Progress 06/01/24 to 05/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Thirty-eight teachers participated in the program during this reporting period. Thirty were female (79%), and eight were male (21%). Ninety-seven percent were white. There were 9 from Tennessee, 9 from Indiana, 6 from Georgia, 2 from Alaska, 2 from California, 2 from Kentucky, and1 each from Alabama, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Fifty percent had a bachelor's degree as their highest degree attained while 42% had a Master's degree and 8% had a Ph.D. Eighty-seven percent of the teachers were currently teaching at a middle school and had 2.6 years on average of teaching at a middle school. In general, the teachers had 8 years of teaching experience on average at any type of school Changes/Problems:As identified in the prior year report, one challenge that continues to be a challengeis there are a limited number of middle school agriculture programs in Tennessee. The first cohort was almost exclusively teachers from Tennessee. However, recruitment subsequent cohorts hasidentified that additional recruitment needs to be focused on other states in the Southeast, some of which (Georgia and Florida)havesignificantly more middle school agriculture programs than Tennessee. Subsequent cohortsmay continue to include teachers outside of the Southeast to meet desired cohort numbers (N-20). An additional challenge identified in this period is that significant attrition of teachers can occur from those who are registered to attend when the program is provided at no cost. The problem was addressed by registering more teachers for each cohort in the event of attrition and by keeping a "wait list" of teachers who might be able to be added before the training.This may be more difficult to accomplish in the final year of the grant, because funds may be more limited and may not be adequate for additional participants if all registered teachers attend. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The second and third AgXplore training and certification events were conducted on June 13-14, 2024 and July 10-11, 2025. A total of 38 teachers attended the two training sessions. Two additional training and certification events during the summer of 2025were scheduled (June 3-4 and July 21-22). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Two additional training and certification events will be held for the next two cohorts of teachers (approximately 20 cohorts per session) on June3-4, 2025 and July 21-22, 2025. Attendees will complete the pre- and post-training surveys, and results will be statistically evaluated. Results will be summarized and shared with communities of interest. Teachers from the final twocohorts will be provided with some of the most critical supplies necessary to implement the curriculum. AgXplore implementation surveys will be conducted withboth students and teachers. Implementation surveys will continue beingconducted during the final year of the grant.The results willbe statistically analyzed, and the results will be summarized.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The second cohort (18teachers) and third cohort (18 teachers) completed CASE AgXplore training and certification. The teachers competed pre- and post-training surveys to help evaluate the intended goals of the project. The results of the t-tests from the surveys reveal statistically significant improvements in familiarity with content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and teacher self-efficacy after completing CASE AgX training, with all p-values being less than 0.05. Based on the initial results, we conclude that attending AgX had a meaningful impact on enhancing teachers' knowledge and confidence in teaching middle school agriculture.
Publications
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Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Recruiting for the CASE AgXplore training and certification was conducted via email, website, and in person at the 2023 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. Onetraining event during the reporting periodwas conducted on January 8-9, 2024 for 20 teachers. Ninety-five percent of the teachers in attendance were from Tennessee with one additional teacher from Kentucky. Seventy-five percent of the teachers were female and 25% identified as male. One hundred percent of the teachers identified as white. Fifty percent of the teachers had a Bachelor's degree only, 45% had a Master's degree and 5% had a Ph.D. Ninety-five percent of the teachers were currently teaching at a middle school and 1 of the teachers planned to teach at a middle school the following year. The teachers had 8.2 years of average teaching experience and 2.1 years on average of teaching at a middle school. Changes/Problems:One challenge identified during this period is there are a limited number of middle school agriculture programs in Tennessee. The first cohort was almost exclusively teachers from Tennessee. However, recruitment for cohorts 2 and 3 has identified that additional recruitment needs to be focused on other states in the Southeast, particularly Georgia which has significantly more middle school agriculture programs than Tennessee. Cohorts 2 and 3 may include teachers outside of the Southeast to meet desired cohort numbers (N-20). What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The first AgXplore training and certificationevent was conducted on January 8-9, 2024. Two additional training and certification events during the summer of 2024 were scheduled (June 13-14 and July 10-11). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A statistical evaluation of the pre- and post-training surveys was performed. The results were presented at the American Association for Agricultural Education National Conference in Manhattan, Kansas, on May 20 - 23, 2024. The results were also shared with members of the National Council for Agricultural Education via email and CASE AgXplore trainers via email. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Two additional training and certification events will be held for the next two cohorts of teachers (approximately 20 cohorts per session)on June 13-14, 2024and July 10-11, 2024. Attendees will complete the pre- and post-training surveys and results will be statistically evaluated. Results will be summarized and shared with communities of interest. Teachers from the first three cohorts will be provided with some of the most criticialsupplies necessary to implement the curriculum. AgXplore implementation surveys will be created for both students and teachers. Implementation surveys will begin to be conducted during the fall of 2024. If results are sufficient, they will be statistically analyzed, and results will be summarized.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The first cohort of 20 teachers completed CASE AgXplore training and certification. The teachers competed pre- and post-training surveys to help evaluate the intended goals of the project. The results of the t-tests from the surveys reveal statistically significant improvements in familiarity with content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and teacher self-efficacy after completing CASE AgX training, with all p-values being less than 0.05. The effect size, as measured by Cohen's d, indicates a moderate effect for both familiarity with content knowledge (d = 0.53) and pedagogical content knowledge (d = 0.60), suggesting noticeable improvements in these areas. The effect on teacher self-efficacy is particularly strong (d = 0.80), highlighting a substantial increase in teachers' beliefs in their abilities to motivate and educate students effectively. Based on the initial results,we conclude that attending AgX had a meaningful impact on enhancing teachers' knowledge and confidence in teaching middle school agriculture.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Mosley, C., Ragland, K., & Jin, Y. (2024). Addressing professional development needs of middle school-based agricultural education teachers through CASE AgXplore training. Poster Session Proceedings of the Annual Research Conference of The American Association for Agricultural Education. 51(1), 305-308. Retrieved from https://aaea.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/National/2024Meeting/2024AAAEPosterProceedings.pdf
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