Attitudes Toward Biotechnology: Snapshot of Professional Development, Barriers, and Motivation in Agricultural Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v67i2.3166Keywords:
biotechnology, professional developmentAbstract
With the anticipated surge in the global population over the next 25 years and beyond, there is a significant need for agriculturalists to produce more using less. Biotechnology is one way we can ensure that the ever-growing population will continue to be sustained in satisfying global food, fiber, and fuel demands. However, in order to enter careers in this career area, and be aware of these innovative technologies so that consumers of today and tomorrow can make informed decisions, education about biotechnology is essential. The purpose of this study was to review teachers’ confidence level in teaching biotechnology concepts, professional development activities, motivation to teach the concepts, and perception of available resources. The study was conducted utilizing a quantitative instrument administered to a group of 74 agricultural educators representing 19 states, who indicated interest in teaching biotechnology, or participation in biotechnology professional development experiences. Findings revealed teachers’ strong desire to incorporate additional biotechnology-centered activities into curriculum, but barriers such as cost, lack of supplies, or lack of general biotechnology knowledge needed to facilitate biotechnology learning experiences pose concerns. To address this, additional research should be done investigating what types of professional development experiences might best serve agricultural educators as they teach students about biotechnology. This research could examine professional development needs, structure, and delivery style that is most conducive to educators. These low-cost and engaging professional development experiences can then be developed and provided to agricultural educators to increase their confidence in developing and delivering biotechnology curriculum for their students.
Downloads
References
American Farm Bureau Federation (2024). Fast facts about agriculture & food. https://www.fb.org/newsroom/fast-facts
Boone, H., Gartin, S., Boone, D., & Hughes, J. (2006). Modernizing the agricultural education curriculum: An analysis of agricultural education teachers’ attitudes, knowledge, and understanding of biotechnology. Journal of Agricultural Education,47(1), 78–89. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2006.01078 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2006.01078
Brossard, D., & Nisbet, M. C. (2006). Deference to scientific authority among a low information public: Understanding U.S. opinion on agricultural biotechnology.” International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 19(1), 24–52. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edl003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edl003
Brownson, R. C., Eyler, A. A., Harris, J. K., Moore, J. B., & Tabak, R. G. (2018). Getting the word out: New approaches for disseminating public health science. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice,24(2), 102–111. https://doi.org/PHH.0000000000000673 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000673
Chumbley, S. "Boot", Hainline, M. S., Russell, M., & Ruppert, D. E. (2019). Teachers’ confidence to integrate biology in agriscience courses. Journal of Agricultural Education, 60(1), 145–157. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2019.01145 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2019.01145
Clason, D. L., & Dormody, T. J. (1994). Analyzing data measured by individual Likert-type items. Journal of Agricultural Education, 35(4), 31–35. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.1994.04031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.1994.04031
Conroy, C. A. (2000). Reinventing career education and recruitment in agricultural education for the 21st century. Journal of Agricultural Education, 41(4), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2000.04073 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2000.04073
Crawford, I. M. (1997). Marketing research and information systems. Rome: FAO.
Curriculum for Agriscience Education (2024). Register for CASE PD. https://www.case4learning.org/professional-development/register/
Desimone, L. M. (2009). Improving impact studies of teachers’ professional development: Toward better conceptualizations and measures. Educational Researcher,38(3), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189x08331140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X08331140
Dillman, D. A. (2007). Internet and mail surveys: The tailored design method (2nd ed.). John Wiley.
Dollisso, A. D., & Martin, R. A. (1999). Perceptions regarding adult learners' motivation to participate in educational programs. Journal of Agricultural Education,40(4), 38–46. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.1999.04038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.1999.04038
Easterly, R. G., & Myers, B. (2017). You seize what pops up: A qualitative investigation of the core features of school-based agricultural education professional development. Journal of Agricultural Education, 58(3), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2017.03056 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2017.03056
Fernbach, P., Light, N., Scott, S., Ibar, Y., & Rozin, P. (2019). Extreme opponents of genetically modified foods know the least but think they know the most. Nature Human Behaviour 3, 251–256. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0520-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0520-3
FFA New Horizons. (2016, March 6). Career overview: Plant systems. https://www.ffa.org/ag-101/career-overview-plant-systems/
Garst, B., Baughman, S., & Franz, N. (2014). Benchmarking professional development practices across youth-serving organizations: Implications for Extension. Journal of Extension, 52(5). https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.52.05.11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.52.05.11
Goderya-Shaikh, F. (2010). Professional development with follow-up for an effective paradigm shift. International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education,1(3), 182–189. https://doi.org/10.20533/ijcdse.2042.6364.2010.0025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20533/ijcdse.2042.6364.2010.0025
Ikner, A., Croom, D. B., Fuhrman, N., & Yopp, A. (2023). Student interest in the national council for agricultural education career pathways. Journal of Agricultural Education, 64(3), 135–157. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v64i3.116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v64i3.116
Iowa State University Office of Biotechnology (2024). Biotechnology outreach education center. https://boec.biotech.iastate.edu/
Lambert, N. M., & McCombs, B. L. (Eds.). (1998). How students learn: Reforming schools through learner-centered education. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10258-000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/10258-000
Lee, Donald. “Personal Interview.” 4 Nov. 2018.
Leiby, B. L., Robinson, J. S., & Key, J. P. (2013). Assessing the impact of a semester-long course in agricultural mechanics on pre-service agricultural education teachers’ importance, confidence, and knowledge of welding. Journal of Agricultural Education, 54(1), 179–192. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2013.01179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2013.01179
Lewis, E. B., Baker, D. R., & Helding, B. A. (2015). Science teaching reform through professional development: Teachers’ use of a scientific classroom discourse community model. Science Education, 99(5), 896–931. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/teachlearnfacpub/197?utm_source=digitalcommons.unl.edu%2Fteachlearnfacpub%2F197&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21170
Lindner, J. R., Murphy, T. H., & Briers, G. E. (2001). Handling nonresponse in social science research. Journal of Agricultural Education,42(4), 43–53. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2001.04043 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2001.04043
Marx, A. A., Simonsen, J. C., & Kitchel, T. (2014). Secondary agricultural education program and human influences on career decision self-efficacy. Journal of Agricultural Education,55(2), 214–229. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2014.02214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2014.02214
Meissel, K., Parr, J., & Timperley, H. (2016). Can professional development of teachers reduce disparity in student achievement? Teaching and Teacher Education, 58, 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.05.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.05.013
Mowen, D., Wingenbach, G., Roberts, G., & Harlin, J. (2007). Agricultural science teachers’ barriers, roles, and information source preferences for teaching biotechnology topics. Journal of Agricultural Education,48(2), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2007.02103 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2007.02103
Mueller, A. L., Knobloch, N. A., & Orvis, K. S. (2015). Exploring the effects of active learning on high school students’ outcomes and teachers’ perceptions of biotechnology and genetics instruction. Journal of Agricultural Education, 56(2), 138–152. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2015.02138 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2015.02138
Myers, B. (2005). Incorporating science, math and reading into the agriculture classroom: The role of the laboratory. The Agricultural Education Magazine, 77(5), 14–15. https://www.naae.org/naae/document-server/?cfp=/naae/assets/file/public/magazine/volume77/v77i5.pdf
National Council for Agricultural Education (1999). A new era in agriculture. Executive Summary of the Reinventing Agricultural Education for the Year 2020 Project.
National Council for Agricultural Education (2023). Overview. https://thecouncil.ffa.org/ageducation/
Peterman, K., Pan, Y., Robertson, J., & Lee, S. G. (2014). Self-report and academic factors in relation to high school students’ success in an innovative biotechnology program. Journal of Technology Education,25(2). https://doi.org/10.21061/jte.v25i2.a.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21061/jte.v25i2.a.3
Rayfield, J., Murphy, T., Briers, G., & Lewis, L. (2012). Identifying innovative agricultural education programs. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.21061/jcte.v27i2.558 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21061/jcte.v27i2.558
Rice, A. H., & Kitchel, T. (2016). Influence of knowledge of content and students on beginning agriculture teachers’ approaches to teaching content. Journal of Agricultural Education, 57(4), 86–101. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2016.04086 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2016.04086
Santos, J. R. A. (1999). Cronbach’s alpha: A tool for assessing the reliability of scales. Journal of Extension Education, 37(2). https://archives.joe.org/joe/1999april/tt3.php DOI: https://doi.org/10.66752/1077-5315.7392
Skelton, P., Seevers, B., Dormody, T., & Hodnett, F. (2012). A conceptual process model for improving youth science comprehension. Journal of Extension,50(3). https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.50.03.47 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.50.03.47
Sikinyi, T. A. (2003). The role of bioscience and biotechnology in agricultural education in the secondary school agriculture curriculum as perceived by agricultural educators. https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-8768 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-8768
Smalley, S. W., Hainline, M. S., & Sands, K. (2019). School-based agricultural education teachers’ perceived professional development needs associated with teaching, classroom management, and technical agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Education, 60(2), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2019.02085 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2019.02085
Smith, K. L., Rayfield, J., & McKim, B. R. (2015). Effective practices in STEM integration: Describing teacher perceptions and instructional method use. Journal of Agricultural Education, 56(4), 182–201. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2015.04183 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2015.04183
Troupe, G., Peterson, A. M., Golick, D., Turnbull, S., & Lee, D. (2017). Improving genetic engineering secondary education through a classroom-ready online resource. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information,19(1), 37–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496505.2017.1353915 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10496505.2017.1353915
United National Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) (2010). United Nations: World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, Volume 1: Comprehensive Tables and United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, Highlights. Population and Development Review,36(4), 854-855. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2010.00368.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2010.00368.x
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2024). Ag Biotechnology. https://agedcde.unl.edu/cde-information/events/ag-biotechnology/
United States Department of Agriculture (2024). Biotechnology FAQs. https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology/biotechnology-frequently-asked-questions-faqs
Virginia Tech Fralin Life Sciences Institute. (2024). Biotech-in-a-Box. https://fralinlifesci.vt.edu/education-and-outreach/biotech-in-a-box.html
Wilson, E., Kirby, B., & Flowers, J. (2002). Factors influencing the intent of North Carolina agricultural educators to adopt agricultural biotechnology curriculum. Journal of Agricultural Education,43(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2002.01069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2002.01069
Wood, M., Sorensen, T., & Rubenstein, E. (2024). Assessing the pedagogical content knowledge of school-based agricultural education teachers and determining their individualized need for professional development by licensure type. Journal of Agricultural Education, 65(2), 54–70. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v65i2.119 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v65i2.119
Zeller, M. (2002, March 01). Agricultural biotechnology education. https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-115402315/agricultural-biotechnology-education
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
