EFFECTIVE TEACHING OF TECHNICAL DRAWING: AN ASSESSMENT OF MANAGERIAL SKILLS REQUIRED OF TECHNICAL TEACHERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Technical drawing deals with graphical representations of ideas. According to Gagne, and Briggs. (2009), technical drawing is a means of clearly and concisely communicating all of the information necessary to transform an idea or concept into a reality. Technical drawing often contains more than just a graphical representation of its subject. It also contains dimensions, notes and specifications. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in National Policy on Education (2004), made technical drawing as an elective subject offered at secondary school level but National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) [2004] stipulated that in technical colleges, technical drawing should be taught as a trade related course and should be taken by all students in engineering trade and construction trades except craft practice, this is due to the basic knowledge and skills it provides in engineering and construction courses. Therefore, technical drawing as a trade related course in technical college must be studied by all students in the technical related areas for an improved academic achievement. One of the objectives of technical drawing as contained in the handbook published by National Institute for Educational Development (NIED), (1997) is to solve practical and technological problems through the process of communication skills which are central to design and planning. It therefore becomes imperative that only competent teacher can teach technical drawing effectively. Competence is the ability to do something well. In the view of Hornby (2010), to be competent means that a person has the ability or power, to demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes that are sufficiently required to perform a given job or task. Nussel, Inglis and Wiersma (2006), explained that competency is a functional ability to apply to practical situation the essential principles and techniques of a particular subject matter or field. In this study, functional ability of teachers of technical drawing to demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes required in teaching technical drawing indicates competence. If on the other hand, one could not satisfactorily demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes required in the teaching, then the individual has a gap which shows lack of competence.
Technical drawing is taught by teachers who are trained in Colleges of Education (Technical), Polytechnics and Universities. Such teachers are trained in order to teach technical drawing competently among others. Products of Colleges of Education (Technical) and Polytechnics are referred to as non-graduate teachers while products of University are regarded as graduate teachers. Technical teachers from Universities and colleges of education that have undergone educational training are termed as qualified teachers (National Policy on Education, 2004). Teachers who are graduates of Universities without education background are regarded as unqualified teachers.
The term Management is a general concept that is widely used every day and everywhere. Management can be defined as the act of coordinating the efforts of people to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. Management in this context comprises lesson planning, class control, effective communication of content, and time management. According to Mary Parker Follett (1933) Management is the process of getting things done through people. Also F.W. Taylor (1915)defined Management as the art of knowing what you want to do and then seeing that they do it in the best and the cheapest may. Management remain a major tool in determining organizational effectiveness and sustainability.