Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This two-year project willdevelop curriculum materials and provide training and support for the integration of Arduino UNO microcontroller applications and programming into four SBAE AFNR pathways. The overall goal is to expose secondary agricultural education students to microcontrollers, electronic circuit construction, and programming in agricultural applications to enhance the math and science content of the curriculum and encourage students to pursue postsecondary degree programs in agricultural, food and natural resources (AFNR). This project, a collaborative effort between the University of Arkansas, the University of Minnesota, and Utah State University, directly addresses SPECA Educational Needs Area 1: Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems, and Expanding Student Career Opportunities.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The objectives for this project are to: (1) develop five multi-lesson curriculum units: one that teaches students the basic principles of microcontroller operation and programming, and four that integrate microcontrollers as scientific tools in four AFNR curriculum pathways (Environmental Service Systems; Food Products and Processing Systems; Plant Systems; and Power, Structural and Technical Systems); (2) provide curriculum focused in-service workshops for a total of 24 SBAE teachers in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Utah; (3) provide each of the 24 teachers 10 sets of classroom materials necessary to implement the curriculum modules; (4) train 120 additional teachers in thesethree states using a train-the-trainer model involving the original 24 teachers. The anticipated overall result of this project is development of curricular resources and teacher expertise to enable the widespread adoption of microcontrollers as both an object of study and as a scientific tool in SBAE programs nationwide.
Project Methods
Project staff will develop 5 curriculum modules aligned with AFNR secondary agricultural education curriculum pathways that integrate Arduino microcontrollers into each module. These materials will be housed on a full-service webstie to be housed at the University of Minnesota. In summer 2025, 36 total teachers in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Utah will receive train-the-trainer workshopsin implementing these modules into their curricula. Each teacher will also receive 6 classroon Arduino kits to complement the curriculum modules. Teachers will pilot these modules in fall 2025 and teacher and student evaluations will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the curriculum modules and identify needed revisions. Necessary revisions will be made in spring 2026, and in summer 2026 the original 36 teachers will train 72 additional teachers who will also each be provided with 36 classroom Arduino kits. Kits will be available for other teachers order through the National Center for Agricultural Literacy at Utah State University, with curriculum materials available for free download through the project website at the University of Minnesota.The Kirkpatrick Model will guide the evaluation efforts for the project. Kirkpatrick's (2016) framework is designed with four levels of evaluation, which gains in complexity across the levels. The Kirkpatrick Model is a globally recognized method of evaluating the results of training and learning programs. It assesses both formal and informal training methods and rates them against four levels of criteria: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. The guiding questions driving the evaluation are:What are teachers' reactions to the Professional Development and Curriculum? To what extent do the teachers feel equipped to teach the content?Can teachers effectively use the curriculum in their classrooms?What is the impact on students' learning and career outcomes?Data related to these objectives will be collected via focus group interviews, pre-and post assessments, and interviews. The evaluation will alsoprovide validated instruments that explore the outcomes of interest and will be useful for future studies.