were members of the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE) at the time of the study. Demographic data revealed most respondents were female and age varied between 20 to 73 years with the highest percentage of responses being between the ages of 51-55. The majority of respondent ethnicity was White. The number of years teaching among respondents varied from 0 to 41 with the highest percentage having less than six years. The highest percentage of respondents held a Master's degree and the highest percentage in which the respondents most frequently teach is Technology Education/Industrial Education. The certificate type that most respondents hold is a Type 09 Standard. This study employed two standardized instruments and a questionnaire assessment to address four research questions. The Principles of Adult Learning Scales (PALS) was the first instrument used in this study and is designed to assist individuals in identifying their teaching style. Assessing the Learning Strategies of Adults (ATLAS) was the second instrument used in this study and is designed to quickly identify learning strategies. The online questionnaire was administered by placing the instruments on the Department of Workforce Education and Development's server at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The majority of respondents in this study identified Problem Solvers as their preferred learning strategy followed by Navigators and Engagers. The respondents of this study represented an overwhelming commitment to the teacher-centered style. Based on the results of this study, the analyses of data were used to create a profile of the three preferences of the learning strategies for CTE secondary teachers. Additionally, the analyses of data from this study were used to create a profile of the two types of the teaching styles for CTE secondary teachers - Teacher-centered and Student-centered.