Affiliation:
1. Louisiana State University
2. Oklahoma State University
Abstract
The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess preservice agriculture teachers’ perceptions of the importance of Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and their views on barriers to conducting SAE. A census of the sophomore-level agricultural education course at Oklahoma State University was conducted to measure perceptions at the beginning and end of the course. This study was framed upon Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior. Results indicated that preservice teachers perceived SAE was an important component of agricultural education and important at the secondary school they attended. The greatest barrier to conducting SAE was their lack of familiarity with newer SAE categories. This was true at both the beginning and end of the course. It is recommended that preservice teachers receive instruction on and experiences in all types of SAE. This would increase the likelihood of preservice teachers perceiving they have control over this barrier regarding SAE implementation. This cohort of preservice teachers should be surveyed over time to determine change in their perceptions of barriers to SAE implementation as they progress in the agricultural education program and through their careers. Further, the views of in-service teachers should also be assessed to determine if perceived barriers differ with professional experience.
Publisher
Mississippi State University Libraries - DIGITAL COMMONS JOURNALS
Reference33 articles.
1. Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.
2. Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 665–683.
3. Arrington, L. R., & Cheek, J. G. (1990). SAE scope and student achievement in agribusiness and natural resources education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 31(2), 55–61.
4. Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. Ramachandran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York, NY: Academic Press.
5. Berkey, A. L., & Sutphin, H. D. (1984). Status and importance/support for supervised occupational experience programs (SOEP) as perceived by New York vocational agriculture teachers and their administrators. Proceedings of the National Agricultural Education Research Meeting, New Orleans, LA.