Teachers' Confidence to Integrate Biology in Agriscience Courses

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the confidence levels of School-based Agricultural Education (SBAE) teachers to integrate biology concepts in plant and animal science courses. The researchers also sought to describe the demographic characteristics of New Mexico SBAE teachers. This study used a descriptive-correlational research design. Teachers were asked to identify their confidence levels to teach the state standards of the animal science and plant science course that matched course objectives in biology and life science. The teachers had an average age of 39 and reported having an average of 13 years of teaching experience. The majority of New Mexico SBAE teachers received secondary science teacher certification and over 70% had obtained a master’s degree. Teachers felt the least confident to teach the processes of cell division, including binary fission, mitosis, and meiosis. Teachers felt the most confident integrating biology concepts within lessons dealing with the nutrients required by plants, how they obtain and transport those nutrients, as well as teaching the evolution of plants from green algae. The findings suggest that there are some relationships between years of teaching experience, school size, and teachers receiving the science certification.