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Abstract This study analyzed the effects of technical training and digital platforms on farmers’ green control technologies adoption behaviors. The results showed that (1) the effects of classroom-based, field-based technical training methods and digital platforms were significantly positive; (2) the interaction variable between digital platforms and classroom-based training had a significant positive effect on farmers' adoption behavior, and the combination of the two have a scale effect on promoting the desired behavior; (3) large-scale households were significantly affected by single technology training, whereas small-scale farmers were more susceptible to a combination of technology training and the promotion of digital platforms.

Farmers’ adoption of water-saving irrigation technology (WSIT) is essential for achieving high-quality agricultural development. An in-depth analysis of the impact of risk aversion, technical training and their interaction on farmers’ adoption of WSIT will help the government to promote WSIT to facilitate agricultural resource conservation and sustainable development. The study takes 707 farmers who grow watermelons and muskmelon in Yuncheng and Xian City of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces as the research object to analyse the influence of risk aversion and technical training and their interaction terms on farmers’ WSIT adoption behaviour. The study uses the Probit and moderating effect models to outline the findings. The empirical analysis reveals the following outcomes: (i) 27.44% of the sample farmers adopt water-saving irrigation technology, indicating that the current adoption rate and the enthusiasm for adoption are relatively low; (ii) risk aversion has a significant negative impact on farmers’ adoption of WSIT; (iii) both online and offline technical training have a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption of WSIT; (iv) significant group differences exist in the effects of risk aversion, online technical training, offline technical training and interaction items on farmers’ WSIT adoption behaviour. Therefore, the study proposes to strengthen the role of technical training in the diffusion of WSIT and implement differentiated technical training for different types of farmers to reduce the degree of risk aversion of farmers.

The main purpose of this study is to identify the obstacles for commercializing the innovations and inventions of engineers and trainees in technical and vocational training organization of Iran. In this research by using experts opinions, the organizational, financial and human obstacles have been examined which are needed for technological commercialization in this organizations. The statistical populations of this research include vocational experts and innovators and inventors in this organization. Among eight identified components, administrative rules and regulations known as the most important obstacle and lake of knowledge of elites known as the least important items in commercialization process. The average value showed all of the eight components have a significant impact as an obstacle for commercialization the innovations of students and trainees of technical & vocational training organization of Iran.

Many people in African countries derive their livelihoods from agriculture. Therefore, unfavourable environmental and climatic conditions render them more vulnerable to increasing food insecurity and poverty rates. However, few studies have investigated how farmers’ adaptation strategies affect farm productivity and household food security in the Sahelian region, notably Mali. We analyse factors that influence adaptation strategies to climate change and the impacts of the adaptation strategies on maize productivity and household food security in southern Mali. Farmers use adaptation strategies such as organic fertilizers, changing planting dates and growing of short duration maize varieties to mitigate against the negative effects of climate change. We find that farmer experience, number of livestock owned, off-farm employment, access to credit, farmer association and technical training exert positive effects on the use of planting short-duration maize varieties as an adaptation strategy, while distance to the farm shows a negative effect. We observe that household size, experience in maize farming, number of livestock owned and technical training positively influence farmers to change planting dates as an adaptation strategy. The use of organic fertilizers and short-duration maize varieties promote maize productivity and food security. We conclude that building farmers’ adaptive capacity tends to reduce their vulnerability to climate change by increasing crop yields and food security.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift from in-person to remote education, with most students taking classes via video meetings. This change inhibits active class participation from students. In particular, video education has limitations in replacing practical classes, which require both theoretical and empirical knowledge. In this study, we propose a system that incorporates virtual reality and metaverse methods into the classroom to compensate for the shortcomings of the existing remote models of practical education. Based on the proposed system, we developed an aircraft maintenance simulation and conducted an experiment comparing our system to a video training method. To measure educational effectiveness, knowledge acquisition, and retention tests were conducted and presence was investigated via survey responses. The results of the experiment show that the group using the proposed system scored higher than the video training group on both knowledge tests. As the responses given to the presence questionnaire confirmed a sense of spatial presence felt by the participants, the usability of the proposed system was judged to be appropriate.

Business training programs are a popular policy option to improve the performance of enterprises around the world, and the number of rigorous impact evaluations of these programs is growing. A critical review reveals that many evaluations suffer from small sample sizes, measure impacts only within a year of training, and experience problems with survey attrition and measurement that limit the conclusions one can draw. Over these short time horizons, there are relatively modest effects of training on the survivorship of existing firms. However, there is stronger evidence that training programs help prospective owners launch new businesses more quickly. Most studies find that existing firm owners implement some of the practices taught in training, but the magnitudes of the improvement to practices is often modest. Few studies find significant impacts on profits or sales, although some studies with greater statistical power have done so. There is little evidence to guide policymakers regarding whether any identified effects are due to trained firms drawing sales from competing businesses rather than through productivity improvements or to guide the development of the provision of training at market prices. We conclude by summarizing some directions and key questions for future studies.

All teachers--including career and technical education (CTE) teachers--play a vital role in building a thriving PLC. In this practical resource, the authors explicitly outline how to improve teaching and learning by integrating PLC best practices into CTE programs. Teams of CTE educators will learn how to clarify their purpose, discover their common denominators, and incorporate powerful collaborative processes into their daily work. Use this resource to learn the vital strategies necessary for building and improving teams: * Become familiar with the common issues that prevent CTE educators from engaging in the collaborative PLC process. * Learn why and how the PLC process benefits both CTE educators and students. * Learn how CTE educators can create collaborative programs that are tailored toward CTE fields of study. * Receive professional guidance and concrete, achievable teaching strategies for creating an effective PLC process. * Access a checklist of crucial action steps for career tech teams at the end of each chapter. Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Establishing a Collaborative Culture Chapter 2: Forming Collaborative Teams Chapter 3: Setting Up the Logistics of Teamwork Chapter 4: Identifying Essential Learnings and Developing CTE Curriculum Chapter 5: Designing Instruction and Assessments Chapter 6: Reflecting on Data Chapter 7: Responding to Student Learning Epilogue: Turning Parking Spaces Into Rest Spaces Appendix A: Glossary of Terms Appendix B: Reproducibles

The rapid pace of technological innovation necessitates that information technology (IT) services firms continually invest in replenishing the skills of their key asset base, the human capital. We examine whether human capital investments directed toward employee training are effective in improving employee performance. Our rich employee level panel data set affords us the opportunity to link formal training with performance at the individual employee level. Using a dynamic panel model, we identify a significant positive impact of training on employee performance. A unit increase in training is linked to a 2.14% increase in an employee's performance. Interestingly, we find that in the IT sector, skills atrophy and consequently high-experience employees reap higher returns from training, which highlights the uniquely dynamic nature of IT knowledge and skills. We also find that general training that an employee can utilize outside the focal firm improves employee performance. However, specific training pertinent to the focal firm is not positively linked to performance. On the other hand, although domain and technical training both enhance employee performance individually, the interaction between the two suggests a substitutive relationship. Thus, our findings suggest that the value of training is conditional on a focused curricular approach that emphasizes a structured competency development program. Our findings have both theoretical and practical significance. Most important, they justify increased human capital investments to fuel future growth in this important component of the global economy. This paper was accepted by Lorin Hitt, information systems.

At the current stage of athletic development, technical training within long-term improvement system must incorporate clearly defined model characteristics of technical actions and physical fitness. Identifying biomechanical indicators and criteria of technical skills in highly qualified athletes enables the adjustment the training process by considering individual features of competitive performance. This approach facilitates the creation of effective technical training models. Objective: The objective is to improve the technical mastery of elite track and field athletes by establishing clear requirements for their technical fitness level and identifying the key components of technical skill. Material and methods: The data from more than 60 literature sources concerning the structural components of technical skills and the content of technical training of highly qualified track and field athletes at different stages of long-term training have been systematized. An expert survey of 36 coaches who have experience in working with highly qualified athletes was carried out; the documents of the training process planning as well as the diaries of athletes (n=244) were analyzed, and the optimal criteria of technical skill assessment were determined. Video recording and biomechanical analysis of the competitive exercise performance by long jumpers (n=15) and race walkers (n=36) at the stage of specialized basic training, as well as by long jumpers (n=8) and race walkers (n=31) at the stage of maximum realization of individual capabilities were carried out. Results. The basic provisions of improving the technical skills of highly qualified athletes in track and field competitive events are presented. The main structural components and criteria characterizing the technical mastery of athletes at the modern stage are highlighted. The basic biomechanical indices of the technique of motor actions and the level of special physical fitness of athletes at each stage of long-term improvement are established. The dynamics of the competitive practice volume and requirements for the selection of training means of technical orientation are determined. The analysis of scientific and methodical literature resulted in supplementing the data on biomechanical criteria of evaluating the technical skills of highly qualified track and field athletes. Conclusions. The effectiveness of training methods for highly qualified athletes is determined by the transformation of the technical potential accumulated at the previous stages of longterm training into the final competitive result. This can be achieved by determining a proper ratio of means and methods of different orientations, where the use of exercises aimed at improving the high level of technical fitness of track and field athletes will be the key one. Technical mastery as an integral criterion of the athlete's highest level of fitness allows to achieve maximum results in conditions of tough competition due to perfect mastery of the most rational motor structures of sports exercises.