ERIC Number: EJ1176311
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1042-0541
EISSN: N/A
The Motivational Changes Pre-Service Agricultural Education Teachers Endure While Facilitating Quality Supervised Agricultural Experiences: A Six-Week Project-Based Learning Experience
Roberts, Richie; Robinson, J. Shane
Journal of Agricultural Education, v59 n1 p255-270 2018
The Planning the Community Program in Agricultural Education course exists to provide preservice teachers in agricultural education with knowledge about FFA and supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). As such, pre-service teachers embarked on a six-week project-based learning experience in Spring 2016 in which they raised a pen of broilers from a one-day old chick to harvest ready (42 days). The broilers were used as the context to learn about managing data for entrepreneurial SAEs. This case study examined pre-service teachers' motivation regarding their self-reported beliefs and perspectives for participating in the project. Three themes emerged: (a) initial self-ambition, (b) achievement stagnation, and (c) stabilized self-concept. Students began the project with high motivation and excitement. However, toward the midway point of the project, students' motivation waned, due to monotony and challenges. Finally, during the last two weeks, pre-service teachers' motivation stabilized, as their self-concepts and reflection abilities matured. The study holds important implications for how teacher educators in agricultural education should design and deliver future project-based learning experiences regarding students' motivational processes. Specifically, this study indicates that, although student motivation may fluctuate at various stages, it is developed and sustained in a successive manner over time.
Descriptors: Agricultural Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Student Motivation, Active Learning, Student Projects, Case Studies, Attitude Change, Academic Achievement, Self Concept, Undergraduate Students, Reflection, Student Development
American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: http://www.aaaeonline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oklahoma
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A