Factors That Influence Students to Enroll in Technology Education Programs

Overview & Synopsis

This study sought to identify effective recruitment techniques and factors that might influence students to enroll in undergraduate technology education programs. To accomplish the purposes of the study, two sample populations were surveyed. The research questions that guided the study were: (1) what are the effective recruitment techniques and influential factors through which current technology education undergraduate students discover, are attracted to, and enter the field of technology education; and (2) what recruitment techniques, as perceived by technology teacher education faculty members are effective in recruiting undergraduate students into the field of technology education? The results: less than 10% of the student respondents indicated that they were recruited to the institution they attend; high school technology teachers are vastly underutilized as recruiters for technology education; depending on high school guidance counselors as a recruitment source is not an effective solution. The authors suggest that in order to curb the shortage of technology teachers, all members of the profession must begin to communicate the benefits of technology education and spread the news to those outside the profession.