Previous Experience Not Required: Contextualizing the Choice to Teach School-Based Agricultural Education

The purpose of this study was to identify key career choice items which lead students without previous experience in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) to pursuing agricultural education. The Ag Ed FIT-Choice® model adapted by Lawver (2009) and developed by Richardson and Watt (2006) provided the investigative framework to design this study. Findings were organized around categories of the Ag Ed Fit-Choice Model (Lawver, 2009) with the exception of one additional category, believed unique to this group. Two focus groups were assembled to include ten participants. A myriad of experiences led participants to consider SBAE as a career. Certainly, it can be concluded that a passion for agricultural education does not solely stem from prior SBAE experiences. The intrigue toward the varied content associated with agriculture played a substantial role in participants’ choice to teach agriculture. Participants’ reflections revealed a distinct interconnectedness of domains within the Ag Ed Fit-Choice® model and the way in which this group of future teachers reflects upon career decision. Further, participants engaged in near constant value-checking and introspective career evaluation resulting through field experiences. The present study generated additional questions on the most effective ways to recruit future SBAE teachers who are non-traditional SBAE students

The importance of leadership knowledge and skills as perceived by selected agricultural industry professionals

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of selected agricultural industry professionals regarding leadership concepts skills and traits. To achieve this purpose, the following research objectives were developed, (1) identify perceptions of agricultural industry professionals regarding selected leadership concepts, (2) identify leadership skills important for new agricultural employees to possess, (3) determine the extent to which selected traits influence leadership development in the agricultural industry, (4) identify selected demographic data and compare selected variables. The study was conducted using a descriptive survey method. A questionnaire consisting of four sections was e-mailed to (120) agricultural professionals who were exhibitors at the Iowa State University Agricultural Career Fair. The sections of the survey instrument all related to leadership perceptions, leadership skills, leadership traits and demographic information. Respondents were asked for such demographic information as gender, age, position with company, length of time with company, educational background, size of the company, if a leadership course was taken in high school or college and if the company provides leadership training. Response rate for the questionnaire was 40%. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program. Statistical procedures used included descriptive, frequencies, means, standard deviations and analysis of variance. The major findings of this study indicate selected leadership concepts, skills and traits are important to agricultural professionals. Representatives of the companies, businesses and organizations surveyed in this study reported that their companies, businesses and organizations value training in leadership. Leadership education appears to be rare in higher education institutions attended by these respondents. A set of basic principles for leadership education could be developed using the findings from this study. Recommendations were to continue the focus on receiving feedback from industry professionals regarding leadership education. Their input should be used in developing curriculum and internship programs. Continuous focus needs to be placed on providing leadership training to high school and college students to enhance their professional skills. Education programs should be offered based on the highest rated leadership skills and traits identified by industry professionals

Purposes, Activities, and Documentation of Early Field Experience in Agricultural Teacher Education: A National Delphi Study

The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the purpose, expected outcomes, and methods of documenting preservice teacher early field experience (EFE) activities in agricultural teacher education programs. A Delphi technique was used to electronically collect data via email and SurveyMonkey®. An expert panel was established and after three rounds of questioning, the panel identified 16 purpose statements, 14 activities and 9 methods of documenting EFE. The findings of this study, as established by a panel of experts who reached consensus, indicated that EFE should be documented via a combination of journaling and portfolio development. The verification of these documents should be completed by the cooperating teacher and through university assessments. Documentation of an EFE experience can be accomplished through journaling, cooperating teacher signature, reflective paper or a review of collective documents. The results of this study can be used to modify and improve EFE by clarifying the purpose, activities and ways of documented activities in agricultural teacher education programs. This study will aid the profession in providing a more congruent EFE experience for preservice teachers

Perceptions of Career and Technical Education by Pre-Service Students

Agricultural education programs are one component of Career and Technical Education (CTE). For CTE to be effective, educators teaching CTE courses must be able to make connections between the curriculum and real-life situations. This qualitative study explored self-reported perceptions of CTE by pre-service students. Wigfield and Eccles’ expectancy-value model of achievement was used as the framework for this study. Findings indicated that career and technical education provides benefits for everyone because it helps develop career skills. With the shortage of educators and budget cuts, career and technical education cannot continue to survive. Participants also describe characteristics of successful career and technical education teachers

Effects of Carbonyl Bond and Metal Cluster Dissociation and Evaporation Rates on Predictions of Nanotube Production in HiPco

The high-pressure carbon monoxide (HiPco) process for producing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) uses iron pentacarbonyl as the source of iron for catalyzing the Boudouard reaction. Attempts using nickel tetracarbonyl led to no production of SWNTs. This paper discusses simulations at a constant condition of 1300 K and 30 atm in which the chemical rate equations are solved for different reaction schemes. A lumped cluster model is developed to limit the number of species in the models, yet it includes fairly large clusters. Reaction rate coefficients in these schemes are based on bond energies of iron and nickel species and on estimates of chemical rates for formation of SWNTs. SWNT growth is measured by the co-formation of CO2. It is shown that the production of CO2 is significantly greater for FeCO due to its lower bond energy as compared with that ofNiCO. It is also shown that the dissociation and evaporation rates of atoms from small metal clusters have a significant effect on CO2 production. A high rate of evaporation leads to a smaller number of metal clusters available to catalyze the Boudouard reaction. This suggests that if CO reacts with metal clusters and removes atoms from them by forming MeCO, this has the effect of enhancing the evaporation rate and reducing SWNT production. The study also investigates some other reactions in the model that have a less dramatic influence

Fluorescence of covalently attached pyrene as a general RNA folding probe

Fluorescence techniques are commonly and powerfully applied to monitor biomolecular folding. In a limited fashion, the fluorescence emission intensity of covalently attached pyrene has been used as a reporter of RNA conformational changes. Here, we pursue two goals: we examine the relationship between tether identity and fluorescence response, and we determine the general utility of pyrene fluorescence to monitor RNA folding. The P4–P6 domain of the Tetrahymena group I intron RNA was systematically modified at multiple nucleotide positions with pyrene derivatives that provide a range of tether lengths and compositions between the RNA and chromophore. Certain tethers typically lead to a superior fluorescence signal upon RNA folding, as demonstrated by equilibrium titrations with Mg(2+). In addition, useful fluorescence responses were obtained with pyrene placed at several nucleotide positions dispersed throughout P4–P6. This suggests that monitoring of tertiary folding by fluorescence of covalently attached pyrene will be generally applicable to structured RNA molecules