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Why They Enjoy Teaching: The Motivation of Outstanding Technology Teachers.

Technology education has undergone radical changes over the past decade. The content, instructional methodologies, and facilities are among the key indicators of change as is the background and motivation of people who choose to become technology teachers. Individuals interested in computers and electronic communication are seeking technology teaching positions, as contrasted with interests in woodworking and metalworking that typified the past. The profession could benefit from information about how these changes have affected teachers’ enjoyment of teaching. This information could inform the process of recruiting new teachers by better understanding the rewards and stresses associated with major programmatic change. What is it about the current teaching climate in technology education that outstanding teachers find most rewarding? Technology education is having difficulty recruiting talented teachers. Current estimates place the number of job openings at six or more for each technology education baccalaureate graduate. Attractive salary and benefit packages accompany many of these openings. Why is it so difficult to attract and retain talented technology teachers? What is it about teaching technology education that makes outstanding teachers love their jobs? In conjunction with an ITEA task force, a study was conducted to determine the factors associated with college students’ decision to select technology teaching as a career. This research was designed to provide an information base for subsequent recruitment efforts (Wright & Custer, 1998). Another responsibility of the Task Force was to identify the specific aspects of teaching that outstanding, nationally-recognized technology education teachers find to be particularly rewarding and most distressing. Another goal was to obtain suggestions about changes necessary to make their jobs more enjoyable. The focus of this study is on the perceptions of outstanding technology education teachers regarding the most rewarding aspects of teaching. This information could be useful in attracting others into technology teaching. _