International Agricultural Concepts through the Eyes of School-Based AgricultureEducation Students

摘要

As demands to participate in a global economy increase, American students, who havelimited knowledge of international agriculture concepts, must be better educated in terms ofinternational awareness and understanding. The purpose of this study was to identify theattitudes, beliefs, understanding, and desired instructional methods of Tennessee school-basedagricultural education students in regards to international agriculture. A descriptivequestionnaire comprised of 46 items, which measured four constructs, was used to collect data.The summated means of all students for attitudes, beliefs, understanding, and instruction were3.81 (SD = .46), 3.81 (SD = .57), 3.76 (SD = .51), and 3.76 (SD = .47), respectively. Findingsindicated students hold positive attitudes and beliefs toward international agricultural concepts.In an effort to remain a global leader in science and innovation and to meet the needs of theagricultural employers, State Departments of Education should consider providing resources forthe development, testing, and implementation of internationalized curricula. If not currentlyinternationalized, other countries should also consider internationalizing their curricula anddetermine how best to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work in aglobalized economy.