ERIC Number: EJ1461846
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1531-4952
EISSN: EISSN-1533-1830
Available Date: 0000-00-00
School-Based Agricultural Education Teachers' Interest in and Confidence for Preparing Students to Compete in Career Development Events
Caitlin Dreher; J. Shane Robinson
Journal of Career and Technical Education, v39 n1 2024
School-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers have an obligation to teach students about agriculture and prepare them for agricultural careers. Yet, considering the vast number of sectors within the agricultural industry, this task can be daunting. One way teachers can accomplish this mission is through preparing their students to participate in Career Development Events (CDEs). This study assessed SBAE teachers' level of self-efficacy for each of the 33 CDEs recognized and offered at the Oklahoma State FFA Interscholastic Event. The SBAE teachers surveyed in the study expressed a greater interest in preparing their students in 32 of the 33 CDEs than they did their confidence to prepare them. Such perceptions may lead to a reluctance to prepare students for CDEs, especially in areas where teachers feel less efficacious, which could cause students to have less awareness of, appreciation for, and preparation in various agricultural careers. The findings of the study have implications for the professional development needs of inservice SBAE teachers. Such professional development should be provided to develop SBAE teachers' perceived inadequacies by targeting the CDEs with the greatest mean difference scores. Specific focus should be placed on food science and technology, veterinary science, and meat evaluation and technology CDEs. SBAE teachers should be provided opportunities to develop mastery in these areas by pairing teachers with expert mentors across the state to allow for vicarious experiences to evolve and complement their perceived shortcomings. Additional research should ensue to determine the impact CDEs have on students' future career choices and employability.
Descriptors: Agricultural Education, Agriculture Teachers, Teacher Effectiveness, Self Efficacy, Career Development, Teacher Attitudes, Faculty Development, Educational Needs, Interests, Teacher Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oklahoma
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A