نشریه پژوهش مدیریت آموزش کشاورزی
سال پنجم شماره 26 (پاییز 1392)

We decline if domot adapt the changing world and seeking mo new knowledge, product or services to offer, as results of creativity and innovation. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate strategies enhancing creativity in the staff at Imam Khomeini Agricultural scientific-applied Educational Center. A descriptive survey research was used in this study. The population included all the staff this center (N=120). About 71 staff was selected using Cochran's formula. Simple random sampling method was used as a research sampling method. The instrument to collect data was a questionnaire that its content and face validities were established by a panel of experts and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach’s-alpha coefficient for each part. Model parameter estimation is supported by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Result of structural equation modeling showed that: individual factors (r =0.97), organizational factors (r2= 0.88) and group factors (r3= 0.66) were affecting creativity of the staff. Accordingly few recommendations are presented to enhance creativity of staff at this educational center.

The main purpose of this study was to compare problem solving and blending method effectiveness on critical thinking of vocational agricultural school students. Quasi experimental designed by using pre test– post test control groups. Statistical populations of the study consisted of 200agricultural students at Kangavar Vocational Agricultural High School. Samples consisted of 40 randomly selected students equally divided in two groups as experimental group، under problem solving teaching method and control group، under blending method selected. Research tool was California Critical Thinking Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using dependent and independent t test. Results showed that some critical thinking components such as analyzing skill، deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning were more in solving problem learners group than in control group (blending method). Other components of critical thinking، showed no difference in the two groups.

This study strove to analyze the acquired career empowerment for scientific-applied education among Agricultural-jihad staff based on the Social Cognitive Theory. The research method was causal relation، and data gathering instrument was a researcher made questionnaire. After desighning content validity (experts views) reliability (Cronbach Alpha coefficient، α=94/40%) was assessed. The research population included، 120 emploees at the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad، who were graduated from scientific- applied courses offered by the ministry. Questionnairy sent to all mentioned staffs، out of which 102 questionnaires were filled، and later analyzed. Results indicated that the mentioned courses have contributed in professional empowerment of the employees involved to an optimal level. Based on diagnostic factor، six factors were identified including: independence، decision making، professional growth، career ability، meaningfulness، self efficacy and autonomy. These factors showed 80. 457% of the variance in variables. also regression results showed that seven variables: coordination of jobs with discipline، self-esteem، confidence within group، social structure of working group، uncertainty of workplace، age and internal control able to explain 91% of the variance in the staff empoverment.

Pressurized irrigation systems are one of the technologies that are designed to optimize the usage of water resources. Successful usage of pressurized irrigation systems in agricultural development programs dep''ends on developing and implementing new methods of informing. In this study in addition to evaluate the success of farmers utilizing pressurized irrigation system in Isfahan، the impact of the in characteristics، access to information source، participation in training programs on the success of beneficiaries to apply this system were studied. Data were collected through interview of 315 farmers operating pressurized irrigation system who were selected as the research cluster randomized sample. Results showed no remarkable success of farmers in establishment of this system. Regression analysis also، shows that 75 percent of the variability of dependent variable has been explained by accessing to information sources، attending training classes and characteristics of farmers. Other results indicated that neighbors and applicants themselves had high impact on the willingness of others users، while the designer cooperates had a medium impact. In contrast، demonstration farms، broadcasted programs، posters and publications، local leaders and local councils، mainly were not used to inform farmers.

The main purpose of this research was the comparing agricultural faculty members'' view towards factors influencing knowledge management in Shiraz Agricultural Colleges. The statistical population of this study consisted of the faculty members of agricultural colleges of Shiraz (N= 123). Using proportional stratified random sampling، 71 faculty members were selected applying Cochran formula and data were collected using a questionnaire that its face and content validities were approved by a panel of knowledge management experts and the faculty members of Agricultural Extension and Education Department at the University of Tehran. Reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by calculating Cronbach-Alpha coefficient (α = 0. 93 - 0. 95). SPSSwin16 was used for data procossing. Results showed that the current situation of the knowledge management enablers in both studied colleges and also the current situation of the knowledge management processes in the public agricultural college of Shiraz were at moderate topoor level from the point of view of the faculty members. Prioritizing of knowledge management enabler components showed that in both agricultural colleges، organizational culture had the highest priority. Results of Mann-Whitney test showed that there was significant difference between knowledge management processes and knowledge management enabler components leadership and organizational culture based on the kind of university. Results of regression analysis of the impact of knowledge management enablers on knowledge management processes showed that three variables of leadership، information technology and organizational culture could explain 73% of variations of dependent variable.

The purpose of this research was to investigate ICT usage in agricultural extension. This research was descriptive – correlational and reliability the research tool، according to pilot test and calculating Cronbach''s alpha was α= 0. 85. Research populations consisted of 320 agricultural extension actors in Isfahan Province among them 42 actors were located in Isfahan Agricultural Organization head quarter and 70 actors at county extension office، were studied by census and 190 actors were randomly selected applying stratified sampling method. SPSS version 16 used to analyzing data. According to the findings، there was no significant difference amount of ICT usage crossing independent variables except educational degree and the total record of service. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significantly direct correlation between the amount of actors'' use of computer at home to performing job-related tasks and the amount of ICT used، too. Therefore، by using stepwise regression using these two variables، weekly use of computer to performing job-related tasks، was the most effective and the only factor remaining in the equattion of predict actors'' amount of ICT usage.

The purpose of this study was to explain the status of three basic principles of customer oriented، participation and continuous improvement as the basic principles of Total Quality Management in Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources University of Ramin. This study was applied research conducted through descriptive survey method. All 220 senior undergraduate students of this university were considered as the population (220 persons)، from those 138 students were selected as sample with the using of stratified random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire was used which its validity and reliability has been approved by a panel of subject specialists and Cronbach''s alpha more than α 0. 8 for all principles respectively. The data were described and analyzed using SPSS Win 20 software. The results showed that majority of students assessed the principles of customer oriented and participation in undesirable level. Only the principle of continuous improvement was assessed in medium level. The results showed at educational groups’ level there is significant statistical difference between respondents'' perspectives towards the status of principles. The principles of customer-oriented، and participation in the Plant Pathology''s department، and the principle of continuous improvement in departments of Plant pathology and mechanization، were assessed at the favorable level. Also results revealed that among indicators of customer- oriented، participation and continuous improvement، the indicators of classroom''s space، amount of faculty''s survey from students for decision making and educational planning، and also the amount ofemphasis and attention of faculties to theoretical teaches were in the first priority respectively.

This study is aimed at investigating the research and organizational management components that affect teaching quality of faculty members at the Tehran Universitys College of Agriculture and Natural Resources based on the descriptive (non-experimental) method. The statistical population includes all 256 faculty members holding various academic ranks at Karaj and Abu Reihan Campuses of the University of Tehran. A sample size of 100 members was randomly selected based on Cochran formula. The research tool consisted of a constructed questionnaire prepared from theoretical research literature and interviews with scholars. Validity of research instrument was established by a group of Tehran University agriculture education extension experts. Cronbach alpha coefficient calculated to assess the reliability for each section of the questionnaire، (α1= 0. 80 for research factors، α2= 0. 89for organizational management، and α3= 0. 86 for instructional quality)، indicating that the research tool had acceptable reliability. Correlation coefficient، mean comparison، and multiple regressions were applied in this research. In terms of the research factors، findings showed that the number of articles accepted for publication in international journals، number of weekly research hours، and number of Ph. D. dissertations supervised were given the highest priorities respective. Cordial/mutual relations with colleagues university administrators، and holding academic meetings aimed at strengthening educational affairs by the university، were allocated the highest priorities among organizational factors respective. Regression analysis showed that independent variables could explain 85. 2 percent of the variance of teaching quality of the faculty members. Also results obtained from the mean of comparison of faculty members teaching quality at various academic ranks، indicated that the mean instructional quality of professors was higher than، associate professors and assistant professors.

This research carried out to evaluate the role of components affecting on educational quality in Imam Khomeini Agricultural Higher Education Center. Research design was cause-relation research. Statistical population of study consisted of 2264 student in the academic year 2012-2013. Sample size was determined by Cochran formula (n=168). Respondents were selected by stratified random sampling method. Research instrument was questionnaire. Face and content validity، verified by a panel of faculty members of Agricultural Extension and Education Department. Validity of instrument was determined by average variance extracted (AVE= 0. 65). Reliability of questionnaire was determined by Cronbach''s alpha and composite reliability methods (α= 0. 79، CR= 0. 76). Descriptive results showed that student satisfaction about “quality of management، rules and staffs” was high، but their satisfaction about “quality of educational facilities and infrastructure” was low. Significance of components related to measurement of educational quality was tested through structural equation model (SEM) by LISREL software. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results confirmed that all components have significant role in explanation of educational quality in Imam Khomeini Higher Education Center. So that، variables such as “quality of educational facilities and infrastructures (Lambda= 0. 77) and quality of management، rules and staffs (Lambda= 0. 63) had maximum and minimum contributions in explanation of educational quality، respectively.

Regarding the role of higher agricultural education institutions in agricultural and national development، their administrations characteristics and performance are significant determinants of their effectiveness. The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate educational administrators performance and factors effecting it from the view of faculty members of agricultural and natural resources higher education institutes in Khuzestan Province. Statistical population of the study consisted of all faculty members at Khuzestan Ramin University of Agriculture and Natural Resources، Faculty of Agriculture of Ahwaz Shahid Chamran University and Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources of Behbahan Khatamolanbia University (N=146). Applying Morgan table sample size was determined as n=111. Samples were selected through proportional stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaire validity was confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education experts. Its reliability was conducted and confirmed using Cronbachs alpha (α=0. 96). By using SPSSwin16، data were analyzed. Findings showed that، top level managers performance regarding: planning، organizing، monitoring and control، leadership، human resource management and evaluation، was relatively undesirable. Factor analysis summarized variables affecting educational adminstrations performance in six factors as: personal and professional characteristics، administrational - institutional characteristics، skills، motivation and job satisfaction، inside and outside organizational communication and work experience. These six factors explained a total of 63/8% of the variables variance.