ERIC Number: EJ871222
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1042-0541
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Scientific Inquiry in Agricultural Education Teacher Preparation: A Look at Teacher Educators' Perceptions
French, Darla; Balschweid, Mark
Journal of Agricultural Education, v50 n4 p25-35 2009
The specific objectives of this study were to identify the attitudes of U.S. agricultural education teacher educators toward using scientific inquiry as an instructional method and to determine their level of comfort and awareness with new information and teaching methodologies in science. A mailed survey was sent to all agricultural education teacher preparation institutions in the United States. One-half of the respondents who indicated that they presented scientific inquiry to their pre-service teachers during the methods of teaching course indicated they were very comfortable with teaching technical agriculture content, while one in eight said they were very comfortable with teaching technical science content. A majority of respondents who said they presented scientific inquiry also indicated that they felt comfortable or very comfortable with presenting the scientific inquiry teaching method. Respondents rated themselves less than knowledgeable on "general science content" and "current discoveries in science." When asked their opinions of their comfort with various content areas and teaching methodologies 95% of teacher educators responded that they felt very comfortable or comfortable teaching technical agriculture content. Only 68% felt as confident when asked about teaching technical science content. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Preservice Teacher Education, Agricultural Education, Teacher Educators, Teaching Methods, Scientific Methodology, Inquiry, Mail Surveys, Teacher Attitudes, Methods Courses, Knowledge Base for Teaching, Instructional Innovation, Self Concept
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
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A