Identifying Training Needs of Agriculture and Natural Resources Faculty Members in Using Information Technology

The main purpose of this study was to identify training needs of agricultural and natural resources faculty members in the use of information technology (IT) for educational and research activities. This study used a descriptive and correlational survey method and the population of the study included all faculty members at the Tehran and Tarbiat Modares Universities, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (N=۲۶۷). According to Krejcie and Morgan (۱۹۷۰), the sample size for a population of this size was ۱۵۸. A systematic sampling technique was used to select faculty members in the study. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the instrument was ۰.۸۲. Findings in respect to training needs of faculty members showed that “theories and models of online education” appeared at the top of the list of training needs and the lowest level of respondents` training need were in using Microsoft Word. The T-test result showed that there were significant differences (at the ۰.۰۱ level) in the training needs level of the faculty members who had received training during the last ۵ years and those who had not . In the case of those who had access to computer and the Internet and those who did not have access, training needs differed at ۰.۰۵ level of significance. The results of Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that age had a significant and positive correlation with the faculty members` training needs level of IT use in educational and research activities. In contrast, Internet use per week and willingness for online education had a significantly negative correlation with the faculty members` IT training needs. No significant relationship was revealed between teaching experiences of the respondents and their training needs level in the use of information technologies.

Keywords:

Faculty members , Information technology training , Research activities , Training need