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Reading is a skill that is initially taught in schools. Students are introduced to the alphabet and later learn to read texts. Reading Foreign languages is also introduced when students learn a foreign language. The student requires reading activities that include vocabulary learning. Extensive reading is one of the practical activities of reading. Nowadays, extensive reading activities include reading printed and digital text in e-books, journals, and internet and social media articles. In addition, digital extensive reading research on university students of agriculture is still rare. Thus, research on digital-mediated extensive reading in agricultural students' needs to be conducted to investigate whether it improves their reading comprehension. This study involved 84 agricultural students majoring Agroecotechnology study program. The participants take an English course. The data for this study was taken from the pre-test and post-test scores and questionnaire. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study shows that the digital-mediated extensive reading effectively enhances the student's reading comprehension in English as academic purposes (EAP) setting, and the students express that the digital-mediated extensive reading provides flexibility, technology utilization, and reading.

This study aimed to investigate the demand for digital skills in the workplaces of agricultural graduates to shed light on the specific requirements of digital skills in their jobs. The study employed a qualitative approach and conducted a total of eight semi-structured interviews with graduates from two departments of an agricultural university in Vietnam. The obtained data, processed through thematic coding techniques, successfully revealed insights into digital skills' demand in the jobs of selected participants. Firstly, digital skills were found to be compulsory requirements for jobs for agricultural graduates, although the specific requirements for digital skills varied from job to job. Secondly, the findings revealed that different jobs require different types and levels of digital skills. Thirdly, the performance of digital skills depends on the availability and management of workplaces' digital technology. The study also found that graduates may have the opportunity to obtain jobs that are not directly related to their learning programmes but require digital skills associated with their speciality. The study recommends applying the findings to multiple stakeholders, including government policymakers, higher education policymakers, employers, and higher education students, to bridge the gap between the higher education supply and the market demand for digital skills.

Purpose: Accelerating the adoption of intensification methods is critical for improving African agricultural productivity growth. This study synthesizes the effect of determinants underlying the speed of adoption of agricultural intensification methods in Africa. Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature search was conducted using online databases, covering 20 years of publication research. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Findings: After controlling for innovation type, a subgroup analysis reveals that gender and formal education influence the speed of adoption of improved staple crop varieties and other agricultural intensification methods. Practical implications: Continued investment in approaches that are gender sympathetic and in agricultural education and extension is implied. Theoretical implications: Accelerating agricultural productivity growth requires a broad understanding of the potential determinants. This extends beyond farmer characteristics and includes factors that describe the context of agricultural systems, policies, and technology. Originality/Value: This is the first study quantifying the effect size of factors that influence the pace of adoption of agricultural intensification methods in Africa.

Virtual reality (VR) technology is an advanced modern resource commonly integrated into various forms of training. VR training simulations are customizable in that quality-grading parameter settings, physical environment, and user capacity can be modified to personal or professional preference. In this study, VR technology training practices are utilized to enact meaningful learning. Meaningful learning is achieved by providing visual and audial cues within the virtual training environment, weld performance skill development, and adequate skill practice time over a four-week span. This method of practice will reflect a new training style where beginning welders receive personalized feedback from both the VRTEX 360 virtual reality welding simulator and welding instructor. This training method benefits learners by expediting and enhancing their skill acquisition, adjusting their performance according to the various feedback they receive, and thereby experiencing meaningful learning. Results indicate that with each round of VR welding training participants' test weld scores continuously increased, as well as consistently scoring 80% and higher. This enhanced performance of beginning welders implies VR welding training can effectively aid in developing complex welding skills. We recommend that future research investigate the effectiveness of parameter cues and total cost-savings of integrated VR technology into welding training methods.

The curriculum for undergraduate Agricultural Engineering does not usually include much laboratory practice. In order to address this, here we propose the design of a practical class on legume-rhizobia symbiosis, using an interdisciplinary approach that takes elements from botany, agriculture, and microbiology. The students perform an assay to stimulate nodulation in chickpea seedlings through inoculation with "Mesorhizobium" strains recommended as commercial inoculants, and evaluate improvement in plant growth as a result of nitrogen fixation. The experiment could serve as a springboard to discuss the importance of plant-bacteria interactions in the cultivation of a regionally relevant crop. It may also encourage the use of abilities of different kinds, including the appropriate manipulation of lab materials, the active engagement of scientific thought, the application of knowledge to specific real world scenarios and collaborative teamwork, all of which will be of paramount importance throughout the students' careers. The class can be easily adapted for other degrees connected to environmental microbiology, as well as for other symbiotic pairs that may include significant crops from other regions around the world.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) applications have become increasingly more commonplace in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) settings in the past few decades. In recent years, Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) programming has provided a practical outlet for STEM-focused, inquiry-based teaching and learning activities. The CASE Mechanical Systems in Agriculture (MSA) course was recently field-tested nationally with several SBAE teachers. Framed within Rogers' (2003) diffusion of innovations theory, we sought to study six teachers' experiences when implementing the CASE MSA curriculum throughout the 2018-2019 academic year. Using qualitative research methods, we conducted multiple one-on-one interviews with each SBAE teacher at different parts of their respective academic years. Data were coded in accordance with Merriam's (2009) recommendations. Four dominant themes emerged: (1) the journey toward innovation; (2) learning as you go; (3) logistical and implementation challenges; and (4) students' needs and preferences. Several prominent sub-themes emerged as well. Our findings highlight that although challenges existed, the CASE MSA curriculum was suitable for enhancing the rigor and relevance of these teachers' agricultural mechanics curricula. We recommend CASE MSA curriculum stakeholders collaborate to continuously improve its design and flexibility.

Agricultural mechanics--a pillar of many secondary agricultural education programs--is a dynamic, constantly changing field, requiring educators to continually evolve their programs to maintain relevance. This study explored the in-service agricultural mechanics needs of Montana mid-career agricultural educators. We used mean weighted discrepancy scores and descriptive measures to analyze demographics and perceived levels of importance and competency to teach agricultural mechanics content areas. The areas of highest perceived importance of teaching were welding safety, mechanical safety, and construction and shop safety. The areas that educators felt least competent to teach were differential leveling, profile leveling, and cleaning motors. Mean weight discrepancy scores revealed the greatest discrepancies between importance and competence to teach in the areas of electrical safety, computer aided design, and differential leveling. Agricultural educator associations and industry experts should collaborate with advisory groups, local businesses, and organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce to determine the relevance of low-ranking content areas and create professional development opportunities for educators in these areas.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the amount of preparation Iowa inservice secondary agricultural education teachers received in agricultural mechanics at the university level. Secondary School Based Agricultural Education instructors attending the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators' summer conference were given a paper-based survey instrument to report their perceptions of the agricultural mechanics skills and training they had received at the postsecondary level. Agricultural education teachers indicated that safety, welding, and construction were among the skills with highest concentration of instruction received at the postsecondary level. The areas in which teachers received the least amount of preparation were surveying, technology, and tractor skills. The overall lack of instruction in agricultural mechanics at the postsecondary level may lead to inexperienced and underprepared teachers. We recommended weekend or summer training be offered for inservice teachers who did not receive or received very little training at the postsecondary level. It is also recommended postsecondary institutions organize consistent ways in which agricultural mechanics courses are offered so that preservice agriculture teachers receive appropriate training prior to entering the profession.

Agricultural mechanics remains prominent in many school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. SBAE teachers need a wide range of knowledge and skills to competently teach agricultural mechanics. A lack of teacher competence can create issues within educational settings. Teacher competence can be improved through effective professional development (PD). Understanding PD needs as they relate to agricultural mechanics is crucial to help ensure teachers are as competent as realistically possible. We underpinned our study via human capital theory (HCT) as we sought to describe SBAE teachers' agricultural mechanics PD needs. Through an electronic instrument constructed using Borich's (1980) needs assessment model, we sought to collect data from 374 randomly sampled SBAE teachers from across the United States. Three hundred and sixty-four teachers received our instrument and 100 teachers responded, yielding a response rate of 27.5%. Using mean weighted discrepancy scores (MWDS), we found teachers have the greatest agricultural mechanics PD needs in: (1) American Welding Society (AWS) standards for welding procedures; (2) use of electrical measurement units (ex. amperes, volts, Ohms, etc.); and (3) principles of metallurgy (ex. identifying metals, proper use of metals, etc.). To help improve teachers' competence in agricultural mechanics, we recommend various approaches emphasizing agricultural mechanics knowledge and skill development be undertaken by SBAE stakeholders.

A priority of agricultural teacher education programs is to develop technically competent, prepared school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers. SBAE teachers should be knowledgeable in various agricultural subject matter, such as agricultural mechanics. Using Roberts and Ball's (2009) Content-based Model for Teaching Agriculture as the conceptual framework for our study, we used a three-round Delphi technique to identify the agricultural mechanics knowledge and skills SBAE teachers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas need to successfully teach agricultural mechanics courses. Spread across all four states, a panel of 47 SBAE teachers with expertise in agricultural mechanics contributed data for our study. Thirty-five teachers participated in all three rounds. After all three rounds were completed, 71 technical agricultural mechanics knowledge and skill items (e.g., circular saw use, computer numerical control [CNC] systems use, etc.) and 49 agricultural mechanics "teacher skill" / laboratory management knowledge and skill items (e.g., budget management, developing a student traffic control system, etc.) were identified. We recommend various efforts to help expand teachers' competence in these items should be undertaken within these states, including: (1) establishing and expanding partnerships with agricultural industry stakeholders to provide professional development opportunities for SBAE teachers, (2) realigning agricultural teacher education courses and experiences to better reflect teachers' agricultural mechanics knowledge and skill needs, and (3) facilitating opportunities for teachers to develop competence in agricultural mechanics through SBAE teacher-led training. To help provide systematic, consistent examination of teacher competence needs in agricultural mechanics, replication of our study should occur at regular intervals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education. In these circumstances, technology aided learning by providing new ways of teaching and communicating with students. In this work, we report the online activities carried out in the Basic Organic Chemistry virtual course of the Chemistry Department at UNS (Argentina) for first-year students of the Agronomic Engineering career. In particular, we present the use and results obtained from quick question/answer games using available applications to reinforce theoretical concepts. These activities helped to review and emphasize essential concepts of the course. It is noteworthy that the proposed activities also supported learning during the return to face-to-face classes.

Agricultural mechanics is a technical skill area that poses numerous challenges for teacher preparation programs due to safety, time needed to learn technical skills, and credit hour requirements. The skills required to manage a laboratory are crucial for instructors of agricultural mechanics curriculum. Agricultural mechanics is a popular course in secondary schools, but studies found that pre-service teachers were ill-equipped to teach the courses effectively. Determining the level of readiness of graduates of teacher preparation programs to teach agricultural mechanics was the purpose of this study. Certifying institutions for agricultural education teachers across the nation comprised our target population. A questionnaire was used to collect data for this study, resulting in 48% response rate (n = 52). Of the nine agricultural mechanics curriculum content areas most teachers reported they had five in their state curriculum. The nine content areas were determined to be "Important" by the teachers in this study. Hand/Power Tools (M = 3.69) was the only content area that institutions ranked their graduates as "Prepared" to teach. The remaining content areas were ranked as "Somewhat" or "Poorly" prepared. Most institutions stated that they required at least one course in agricultural mechanics in their program, with the average requirement being five to eight hours. It can be concluded that agricultural mechanics course requirements have decreased since 2005, even though the content is heavily taught at the secondary level. This study has shown that we must re-evaluate how we prepare students to be competent to teach agricultural mechanics.

Agricultural mechanics is a primary subject area in school-based agricultural education (SBAE). Despite a high prevalence in SBAE, preservice and in-service SBAE teachers have frequently expressed concerns regarding teaching agricultural mechanics. Early 21st-century research documented the characteristics of preservice SBAE teacher training in agricultural mechanics, although more recent studies have suggested that the agricultural mechanics training requirements have changed. This study sought to compare the agricultural mechanics preparation of preservice SBAE teachers between 2000 and 2021. A survey instrument was distributed to a representative of every institution with an undergraduate SBAE teacher preparation program in the contiguous United States, resulting in an 86.7% response rate. We drew comparisons in the data to previous studies from 2000 and 2005. The findings included a reduced average number of required agricultural mechanics credit hours over time. Faculty perceptions of importance and preservice teacher preparation had increased slightly; however, deficits were in all competency groups. Further research is warranted to determine the perceptions of preservice and in-service SBAE teachers regarding agricultural mechanics. Recommendations include that teacher educators evaluate current preparation methods for preservice SBAE teachers and provide professional development in the areas of the greatest observed training deficits.

In response to the growing computational intensity of the healthcare industry, biomedical engineering (BME) undergraduate education is placing increased emphasis on computation. The presence of substantial gender disparities in many computationally intensive disciplines suggests that the adoption of computational instruction approaches that lack intentionality may exacerbate gender disparities. Educational research suggests that the development of an engineering and computational identity is one factor that can support students' decisions to enter and persist in an engineering major. Discipline-based identity research is used as a lens to understand retention and persistence of students in engineering. Our specific purpose is to apply discipline-based identity research to define and explore the computational identities of undergraduate engineering students who engage in computational environments. This work will inform future studies regarding retention and persistence of students who engage in computational courses. Twenty-eight undergraduate engineering students (20 women, 8 men) from three engineering majors (biomedical engineering, agricultural engineering, and biological engineering) participated in semi-structured interviews. The students discussed their experiences in a computationally-intensive thermodynamics course offered jointly by the Biomedical Engineering and Agricultural & Biological Engineering departments. The transcribed interviews were analyzed through thematic coding. The gender stereotypes associated with computer programming also come part and parcel with computer programming, possibly threatening a student's sense of belonging in engineering. The majority of the participants reported that their computational identity was "in the making." Students' responses also suggested that their engineering identity and their computational identity were in congruence, while some incongruence is found between their engineering identity and a creative identity as well as between computational identity and perceived feminine norms. Responses also indicate that students associate specific skills with having a computational identity. This study's findings present an emergent thematic definition of a computational person constructed from student perceptions and experiences. Instructors can support students' nascent computational identities through intentional mitigation of the gender stereotypes and biases, and by framing assignments to focus on developing specific skills associated with the computational modeling processes.

Many students currently in preservice agricultural education teacher education programs do not have traditional agricultural backgrounds. Many of those students are experiencing skills they will be required to teach or utilize upon employment for the first and sometimes only time in introductory course work within their teacher education programs. This study utilized an expert panel from within the Southern Region of the American Association of Agricultural Education (AAAE) composed of teacher educators, teachers that have taught for more than five years (veteran teachers), and teachers with less than three years' experience (new teachers) in a modified Delphi technique to develop a consensus list of technical agricultural skills that preservice agricultural teachers should possess prior to their first teaching job. Beginning agricultural education teacher skills were declared across seven categories. The agricultural mechanics category had the most (31 skills), followed by horticulture (24 skills), and animal science (14 skills). The remaining skills fell in the categories of business/program management (8 skills), natural resources/soils (5 skills), food safety/food science (5 skills), and safety (4 skills). An emergent finding showed differences in opinions between new teachers, veteran teachers, and teacher educators in how many skills new teachers should possess.

Agricultural mechanics laboratories are frequently available for use within school-based agricultural education (SBAE) settings. Moreover, agricultural mechanics instruction is quite common and can include a wide range of subject matter. Preservice teachers are frequently concerned about teaching agricultural mechanics, sometimes due to negative or no experiences in the subject. We sought to describe how preservice teachers, many of whom had limited experience in agricultural mechanics, conceptualized agricultural mechanics at the beginning and end of a teacher education-focused agricultural mechanics course. Conceptually framing our study using Boud et al.'s (1985) model of reflection, we used a qualitative research design to collect data from 17 preservice teachers. Two themes and four sub-themes were identified through our data analysis process. We found preservice teachers' conceptualizations of agricultural mechanics were positively impacted as a result of a semester-long course. We recommend SBAE stakeholders continue to engage preservice teachers in high-quality agricultural mechanics-related experiences to better prepare the next generation of teachers to create opportunities for their students.

The article presents the results of four series of experimental studies of irradiation efficiency of Moskovskii Parnikovyi leaf lettuce with general and special-purpose LED lamps (phyto-lamps) under various irradiation modes. The studies were conducted with an automated experimental irradiation device. The influence of the spectral compositions of LED radiation on the growth and development of Moskovskii Parnikovyi leaf lettuce is estimated. The studies have shown that LED phyto lamps are more effective in terms of productivity of Moskovskii Parnikovyi leaf lettuce compared to general-purpose LED lamps with equal electrical power consumption.

The article presents an analysis of critical thinking development at higher educational institutions in Ukraine as a part of a quality education. The application of Paulo Freire's ideas in this process is of vital importance for education. This article has provided the results of pretests and post-tests in Lviv National Agrarian University and Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. The article has considered the three stages, namely evocation, realization of meaning, and reflection usen the English class of the fourth year students enrolled in the course 'Agro-engineering'. The implementation of critical thinking in regulatory and legislative framework demonstrate a real positive impact in Ukrainian educational system.

A historical portion of many school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs, agricultural mechanics remains popular in schools across the nation. As such, pre-service and in-service teachers should be prepared to effectively deliver agricultural mechanics instruction (Burris, Robinson, & Terry, 2005). Agricultural education researchers (McKim & Saucier, 2012; Pate, Warnick, & Meyers, 2012) have identified many laboratory management competencies and welding skills that teachers should have; however, few knowledge and skill areas in other components of agricultural mechanics (e.g., woodworking, electricity, etc.) have been identified. Through the lens of Roberts and Ball's (2009) content-based model for teaching agriculture, we used the Delphi technique to identify the agricultural mechanics knowledge and skills that Iowa SBAE teachers should possess to provide quality instruction. A panel of 10 expert Iowa SBAE teachers provided the data for the present study. After three rounds, a total of 85 items reached consensus, which included 35 technical skills (e.g., plasma cutting, etc.) and 49 "teacher skills"/laboratory management skills (e.g., ordering consumables). We concluded that SBAE stakeholders in Iowa should ensure that teachers are prepared to teach agricultural mechanics via coursework and professional development opportunities. We recommend that this study be replicated in other states.

In this study, we examined using a Disciplinary Literacy Project (DLP) to develop secondary agricultural education preservice teachers' disciplinary literacy perspectives and practices. Our findings revealed that the three preservice teachers developed a deeper understanding of agricultural literacies and applied this knowledge in different ways to scaffold students' engagement with discipline-specific practices. Implications include that disciplinary literacy inquiry projects can strengthen beginning teachers' understanding of discipline-specific literacy practices and habits of thinking and encourage teachers to scaffold their students in authentic disciplinary practices.

Inspired by the mobile phone market boost, several low cost credit card-sized computers have made the scene, able to support educational applications with artificial intelligence features, intended for students of various levels. This paper describes the learning experience and highlights the technologies used to improve the function of DIY robots. The paper also reports on the students' perceptions of this experience. The students participating in this problem based learning activity, despite having a weak programming background and a confined time schedule, tried to find efficient ways to improve the DIY robotic vehicle construction and better interact with it. Scenario cases under investigation, mainly via smart phones or tablets, involved from touch button to gesture and voice recognition methods exploiting modern AI techniques. The robotic platform used generic hardware, namely arduino and raspberry pi units, and incorporated basic automatic control functionality. Several programming environments, from MIT app inventor to C and python, were used. Apart from cloud based methods to tackle the voice recognition issues, locally running software alternatives were assessed to provide better autonomy. Typically, scenarios were performed through Wi-Fi interfaces, while the whole functionality was extended by using LoRa interfaces, to improve the robot's controlling distance. Through experimentation, students were able to apply cutting edge technologies, to construct, integrate, evaluate and improve interaction with custom robotic vehicle solutions. The whole activity involved technologies similar to the ones making the scene in the modern agriculture era that students need to be familiar with, as future professionals.

Educational laboratory management is a paramount issue in agricultural education settings. Agricultural mechanics laboratories are found in many agricultural education programs. One of the most important issues an instructor in agricultural education settings faces is safety in the agricultural mechanics laboratory. Identifying and cultivating a culture of safety in students early on is key to reducing injuries and accidents. The purpose of this study was to gauge safety climate attitudes within a university-level agricultural mechanics laboratory. The population for this study was university-level agricultural students who were enrolled in two agricultural mechanics courses. Through the lens of Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior, the students' safety climate attitudes were assessed by the Safety Climate Attitudes Questionnaire. The highest mean scores were found in the constructs of Personal Motivation for Safe Behavior and Positive Safe Practices. The lowest mean scores were found within the constructs of Risk Justification and Fatalism. We recommend that further study of this topic be conducted in additional agricultural education settings to understand students' attitudes toward safety in laboratory environments.

Simulator technologies have become more prominent in many educational contexts in recent years. Simulator technologies such as virtual reality (VR) exist in many forms and can be used for different purposes, including weld process training. University-level course students have previously reported using VR technology can positively contribute to a course experience. Limited data exist regarding students' perspectives of using VR technology to develop welding-related psychomotor skills in a university-level agricultural mechanics course. Through two focus groups conducted during the Spring 2018 semester, we sought to describe the perspectives nine students had on using a VR technology application throughout their weld process training. Students indicated that while using a VR technology application can be useful, it should not take the place of using actual welding equipment as part of the teaching and learning processes. We recommend faculty who are considering using a VR technology application should carefully analyze current instructional needs and course structures to ensure using VR technology will adequately address students' educational requirements and will complement live weld process training procedures.

The purpose of this study was to determine students' perceived confidence in mechanics skills increases through exploration and enlargement of the college education experience. This paper describes the relationship between West Virginia University first-semester agricultural education pre-service teachers' perception of their confidence in specific woodworking skills and who the student considered to be their primary instructor of woodworking-based skills, (university faculty, schoolteachers, family/friends, the student themselves) as they entered the teacher preparation program. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and social learning was adopted as the theoretical framework for this study. This study utilized a quantitative non-experimental survey research design. Quantitative methods and correlational analysis were employed to provide clarity. The homogeneous nature of the population provided no demographic variables of significance. The results of data analysis found that all participating students (n = 11) reported a higher level of self-confidence in selected woodworking skills after a sixteen-week-long course of agricultural mechanics education. Results of the Spearman's (r[subscript s]) correlation indicated that a highly significant relationship existed between students' perception of self-confidence in woodworking (wood testing, identifying, measuring) and who the students perceived to be their primary teachers of woodworking as they finished the semester. No significant correlations existed at the beginning of the semester. By learning more about agricultural education students' perception of learned woodworking skills, stakeholders will be better equipped to make up-to-date programming pronouncements about the long-term assessment of agricultural mechanics courses, and their relevance to the agricultural education curriculum.

Genetic modification (GM) science has received considerable pushback from consumers despite the research finding GM products are safe for consumption. This may be partly due to the disconnect between consumers and farms since most consumers are disconnected from the farm by at least three generations. The largest consumer population is composed of millennials, which is the generation furthest removed from the farm which may mean they need to be educated differently about GM science than other generations. The purpose of this research was to determine if there were generational differences regarding the perceived attributes of GM science to inform the development of extension programs designed to educate consumers about GM science. A survey was used to collect consumers' perceptions of GM science. The respondents were grouped into generational classifications and perceptions between groups were compared. The findings revealed generations do perceived GM science differently and extension programs should be designed for specific generational audiences.

A pressing concern in all agricultural mechanics courses is safety. Lab activities have an inherent propensity to cause serious injury. The safety practices which are taught by teachers are largely dependent on the equipment in the laboratory and the resources available to the program. Various researchers have indicated that problems have existed in the safety instruction of agricultural mechanics for some time. This study sought to determine how safety is taught, what equipment instructors use and attitudes towards teaching safety of agricultural mechanics teachers. The majority of instructors were certified in first aid and felt confident to use that training in the event of an emergency. The average teacher was found to teach high enrollment labs and furnished at no cost to the student eye protection in the form of safety glasses with side shields. It was found that teachers agreed that safety instruction in the lab was important, especially involving power tools, electricity, and industrial quality eye protection. Agricultural programs should be evaluated regularly for inadequate conditions that may exist in facilities, equipment, and safety. Additional research is needed targeting what barriers potentially exist with teachers using recommended safety practices in the instruction of agricultural mechanics.

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explain the development of preservice agriculture teachers' PCK [Pedagogical Content Knowledge] for the concept of plant fertilizers within a content-focused methods course. The emergent central phenomenon was an overall lack of PCK development for plant fertilizers, highlighted by five main themes that impeded the development. Preservice teachers felt less self-efficacious in horticulture content knowledge and possessed a greater desire for horticulture content knowledge over pedagogical knowledge. Additionally, the preservice teachers exhibited development of horticulture content knowledge and mathematics content knowledge through the unit. Finally, the lack of a content knowledge foundation inhibited the development of PCK in preservice teachers, despite the purpose of the course and vision of the instructor. Recommendations include more purposeful integration of PCK at the preservice level, utilization of tools like the CoRe rubric (Loughran, Mulhall, & Berry, 2004) during lesson planning, increased field experience imbedded in the teacher preparation program, and a more careful examination of the preservice teachers' pre-existing content knowledge base prior to enrollment in the content-focused methods course.

While agricultural mechanics, which includes metal fabrication, continues to be popular among school-based agricultural education (SBAE) students (Hubert & Leising, 2000), the number of required courses in agricultural mechanics for teaching certification in agricultural education is relatively low (Blackburn, Robinson, & Field, 2015). Despite the minimal required coursework, Saucier and McKim (2010) argued that all SBAE teachers who instruct agricultural mechanics should be technically competent. To ensure preservice teachers are technically prepared to enter the profession, this study, guided by the model for teacher preparation (Whittington, 2005), sought to determine the essential metal fabrication knowledge and skills which beginning SBAE teachers should possess prior to beginning a career in agricultural education. Results from this study identified eight essential knowledge and skill areas categorized into four categories, metal fabrication equipment, metal fabrication production, student assessment, and laboratory management. Preservice teacher programs should be evaluated to determine if they are effectively preparing teachers in the curriculum area of metal fabrication. Teacher educators and professional development staff should plan professional education programs for in-service teachers in this agricultural mechanics area.

Farmer education and perceptions have been neglected in extension science. Knowledge, attitude and perceptions on technologies are key and first steps in adoption process. While Video Mediated Learning (VML) is a new communication approach currently being promoted as alternative pathway to foster knowledge sharing, Farmer Field Schools (FFS) remain one of the most active traditional extension approaches used in Kenya. Since farmer receptivity to messages depends on the extension approach used, this study sought to provide evidence and superiority on effectiveness of VML through evaluation of knowledge, attitude and perceptions. The study was conducted at Rachuonyo Sub-County, where a sample of 120 maize farmers was selected through Systematic random sampling. These farmers were put into three experimental groups namely; G1-Video Mediated Learning, G2-Farmer Field School and G3-a combination of video and FFS where they were trained on striga weed management. G1 watched video clips on striga control technologies, G2 learnt such technologies under FFS settings and G3 was subjected to both video clips and FFS on the same topic. Primary data on farmers' access to extension services, knowledge in terms of awareness and "how-to knowledge," attitude in terms of their opinions, approval, viability of the VML and perceptions in terms of understanding, quality and relevance of messages disseminated were gathered using pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires. The results showed that 47.5% of the respondents accessed extension services. On knowledge, 77% of G1, 57.5% of G2 and 89% of G3 participants were aware and displayed knowledge on striga weed management. As regard to attitude, 72.5% of G1 and 55% G2 participants found video and FFS as viable tools and approved their use in extension work. Lastly, on perception, 84% of G1, 66% of G2 and 95% of G3 participants viewed messages as relevant and clear. From these results, there was an average difference of about 18% between video participants and FFS participants who had knowledge, found VML a viable tool and perceived messages disseminated as relevant. Video mediated learning was therefore greatly perceived to be a viable tool with its messages highly appreciated as compared to FFS. Hence, need for extension service providers to intensify the use of video mediated learning as it is viewed as a viable and effective tool in information delivery.

Agricultural mechanics instruction includes a broad array of machinery, structures, and technical systems, as well as a diverse workforce. Virtually every aspect of agriculture has a mechanics component and a large portion of secondary agriscience curriculum is devoted specifically to teaching agricultural mechanics. Further, the agricultural mechanics laboratory provides students with an opportunity to learn through authentic learning scenarios. The purpose of this research is to investigate Missouri high school agricultural mechanics students' safety knowledge and safety attitudes. Researchers identified an increase in female students enrolling in agricultural mechanics coursework. This study also concludes students perceive they receive minimal training, access, and/or use of hearing and air quality PPE. It was concluded the factors of age, gender, semesters of agricultural mechanics courses, and agricultural education district have limited ability to explain differences in in student's PPE knowledge or PPE comfort. Moreover, researchers identified implications of changing demographics on PPE design and usability, both in the laboratory and the workplace. Future research should be conducted regarding PPE design, transfer of perceptions, and what PPE is needed by both teachers and students.

Targeted teacher recruitment is suggested as a way to alleviate the teacher shortage in specific content areas such as agricultural mechanics. Learning experiences are linked to increased selfefficacy and increased interest in specific career pursuits. The Agricultural Mechanics Power & Design (AMP'D) Experience was developed as a learning experience to enhance high school student skills in agricultural mechanics and expose them to the career of teaching agricultural mechanics at the high school level. This study sought to describe participants in the first three years of the AMP'D Experience, explore their skills level, learn about their likelihood of considering a career teaching agricultural mechanics before and after participating in the event. We used correlational analysis and simple linear regression to scrutinize pre and post survey data collected from participants (N = 37) at the 2016, 2017, and 2018 AMP'D Experiences. Results indicated significant increases in perceived self-efficacy across agricultural mechanics skills areas, and in likelihood to consider teaching agricultural mechanics. Additionally, perceived summated skills self-efficacy predicted 15% of the variance in the likelihood of a participant considering to teach agricultural mechanics. Recommendations involve looking at other experiences acquired through the AMP'D Experience as additional indicators of enhanced career interest as well as following up with participants to examine what career they eventually pursued.

Tractors are used to perform jobs that require different types of agricultural tools to be attached to their rear, to their front, or both. These tools may need to be dragged, towed, or suspended above ground, and sometimes require a power supply; this is usually obtained via a hydraulic system or from the tractor's power take-off system. When tractors have to work with such tools on different types of soils and on different slopes, the need arises to calculate the power the tractor engine will have to produce. In the classroom, this is normally calculated manually with the help of a calculator. This work, however, describes a computer program (written in Delphi and operating under Windows) that rapidly solves the most common types of power balance problems associated with single-traction tractors. The value of this software as a learning aid for students of agricultural engineering is discussed.

School-based agricultural education teachers can face conflicting role obligations and conflict when contradictory expectations accompany their positions, making the daily selection of what to wear difficult for these educators. The decision is crucial, however; dress sends strong messages of the profession to others, including students. We used a multiple case study design to examine the impact of teacher attire on students' perceptions of attitude homophily, background homophily, and teacher credibility. Findings indicated differing perceptions of business professionally, business casually, and casually dressed agriculture teachers between cases. Further, data suggested students' expectations for teacher attire varied by content matter, with agricultural mechanics content requiring more casual clothing. We recommend teachers wear business casual clothing most frequently in order to moderate between students' teacher-related and agriculturalist-related expectations, while shaping students' views regarding the professionalism of the agricultural, food, and natural resources industry.

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (ATCOFA) attend an intensive 6-week hands-on instruction in applied field methods. The second week of field station is focused on land measurement activities to introduce students to practical, hands-on, and technology based ways to survey forest boundaries. On Monday of the second week students are introduced to the concepts of how to use a handheld compass to navigate from point to point, use a consumer-grade handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) unit for collecting the geographic coordinates of given locations, use a GPS unit to calculate the area of a forest opening, use a GPS unit to walk and record a forest hiking trail, and evaluate the accuracy of their GPS derived locations via a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) analysis. RMSE analysis between a students collected geographic coordinates and the instructors collected geographic coordinates indicated that the students were sufficient in correctly recording the geographic coordinates of point, line, and polygon features identified in the field. Grades on the student submitted reports summarizing Monday's activities resulted in 33 of 56 students (59.0%) receiving a high A, 14 of 56 students (25.0%) receiving a low A, and 9 of 56 students (16.0%) receiving a high B indicating that the interactive hands-on nature of ATCOFA's field station is effective at providing students with real-world applications whereby they will be ready to make a difference the day after graduation. Interactive drone imagery and video integrated into the daily activities in the field to enhance a student's understanding of their specific objectives provided the students in the field with a bird's eye perspective of the landscape to aid their understanding and planning of the field tasks assigned. In conclusion, employers can have confidence that when hiring recent BSF graduates from ATCOFA that the students have been introduced to geospatial technologies within a proven one-on-one instruction methodology designed to increase cognitive retention and can traverse from location to location accurately and record the geographic coordinates of earth surface features correctly.

Tennessee Statute 54-5-134, Cutting Hay Along Controlled Access Highway Right-of-Way, provided agriculturalists the right to harvest hay along interstate highways' and other controlled access roads' medians and shoulders. Maintenance of these medians and shoulders are routinely contracted to private mowing companies and funded by Tennessee taxpayers. As a result of the Tennessee statute and lack of empirical information, a questionnaire was used to assess livestock producers' awareness, attitudes, and barriers concerning right-of-way hay harvesting. We found 7.2% of surveyed livestock producers were aware of their right to this resource, but none of the producers had applied for a permit. While livestock producers were highly innovative in terms of general agricultural practices, they were moderate in attitude towards right-of-way hay harvesting. Attributes leading to a more positive attitude toward right-of-way hay harvest were: (a) the ability to sell hay harvested from right-of-ways, (b) willing to pay someone else to cut hay from right-of-ways, and (c) currently purchasing hay. Alternatively, an attribute leading to a more negative attitude was currently feeding alfalfa mix hay. There is moderate interest among livestock producers to utilize hay from right-of-ways, but further research and education is needed to explore the practicality of this innovation.

The purpose of this study was to determine if selected factors influenced the ability of students in school-based agricultural education programs to generate a correct hypothesis when troubleshooting small gasoline engines. Variables of interest included students' cognitive style, age, GPA, and content knowledge in small gasoline engines. Kirton's Adaption-Innovation Inventory was employed to assess cognitive style and a researcher developed criterion-referenced test was utilized to determine small gasoline content knowledge. Students were assigned randomly, by cognitive style, to generate a hypothesis for either a simple or complex small gasoline engine problem. A similar number of students were able to correctly hypothesize the fault in their assigned engine regardless of cognitive style. However, differences were noted between the more adaptive and more innovative students. A binary logistic regression revealed that as cognitive style score increased, the odds of generating a correct hypothesis decreased. Additionally, older students were more likely to generate an incorrect hypothesis. Teachers should encourage students to hypothesize when engaged in problem solving activities, but should be aware of individual differences such as cognitive style.

Agricultural mechanics holds an important place in agricultural education programs. Teacher efficacy in regards to teaching agricultural mechanics is also important. We used a questionnaire to survey agricultural education teachers in Iowa regarding agricultural mechanics. Spearman Rho correlations were used to determine the magnitude of the relationship between teachers' perceived competency to teach agricultural mechanics skills and the adequacy of tools and equipment available to teach agricultural mechanics skills in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. Correlations between tool adequacy and perceived competency to teach agricultural mechanics skills were identified as statistically significant (p < 0.05) in all 54 content areas addressed within the instrument. The results of the present study aligned with prior research regarding perceived competency and available teaching resources. The possibility exists that a lack of competency in a given skill area may result from, or may result in, a lack of adequate tools and equipment available to teach within that particular skill area. Perhaps the converse is instead true. We recommend that program stakeholders work to ensure that teachers are competent, and have access to adequate tools and equipment necessary, to teach agricultural mechanics.

Agricultural mechanics is a top career choice among secondary students enrolled in agricultural programs. Secondary agricultural mechanics teachers provide hands-on skill instruction with shielded metal arc welders, oxyfuel torches, and various hand tools in their agricultural mechanics laboratories. Preservice agriculture teachers have reported lack of preparation to adequately teach in this potentially dangerous environment. This qualitative case study explored the concerns of preservice teachers about teaching secondary students in the agricultural mechanics laboratory and how those concerns evolved over time. Researchers used a constructivist epistemology and open coding to identify and explore emergent themes. Three themes emerged from the data: 1) issues of trust and control in supervising laboratory students manifest themselves as a professional threat, 2) mechanics skill and supervisory skill development coincided with a change in focus toward student safety and learning, and 3) the agricultural mechanics laboratory provides unique instructional challenges and opportunities. Although each preservice teacher differed in their development, the authors identified persistent issues with agricultural mechanics skill knowledge and student trust.

A laboratory exercise was developed for the study of the effect of three cations (Al, Ca, and Na) on the flocculation and dispersion of soil particles. The exercise was designed for Soil Science undergraduate students in the second-course in the Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Sciences department at the University of Vigo. The students' exercise consisted of the addition of different concentrations of NaCl, CaCl[subscript 2], or AlCl[subscript 3] to a kaolinite water suspension and to an agricultural soil water suspension (a more complex system). The most relevant results showed that for the same cation concentration (equiv L-1), the effects on increased flocculation of colloidal material followed the sequence Al > Ca > Na, for both kaolinite and agricultural soil; that is, aluminum is the cation with the highest flocculation capacity, while Na is the cation with the lowest one. These differences are important for the sustainability of agricultural soils, since flocculation in soil systems is a key factor to sustain a suitable soil structure, and therefore, for suitable air and water fluxes in soils. Moreover, the differences in flocculation capacities of different cations should be taken into account in the fertilization programs during the selection of fertilizers (in relation to composition), in order to avoid irreversible problems for the soil structure. The experimental results obtained by students were highly satisfactory, showing experimental values similar to those previously found by the teachers. According to postlab surveys, the students were highly satisfied and in favor of the laboratory exercise developed from both sides, the didactic point of view and the importance of the exercise for the understanding of soil science concepts.

Agricultural mechanics is an important component of a well-rounded school-based agricultural education (SBAE) program. Within agricultural mechanics courses lies a plethora of topics and skills to be covered. Adequate tools and equipment are vital in preparing students to fill an expanding, 21st century workforce. The issue of inadequate teaching materials has been well documented throughout the entire educational system, and such inadequacies may leave gaps in students' ability to become proficient within agricultural mechanics. A paper-based questionnaire was distributed to all teachers in attendance at the Iowa teachers' conference. This descriptive study sought to identify teacher-perceived adequacy of available tools and equipment to teach agricultural mechanics in Iowa. The researchers found that many agricultural education teachers in Iowa are ill-equipped to teach many concepts within agricultural mechanics due to a reported lack of adequate tools and equipment. Agricultural education teachers in SBAE programs should ensure adequate tools and equipment to meet curricular and industry standards. It is recommended to examine purchasing decisions of tools for inclusion in the agricultural mechanics laboratory as well.

Polytechnics in Ghana view Competency Based Training (CBT) as a major intervention to the perennial constraints confronting its education and training. On the basis of this, and by government policy, a pilot programme of CBT was instituted in all the 10 polytechnics of Ghana, and was pilot tested in, at least, one department. Agricultural Engineering was piloted in the three study Polytechnics namely; Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa polytechnics. This study was therefore aimed at finding the constraints of the pilot programme. A sample size of 151 was then drawn out of a population of 240, including both students and lecturers. On survey administration, 145 questionnaires were retrieved, giving a response rate of 96.0%. The findings of the study revealed that CBT programme is undoubtedly career focused and career oriented as compared to the traditional education. However, the polytechnics need to further build their capacity to handle the CBT programme in terms of human resource, adequate infrastructure and modern equipment. Also, in the absence of electronic libraries, the polytechnic libraries still harbour obsolete reference books and materials. Therefore there is the need for an e-library to improve the capacity of the stock reference materials, while the curricula of the polytechnics be made more relevant to industry by involving members of industry and other stakeholders among other things.

This paper presents an experimental lab designed for undergraduate students which focuses on soil science and chemistry. Students perform a series of tests to classify soil's phosphate retaining characteristics, texture, pH, organic matter content, and permeability with the addition of a novel soil amendment, Al Mg biochar. This lab has minimal cost as most chemicals are inexpensive and a soil column is crafted from a used water bottle, filter paper, and masking tape. Students apply their measurements to understand how agriculture plays a role in ocean and watershed health and how soil-testing, soil amendments, and responsible farming practices can minimize agriculture's footprint. It is important for agriculturally focused students to understand how soil chemistry relates to crop yields, and the importance of responsible agricultural practices. Learning outcomes and student attitudes from this experiment were assessed to evaluate the experiment.

Purpose: Soil fertility is decreasing in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. To mitigate this trend, various agricultural technologies are available, but their uptake by farmers has been low. Perception of the problem, information exposure, and knowledge play a major role in adoption of technologies. This study assessed empirically the levels of perception, knowledge and information exposure among African farmers as an indicator for potential adoption of soil fertility technologies. Design/Methodology/approach: The study used survey data of more than 2,400 small-scale farmers selected through random sampling from Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Zambia. The survey investigated socio-economic factors, exposure to media, perception and knowledge of soil fertility and other information. Findings: Many farmers did not perceive soil fertility as a major challenge, except in Mali; farmers were hardly receiving information on soil fertility from professional agricultural sources, and they often lacked accurate knowledge about soil fertility technologies. Radio was by far the most used information source for farmers. Practical Implications: The study has exposed the need for interventions to increase awareness, information exposure, and knowledge about soil fertility among farmers to strengthen the adoption of soil fertility technologies. It also calls for innovative ways of strengthening extension services through links with radio. Theoretical implications: The role of communication in the uptake of agricultural innovations is still under-researched, and hence this study exposes the need to investigate in-depth knowledge, perception levels, and quality and frequency of information exposure on various channels of soil fertility management. Originality: This is one of the few studies empirically measuring perception, information frequency on various channels, and knowledge of soil fertility among small-scale farmers in African countries.

Further investigation is needed to determine the specific laboratory management needs of agricultural education teachers. The theoretical foundation which guided this study was Bandura's theory of self-efficacy (1997). To further align this theory with this study, researchers explored the beliefs and one's capabilities to organize and excute the course of action to manage an agricultural mechanics laboratory. The research objectives for this study were: Determine the self-perceived level(s) of importance and ability as related to agricultural mechanics laboratory management competencies and determine the professional development needs of Iowa school-based agricultural education teachers regarding agricultural mechanics laboratory management competencies. Results of the Mean Weighted Discrepancy Scores (MWDS) indicated teacher's greatest in-service needs revolved around hazardous laboratory conditions and materials. The competencies which ranked the highest included correcting hazardous laboratory conditions, safely disposing of hazardous materials, properly installing and maintaining safety devices and emergency equipment, safely handling hazardous materials, and safely storing hazardous materials. Agricultural education teachers need professional development in the realm of hazardous conditions within the confines of an agricultural mechanics laboratory and handling hazardous materials. Working with hazardous materials is a critical competency agricultural educators must have when managing any type of laboratory.

This study was designed to assess the agricultural engineering knowledge and competencies acquired by the senior secondary students for farm mechanization in technical colleges in Ebonyi state of Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for the study. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study was 1,858 comprising of 174 teachers and 1,684 final year students. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 370 as sample for the study. A structured questionnaire with 21 items was employed for the study. The instrument was face validated by 3 experts. Two of the experts from the Department of Technology and Vocational education while one specialist from measurement evaluation, all from Ebonyi State University; and the reliability coefficient of 0.183 was obtained using Cronbach alpha technique to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. The data collected were analyzed using weighted mean and standard deviation for the research questions white t-test statistics was used to test for the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. The result of the analysis of the data reveals that the students have the knowledge in recognizing and identifying tillage machines, tools and equipment but do not have the competencies in the use of tillage, planting, weeding and harvesting farm machines tools and equipment except the use of simple farm tools like hoe, spade and sickle. The result of the hypotheses showed that there was no significant difference in the opinions of the teachers and the students on the knowledge and the competencies acquired by the senior secondary students in agricultural engineering for farm mechanization. It was recommended among others that the teachers should expose the students more on the practical use of the tillage, planting, weeding and harvesting farm machines, tools and equipment.

This phenomenological study explores the dimensions of youth-adult partnerships (YAPs) in agricultural mechanics classrooms in three rural schools. YAPs presume a positive learning collaboration between young people and adults who work together to achieve meaningful community-based change. Previous research on the development of YAPs has focused on non-school settings. However, in these agricultural mechanics courses, as part of a safety-focused curriculum, teachers engaged students in a collaborative project to build and install cost-effective rollover protective structures (CROPS) for local farmers' tractors. Thus, the CROPS project provided a unique opportunity to explore the inclusion of youth-driven YAPs as an engagement model for teachers, students, and the broader community. The findings from this secondary analysis of interview data from CROPS project teachers are threefold. First, evidence emerged of the experiential, communal/collective, and youth-driven aspects of YAPs in teacher- student and student-student collaborations. Second, shifts in power balances present a key dimension of the youth-driven dimension of YAPs. Third, the CROPS project aligns well with a youth-driven YAP in that it promoted high-quality student engagement within the learning system. Finally, we discuss the implications for integrating YAPs into agricultural education projects and suggestions for further research.

Preparing teachers to teach agricultural mechanics is a difficult task since many topic areas are included in the curriculum. This study examines the effect of the number of college courses taken on a teacher's perceived competence to teach agricultural mechanics. Agricultural education teachers in Iowa ranked themselves according to their perceived, individual competence in 54 skill areas associated with agricultural mechanics curricula. Respondents also indicated the number of agricultural mechanics courses they completed in their teacher preparation program. Teachers who completed one or no courses had low to slight perceived level of competence while teachers who took two or more courses identified a moderate level of perceived competence in agricultural mechanics. Teachers indicating six or more classes completed exhibited a high-perceived competence. A positive correlation was identified between courses completed and perceived competence as the more courses taken the higher the self-perceived competence level of the teacher. To develop the competence of pre-service agricultural education teacher candidates it is recommended to examine the current agricultural mechanics curricula in teacher preparation programs. It is further recommended that professional development be offered in areas identified by agricultural education teachers as having low perceived competence.