An Assessment of Internet Uses, Practices, and Barriers for Professional Development by Agricultural Teachers in Kermanshah Province, Iran

Internet has been perhaps the most outstanding innovation in the field of communication in the history of mankind. The main purpose of this study was to explore the role of Internet in the professional development of teachers working in agricultural schools in Kermanshah Province (N=35). Census survey was used due to the small size of the statistical population. A questionnaire was developed based on literature and was administered to 35 agricultural teachers in Kermanshah agricultural schools. Results showed that the majority of teachers use Internet to search scholarly articles and acquire new information, to develop their professional interest. It was found that agricultural teachers have not fully utilized the Internet because of barriers related to time factor, accessibility, and facilities. Respondents had positive attitude to Internet uses and abilities. The findings also showed a positive and significant relationship between teaching experience and professional development of teachers. There was a significant and positive relationship between the level of education and professional development of teachers