High School Student Reactions to an Interdisciplinary Teaching Method in Agricultural Education

Tomorrow’s agricultural workforce will face challenges in the form of complex problems that transcend disciplinary boundaries, including food security. Addressing these complex issues requires professionals to work within and across disciplines in ways that may not have been required in previous generations. Teaching using an interdisciplinary approach may be one approach to helping students develop the skills needed to address these problems. The purpose of this study was to explore student reactions to being taught with an interdisciplinary teaching method in a secondary agricultural education context. Overall, students reacted favorably to this interdisciplinary teaching approach. Several student characteristics contributed to their reactions. Multiple aspects of the facilitation process also impacted student reactions, as did specific features of the interdisciplinary approach. The interdisciplinary teaching approach produced several learning outcomes beyond the technical concepts, including gaining new perspectives and critical thinking. Recommendations for teachers and recommendations for additional research are provided

A Journey to a Global Scholar Identity: An Autoethnography of Agricultural and Extension Faculty’s Experiences

Working in the academy can be a very rewording career, but more and more faculty and graduate students are considering non-academic careers. Understanding the career journey of faculty in academic positions working in international agricultural and extension education (AEE) could be insightful to better understand this niche discipline and be informative to other faculty and graduate students along their own journeys. This article explores the journeys of three faculty members in international AEE. We used an autoethnography to our stories. We are an assistant professor, an associate professor, and a professor. We conducted a focus group and then examined: (a) curriculum vitae, (b) scholarly research, (c) research statements, and (d) teaching philosophies. We found three themes in our journeys: (a) a forked path, (b) peaks and valleys, and (c) navigating beyond – to embrace our professional identities as global scholars in international AEE. Recommendations ae made for AIAEE and other international AEE scholars

The Theory of the Foundation European Initiative

The purpose of the Theory of the Foundation European Initiative was to contribute key insights into European foundations; and to look beyond the direct charitable activities or grant-making of European foundations and instead to explore and understand how foundations operate as organisations in their pursuit of mission and social impact. This we term a "whole foundation approach".Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) established a framework to stimulate discussion around the organisational form of philanthropy called "The Theory of the Foundation."1 Inspired by Peter Drucker's "Theory of the Business,"2 RPA's approach to framing philanthropic practice is detailed in Figure 1 and contains three core domains: Charter, Social Compact, and Operating Capabilities

Cryptoendolith colonization of diverse substrates (1): cultivation and characterization

We are investigating whether cryptoendolithic microorganisms are able to colonize diverse substrates through biogenic weathering. This first part of the study involves the cultivation and characterization of microbial consortia from Antarctic sandstone habitats

Identifying Best Practices for a Successful Study Abroad Program

The purpose of this study was to identify the best practices of study abroad programs before, during, and after the experience. The results of this study will add further to implementing quality educational programs in agricultural and life sciences. A qualitative methodology with participant observation was employed to provide a thick and rich examination of a study abroad experience conducted in Latin America. Results provided specific best practices for activities before, during, and after such an experience. Recommendations and implications are provided

Moving Beyond Short-Term Impacts of Service-Learning Study Abroad Program on Students’ Transformation: An Irish Case Study

The purpose of this study was to better understand the impacts on students who participate in short-term service-learning study abroad programs. Using Mezirow’s theory of Transformational Learning as a guide, students were interviewed on the lasting impacts that the program had on their transformation. Student participated in semi-structured interviews lasting in length of 30 minutes to an hour. These interviews took place approximately 7 months after the completion of their study abroad program. Student’s transformation was categorized into the 4 main areas of transformation according to Mezirow (1991): refining meaning schemes, learning new schemes, transforming schemes, and transforming perspectives

Organizations’ Perception of Service-Learning Study Abroad Programs and Transformational Partnerships

Global education is becoming increasingly important in higher education institutions in the United States. Concurrently, service-learning is another educational activity becoming more popular in higher education institutions. Very little research has been done on the impact on the community from a service-learning perspective, especially as a part of a study abroad. The purpose of this study was to explore the impacts of a short-term service-learning study abroad program on the community partners (organizations) where students completed service-learning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with leaders of organizations in Ireland who hosted students from the University of Florida during a study abroad program. Data were interpreted using Enos and Morton’s (2003) campus and community partnerships framework. Results revealed both transactional and transformational outcomes. Long-term impacts included cultural exchanges, the skill level of students, and moving partnerships forward. Recommendations for practice and research are provided

Comprendre la participation des superviseurs en médecine familiale communautaire au scholarship de l’éducation : perceptions, facteurs d'influence et pistes d'action prometteuses

Background: Residency training is increasingly occurring in community settings. The opportunity for community-based scholarship is untapped and substantial. We explored Community Family Medicine Preceptors’ understanding of Educational Scholarship (ES), looked at barriers and enablers to ES, and identified opportunities to promote the growth of ES in this setting. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with fifteen purposively chosen community-based Family Medicine preceptors in a distributed Canadian family medicine program. Results: Community Family Medicine Preceptors strongly self-identify as clinical teachers. They are not well acquainted with the definition of ES, but recognize themselves as scholars.  Community Family Medicine Preceptors recognize ES has significant value to themselves, their patients, communities, and learners. Most Community Family Medicine Preceptors were interested and willing to invest in ES, but lack of time and scarcity of primary care research experience were seen as barriers.  Research process support and a connection to the academic center were considered enablers. Opportunities to promote the growth of ES include recognition that there are fundamental differences between community and academic sites, the development of a mentorship program, and a process to encourage engagement. Conclusions: Community Family Medicine Preceptors identify foremost as clinician teachers.  They are engaged in and recognize the value of ES to their professional community at large and to their patients and learners.  There is a growing commitment to the development of ES in the communityContexte : Les stages de résidence se font de plus en plus en milieu communautaire, un milieu qui offre des possibilités de scholarship intéressantes demeurant inexploitées. Nous avons étudié la compréhension qu’ont les superviseurs en médecine familiale communautaire au sujet du scholarship de l’éducation (SÉ), examiné les obstacles et les facteurs favorables au SÉ et identifié les possibilités de le promouvoir dans le cadre communautaire. Méthodes : Nous avons mené des entretiens semi-structurés avec quinze cliniciens enseignants en médecine familiale communautaire choisis à dessein dans un programme de médecine familiale décentralisée au Canada. Résultats : Les superviseurs en médecine familiale communautaire se définissent fermement comme cliniciens enseigants. Peu familiers avec la définition du SÉ, ils se considèrent néanmoins comme érudits. Ils reconnaissent l’importance considérable du scholarship de l’éducation autant pour eux que pour leurs patients, les communautés et les apprenants. La plupart des superviseurs en médecine familiale communautaire se disent intéressés et disposés à s’investir en SÉ, mais se sentent limités par le manque de temps et le peu d'expérience en recherche en soins primaires. Le soutien au processus de recherche et un lien avec le centre universitaire sont considérés comme éléments favorables. La possibilité de développer le SÉ passe par la reconnaissance des différences fondamentales entre les sites communautaires et universitaires, la création d'un programme de mentorat et la mise en place d’un processus visant à encourager l'engagement. Conclusions : Les superviseurs en médecine familiale communautaire se définissent avant tout comme des cliniciens enseignants. Ils s’investissent dans le SÉ et ils reconnaissent son importance pour leur communauté professionnelle, leurs patients et leurs apprenants. Il y a un engagement croissant envers le développement du SÉ dans la communauté

Understanding the Context for Agricultural Technical, Vocational, Education and Training in Haiti

Agricultural activities in developing countries are critical for the future of the world’s food security. These countries have the lowest agricultural productivity and dissemination of agricultural technologies are often insufficient. Extension has a vital role in improving agricultural productivity. The Caribbean country of Haiti is one such case. In Haiti, agricultural technicians perform much of the extension field work. Agricultural technicians often have a diploma earned at a Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) school. However, not much is known about Haitian TVET schools, as little research has been conducted. This study explored the context for Haitian agricultural TVET. Individual interviews with four school directors and three teachers per school (12 total), as well as a student focus group in each school allowed to identify the ambiguous cultural value of agricultural TVET in Haiti. Results identified the cultural disregard for TVET through its stakeholders’ contempt for this sector as well as the government’s failure to support it appropriately. However, it was also found that TVET added value to the agricultural system both for its inherent qualities, and because of the reputation, competitiveness it creates for the graduates through the schools’ curricula, INFP recognition, and the networking experiences it facilitates notably with internships

School-Based Agricultural Education Students’ Attitudes and Beliefs toward International Agricultural Concepts

The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes and beliefs of school-based agriculture education (SBAE) students toward international agricultural concepts. This study builds on several previous studies (Conner, Greer, & Stripling, 2017; Elliot & Yanik, 2002; Heinert, Lavery, & Roberts, 2014; Radhakrishna, Leite, & Domer, 2003). To explore new geographic regions of the United States, two states, one from the Midwest and one from the Northwest, were purposively identified. A 46-item instrument that measures attitudes, beliefs, understanding, and instruction in relation to international agriculture developed by Radhakrishna et al. (2003) was administered to students in three schools representing both rural and urban areas. A total of 133 surveys were returned, for a 55.2% response rate. Overall, students held positive attitudes and beliefs toward international agricultural concepts. Students expressed a need to understand basic geography in relation to international agricultural concepts, and students strongly agreed to concepts and information necessary to understand international agricultural concepts. When historical data were synthesized with data from this study, mean scores from all five studies across all four constructs were consistently high. Future research should focus on how students develop their attitudes and beliefs about international agriculture