Agricultural Educators' Personal Teaching Efficacy Towards Individual STEM Subjects

Abstract

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is becoming an integral part of modern agricultural education. If the integration of STEM into agricultural education is to succeed, it is vital that educators feel confident in their ability to teach such material.  This study examines [state 1] and [state 2] agricultural educators’ personal teaching efficacy towards STEM subjects. Analysis indicated that educators felt most confident in their ability to teach science, followed by technology, mathematics and then engineering. Recommendations for future research and practice include exploring agricultural educators’ perceptions of and methods for teaching engineering, understanding the experience of minorities in STEM, and developing new courses for STEM-enhanced postsecondary agricultural educator preparation programs.