10 pages, United States science scores have remained stable over the past 12 years, and as a result secondary school students have been deemed less proficient than international peers. Additionally, there has been increased pressure for accountability from both teachers and students. This highly competitive performance-based classroom environment has threatened student motivation. Due to this, many have moved away from an emphasis on rote memorization and lessened the threat of performance testing by using inquiry and problem solving strategies as a way to provide more autonomy in the classroom. Agricultural education has joined the movement in providing autonomy in the classroom through inquiry-based teaching methods. This study investigates the perceptions of school-based agriscience students toward agriscience and inquiry-based instruction when taught through inquiry-based instruction. The perceptions of 170 secondary agriscience students who responded to the questionnaire indicated more favorable attitudes toward agriscience. Participants also had positive responses to items regarding agriculture’s importance to society, and influence in their daily lives. It is recommended that inquiry-based instruction be utilized in the agriscience classroom to promote student learning and motivation. Further investigations on the impacts of student motivation in the classroom when inquiry-based instruction is utilized in school-based agriscience education should be investigated.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 146 Document Number: D06617
Notes:
1 page., Author's perspectives about the role of the agricultural communications faculty member, especially in connection with agriculture. Describes tendency to serve as an honest broker, neutral convener, information provider, question raiser, joint problem solver and sometimes conscience. Expresses advocacy for the mission of agriculture in service to humankind, but not as advocate or apologist for the structures, functions and actions within agriculture - or as blanket adversary or critic.
Evans, Jim (author) and Agricultural Communications Program, University of Illinois, Urbana.
Format:
Commentary
Publication Date:
2013-04
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 188 Document Number: D01388
Notes:
1 page., Brief review of the author's chosen role as an agricultural communications faculty member in the academic community, with emphasis on the relationship with agriculture.
